A line-by-line breakdown of what it costs to sell a home in Norfolk: commissions, Virginia taxes, settlement fees, and how to keep more of your equity.
Selling a home in Norfolk typically costs somewhere between 6% and 10% of the sale price once you add up commissions, taxes, and settlement fees. On Norfolk's median home price of about $285,000, that is roughly $17,000 to $28,000 leaving your equity at closing. The single biggest line item, agent commissions, is also the one you have the most control over.
Here is the full breakdown, line by line.
Traditionally, sellers have paid up to about 6% of the sale price in total commissions: roughly 3% to the listing agent and roughly 3% to the buyer's agent. Since the 2024 NAR settlement, commissions are explicitly negotiable, and no seller is required to pay any particular rate.
On a $285,000 Norfolk home:
That is money deducted from your proceeds at the closing table, before you pay off your mortgage or cover any other cost.
Virginia charges the seller a grantor tax of roughly 0.1% of the sale price, about $285 on a median Norfolk home, collected when the deed is recorded. Depending on the locality, small regional fees can apply on top. Your settlement agent itemizes these exactly, so there are no surprises on the settlement statement.
Sellers in Virginia typically also pay:
These vary by transaction, which is why a personalized net sheet beats any generic list. You can run your own numbers in the net sheet tool, which includes Virginia-specific transfer taxes.
You cannot negotiate the grantor tax, and settlement services cost what they cost. The commission is different. Options in Norfolk range from negotiating with a traditional agent, to flat-fee MLS listing services, to technology platforms.
With VroomBrick, a flat 1% technology fee replaces the traditional listing commission. On that same $285,000 home, 1% is $2,850 instead of roughly $8,550, keeping about $5,700 more of your equity. You still get MLS exposure through a flat-rate broker, a licensed closing attorney available for contract review and settlement, showing-agent coordination, and a step-by-step dashboard. See the full picture on the Norfolk seller page.
Every sale is different, so start with your own price. The savings calculator shows the difference between a traditional commission of up to 6% and VroomBrick's 1% technology fee at your home's value, and the net sheet estimates your actual take-home after all costs.
About VroomBrick: VroomBrick is a real estate technology platform, not a licensed real estate brokerage. VroomBrick does not provide brokerage services, represent buyers or sellers, or hold real estate licenses. The 1% technology fee covers platform access; closing attorneys, showing agents, and lender partners are independent licensed professionals. Commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable. Savings examples are illustrative; actual savings vary by transaction.
About the Author
MBA · Army Veteran
Head of Partnerships at VroomBrick. Writes about how homeowners can keep more of their equity, what the post-NAR-settlement market actually looks like, and how to navigate buying or selling without paying a 3% commission.
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