Ohio taxes property sales through its conveyance fee, requires an attorney for part of the closing and requires a seller disclosure form. It forecloses through the courts and is not a community property state. Deadline to appeal a property tax assessment: complaint filed between August 25, 2026 and March 31, 2027 for tax year 2026; 30 days to appeal the board's decision.
Ohio in short
Is there a real estate transfer tax in Ohio?
Ohio does not call it a transfer tax. Counties collect a conveyance fee when a deed is presented to the auditor.
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What closing costs does Ohio law set?
Ohio has no official typical closing-cost total. In Franklin County the deed carries a conveyance fee of $3 per $1,000 of price plus a $0.50 transfer tax, and the Recorder charges $34 for the first two pages and $8 per extra page.
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How is property tax calculated in Ohio?
Ohio taxes 35% of a home's market value. In the City of Columbus tax district the Franklin County Auditor's 2025 file shows a 49.78-mill effective residential rate (115.89 mills full rate).
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What is the deadline to appeal a property tax assessment in Ohio?
In Ohio (Franklin County), file a complaint with the Board of Revision between August 25, 2026 and March 31, 2027 for tax year 2026, and if you disagree with the decision you have 30 days to appeal.
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Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Ohio?
None of the Ohio statutes read requires a buyer or seller to hire a real estate attorney, but the Supreme Court of Ohio treats drafting a deed for someone else as the practice of law (Ohio State Bar Assn. v.
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What must a home seller disclose in Ohio?
An Ohio seller of a one- to four-unit home must complete the Ohio Department of Commerce Residential Property Disclosure Form and deliver it to the buyer (R.C. 5302.30). If the buyer first gets the form after signing the contract, the buyer has 3 business days to rescind in writing.
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How does foreclosure work in Ohio?
Ohio foreclosures go through a court: a homeowner served with a foreclosure case has 28 days to file an answer, and the Ohio Attorney General says the process can take anywhere from six to 18 months or longer. The owner can redeem the property until the court confirms the sale.
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What first-time home buyer programs does Ohio offer?
In Ohio, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) offers down payment assistance worth 3% of the purchase price on conventional loans and 3.5% on FHA, VA and USDA loans, forgiven after seven years.
Ohio guides
- Closing costs in Ohio: what buyers and sellers pay
- Ohio real estate transfer tax: rate, who pays, exemptions
- How Ohio property tax works and what the homestead saves
- Seller disclosure requirements in Ohio: the state form
- Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Ohio?
- Foreclosure process in Ohio: steps, timeline and your rights
- Home prices in Ohio and Columbus: median value and trend
- First-time home buyer programs in Ohio and Columbus
- How to verify a real estate license in Ohio