Selling a home in the Cincinnati area

Transfer tax

Ohio charges a mandatory state real property conveyance fee of 1 mill, which is $1 per $1,000 (10 cents per $100) of the value of the property transferred. Counties may add a permissive real property transfer tax of up to 3 more mills (30 cents per $100), and nearly every county does. The Ohio Department of Taxation describes the fee as paid by the person who sells the property, so the seller customarily pays it at closing.

Local add-ons: Yes. Counties may levy up to an additional 3 mills ($3 per $1,000), for a combined total of up to 4 mills (0.4%). Rates vary by county.

Source: Ohio Department of Taxation, Real Property Conveyance Fee (brief summary)

Seller disclosure

Yes. Ohio Revised Code section 5302.30 requires sellers of homes with one to four dwelling units to complete and deliver the state's Residential Property Disclosure Form, prescribed by the Ohio Department of Commerce, covering known conditions such as the water supply, sewer system, roof, foundation and hazardous materials. Some transfers are exempt, including court-ordered sales, foreclosures, sales by an estate or trust fiduciary, transfers between family members, and new homes that have never been lived in.

Source: Ohio Department of Commerce, Residential Property Disclosure Form (eff. June 2022)

Who handles the closing

Ohio closings are customarily handled by title or escrow companies, and an attorney is not customarily required. This is based on a title insurer's industry summary, not an official state page; confirm with your title company or attorney.

Source: Stewart Title, State Laws and Customs Toolkit (secondary source)

Also worth knowing

If a buyer receives the disclosure form, or an amended form, after signing the purchase contract, the buyer may cancel within 3 business days of receiving it, as long as that is before closing and within 30 days after the seller accepted the offer. Deposits must be returned.

Source: Ohio Revised Code section 5302.30

Also worth knowing

The county portion of the transfer tax is set by each board of county commissioners at a rate of up to 30 cents per $100 of value, so the total conveyance fee a seller pays depends on the county where the home is located.

Source: Ohio Revised Code section 322.02

Checking an agent's license

Real estate agents in Ohio are licensed by the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing (Ohio Department of Commerce). You can look up any agent before you work with them.

Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing (Ohio Department of Commerce) license lookup