Malvern Borough and Tredyffrin Township collect 1.5% locally and the City of Coatesville 2%; every other township and borough in the county sits at 1%. Check the municipality on the deed, since a Malvern mailing address reaches well into the surrounding townships, which pay the standard rate. A refinance owes no transfer tax in Pennsylvania, and transfers between spouses, parents and children, grandparents and siblings are exempt.
Total transfer tax on this sale
Both parties are jointly liable for the whole amount; who actually writes the check is set in the agreement of sale, and half each is the Chester County custom. For scale, the same sale inside Philadelphia would owe 4.578%.
First house in the county? Part of this may be coverable.
Chester County's first-time buyer program is a 0% loan of up to $40,000 for households under its income limits, repaid when you sell or refinance. A lender who works with the program can tell you on one call whether its limits allow it.
(484) 290-8667Estimates only. Not a loan offer or rate quote. Rates are set by the Commonwealth and each municipality and can change; confirm with the closing agent before you rely on a figure.