How long does it take to sell a house in Richmond, VA?
A house listed in Richmond, VA takes about 26 days on average to go under contract. That is faster than the national average of 53 days. Closing then usually adds another 30 to 45 days. That is how long a buyer with a mortgage usually needs to fund, though it varies by lender and by how complex the sale is. So a normal sale here realistically runs about 56 to 71 days, from the day the sign goes up to the day the money arrives. That is before any time spent getting the house ready to list.
That makes Richmond the 13th fastest of the 100 largest US metro markets. Every nearby market we track is slower still, including Virginia Beach at 46 days and Washington at 35 days, so Richmond is the quick end of this region.
Market figures below cover August 2026 and were last refreshed on September 17, 2026.
- Listing to under contract
- 26 days
- Under contract to closing
- 30 to 45 days
- Realistic total
- 56 to 71 days
- Selling to us instead
- 1 to 3 weeks
Measured, market-wide average
Estimate, set by the buyer's lender
Before any time spent preparing to list
Paced by the title search, not financing
What is driving the timeline in Richmond specifically
Richmond has only about 2.5 months of supply. Buyers have few choices, which is the main reason a sound house here does not sit long.
About 28.4% of listings here have already cut their asking price. Each one started at a price the market would not pay, and finding that out added weeks. Pricing right on day one is the biggest thing a seller controls.
About 31.6% of completed sales closed below the asking price, so plan for the haggling as well as the wait. The listed price and the final price are different numbers.
If a sale falls apart over financing or inspection, the house goes back on the market and the clock starts over. That is why an average is a poor guide to the worst case, in Richmond as anywhere else.
Months of supply is for-sale inventory divided by the monthly sales count, both from Zillow Research for August 2026. The typical home in Richmond is worth about $395,000.
Richmond disclosures belong before the contract is signed
Virginia's Residential Property Disclosure Act says the owner must give the buyer a disclosure statement. The Real Estate Board publishes it.
At its core, the statement is a buyer beware notice. The owner makes no promises about the condition of the property. The buyer is told to do their own checking, such as a home inspection, before settlement. A revised version of the law takes effect January 1, 2027.
Timing matters in Richmond, as anywhere in Virginia. The law says the disclosures should be delivered before the contract is ratified. If they arrive later, the buyer can end the contract.
The buyer has until the first of these:
- three days after hand or electronic delivery
- five days after the postmark, if mailed
- settlement.
If you know the home is a repetitive flood loss structure, you must disclose that too. This means two or more flood insurance claims over $1,000 within ten years.
Sources: Code of Virginia: Title 55.1, Chapter 7, Virginia Residential Property Disclosure Act.
Recording a Richmond deed at the John Marshall Courts Building
Richmond deeds are recorded by the Circuit Court Clerk in the John Marshall Courts Building at 400 North 9th Street. Recording hours run 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. Documents brought in later are recorded the next business day.
The clerk's office says recording fees for the Deed Book and Will Book went up by $3 on July 1, 2026. Its staff cannot do title searches.
Virginia's grantor tax is 50 cents per $500 of the price or value. Any lien that stays on the property is left out. The seller pays it, unless the two sides arrange for the buyer to cover some or all of it.
The clerk sends half the tax to the state and half to the city. The deed cannot be recorded until the clerk certifies the tax was paid.
Your closing does not have to happen at a law office. Under the Real Estate Settlement Agents Act, Virginia lets these act as settlement agents:
- licensed attorneys
- title insurance companies
- title agents.
Documents must be signed and notarized originals. The Supreme Court of Virginia has an online deed calculation tool to estimate Richmond recording costs.
The clerk also urges owners to sign up for VADeed Alert. This free service emails you when a document matching your name or parcel number is recorded. It helps catch deed fraud early.
Sources: City of Richmond: Circuit Court Clerk, Deeds; Code of Virginia: Section 58.1-802, Additional tax paid by grantor; Virginia State Bar: Real Estate Settlement Agents.
Estates, tax dates and historic districts in Richmond
In Richmond, the same Circuit Court Clerk keeps will and estate records next to land records. Its probate line is (804) 646-6540. If you are selling a house you inherited, that office is where the will and the estate file live.
The city's real estate tax rate is $1.20 per $100 of assessed value. The first half is due January 14 and the second half is due June 14.
Late payments carry a 10 percent penalty plus 10 percent yearly interest. The city Assessor reassesses every property each year at market value.
Outside work on a home in a City Old and Historic District needs a Certificate of Appropriateness. It comes from the Commission of Architectural Review, which meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months.
About 4,006 properties fall under its review. Being listed on the National Register alone does not trigger any review.
Sources: City of Richmond: Circuit Court Clerk, Records; City of Richmond: Circuit Court Clerk, Administration; City of Richmond: Finance, Real Estate; City of Richmond: Assessor of Real Estate, About; City of Richmond: Commission of Architectural Review; City of Richmond: Historic Preservation.
Local facts checked September 2026. Rates and rules change; a real estate attorney or the office named above can confirm them for your property.
If the timeline is the problem
Selling to a cash buyer skips the listing period and the lender. That cuts the 56 to 71 days to about one to three weeks. In a market as quick as Richmond, that speed is only worth paying for if you need it. If your house shows well and you have no deadline, listing will usually net you more, and we would rather say so.
If the pressure is the monthly cost rather than the wait, see what it costs to own a home in Richmond.
See how we buy houses in Richmond, VA, or read the full comparison against listing with an agent, which keeps its losing row.
Common questions
- How long does it take to sell a house in Richmond?
- About 26 days on average to go under contract. Then it takes roughly 30 to 45 more days to close if the buyer has a mortgage. That puts a typical sale at about 56 to 71 days from listing to closing. That does not count time spent getting the house ready to list.
- Do I still owe a disclosure if I sell my Richmond house as-is?
- Virginia's Residential Property Disclosure Act requires the owner to give the Real Estate Board's disclosure statement. That form already says the owner makes no promises about condition. The act lists specific exemptions, and a real estate attorney can confirm if one covers your sale.
- Who pays the grantor tax on a Richmond sale?
- The grantor, normally the seller, pays 50 cents per $500 (Code of Virginia Section 58.1-802). The two sides can arrange for the buyer to pay part or all of it. The Richmond Circuit Court Clerk collects it before recording the deed.
- When are Richmond real estate taxes due?
- The City of Richmond bills at $1.20 per $100 of assessed value, due in two halves on January 14 and June 14. Where your closing falls between those dates affects how taxes are split on the settlement statement.
Selling timelines in nearby markets
- Virginia Beach, VA about 46 days to contract
- Washington, DC about 35 days to contract
- Baltimore, MD about 32 days to contract
- Durham, NC about 54 days to contract
- Raleigh, NC about 51 days to contract
Tell us what you need for your Richmond house
You do not need a number ready, or photos, or a plan. Want to know your real options, even the ones that do not involve us? Call and ask.
Sabrina usually picks up. (615) 576-8827