Georgia · Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area

Buying a home in South Fulton, Georgia

In South Fulton, the median value of owner-occupied homes is $309,800, Fulton County's effective property tax rate is 0.88%, a purchase mortgage carried a median $8,299 in total loan costs in 2025, and median gross rent is $1,702 a month.

Data as of : Census ACS 2020-2024, Census Vintage 2024, HMDA 2025, HUD FY 2027. Sources

South Fulton home costs, fact by fact

About South Fulton

HUD sets the county Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom at $1,762, while median gross rent in South Fulton is $1,702 a month.

Reading the South Fulton figures

South Fulton stands apart on ownership. At 71.5%, its owner share towers over the 46.4% of Atlanta, the 45.4% of Savannah and the 40.7% of Athens, and over every other Georgia city named here. Despite that, its median value of $309,800 falls under the statewide $346,500, lands close to the $299,200 of Athens, and stays far from the $439,600 of Atlanta and the $619,800 of Sandy Springs.

Rent is high relative to the value: $1,702 a month, almost level with Atlanta's $1,711 and far over what Columbus or Macon report, $1,106 and $1,066. HUD's metro-area benchmark of $1,762 for smaller homes is only slightly more than tenants pay at the median, and its $2,099 for bigger homes is further out. Such a narrow gap suggests that renting here costs roughly what the HUD figure implies.

Fulton County's numbers matter because they describe a broader area. The county estimate is $458,800, more than the city's own, so the 0.88% effective rate and the $4,033 annual tax bill speak for the county rather than a typical South Fulton home.

Lenders reported 9,850 loans in the 2025 data, and the usual charge was $8,299. Borrowers at the cheaper end of the central range paid $5,525, while those at the costly end paid $12,390, a wide spread worth testing with several quotes.

Calculate for Georgia

If you buy

Georgia state transfer tax

Real estate transfer tax (O.C.G.A. 48-6-1 to 48-6-10): $1 for the first $1,000 plus $0.10 for each additional $100 (about $1 per $1,000).

Price$346,500
State transfer taxnot computed
Who paysThe seller

Default price: the Georgia median value of owner-occupied homes, $346,500 (Census ACS 2025). Not computed: Tax = $1 for the first $1,000 (or fraction) + $0.10 for each additional $100 or fraction of $100. Example: $400,000 gives $1 + $0.10 x 3,990 = $400. Who pays: The seller is liable by law, though frequently the sales contract has the buyer pay (Georgia Department of Revenue). Not included: county and city transfer taxes, the tax on the mortgage, recording fees, title insurance and lender charges. Georgia transfer tax guide · all 50 states.

If you sell

Capital gain and the federal tax on it

Same federal rule in every state: Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code excludes up to $250,000 of gain on a main home ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly).

Capital gain$350,000
Section 121 exclusion$250,000 (limit $250,000)
Taxable gain$100,000
Type of gainLong-term (owned over 1 year), 15% chosen
Federal tax on the gain$15,000

Section 121 excludes $250,000; the rest is taxable.

Gain = sale price minus your adjusted basis (purchase price, buying costs and improvements); selling expenses reduce it (IRS Publication 523). Long-term rates for sales in 2026, by taxable income including the gain (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, section 4.03): 0% up to $49,450 single or $98,900 married filing jointly, 15% up to $545,500 single or $613,700 jointly, 20% above. Not included: Georgia state income tax on the gain (not computed), the net investment income tax, depreciation recapture on a rental or home office, and the reduced exclusion for an early sale. Agent commissions are negotiated and never set by law. Capital gains on a home sale.

Questions about buying a home in South Fulton

How much is property tax in South Fulton?

Homeowners in Fulton County pay a median $4,033 a year in property tax, 0.88% of the county median home value of $458,800 (Census ACS 2020-2024). Your bill depends on your assessed value and local rates.

What are closing costs on a mortgage in South Fulton?

Home-purchase mortgages in Fulton County carried median total loan costs of $8,299 in 2025; half of the 9,850 loans fell between $5,525 and $12,390 (HMDA). Total loan costs are the lender and settlement-service charges of the Closing Disclosure; transfer taxes and prepaid items come on top.

Is there a transfer tax when you buy a home in South Fulton?

Georgia charges a real estate transfer tax of $1 for the first $1,000 of the sale price plus 10 cents for each additional $100, which is $400 on a $400,000 home. The seller is liable by law, though contracts often shift it to the buyer.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in South Fulton?

It depends on your mortgage rate, down payment and how long you stay. As a benchmark, the median value of owner-occupied homes in South Fulton ($309,800) equals 15.2 years of the median gross rent ($1,702 a month), both from Census ACS 2020-2024.

Run your own numbers: rent vs buy calculator · closing costs calculator.

Georgia rules that apply in South Fulton

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Sources

Georgia · All states · Federal guides