Transfer Tax:
What you need to know
Hamilton County Commissioners will host two public hearings and will accept public comments at the dates and locations below:
Tuesday, December 2, 10 am
Todd B. Portune Center for County Government
Room 605, 138 E. Court Street
Cincinnati, OH
Tuesday, December 9, 6 pm
Board of Elections
4700 Smith Road
Norwood, OH
Hamilton County Transfer Tax Proposal
We support fiscally responsible, sustainable, and equitable strategies to maintain county services. Increasing the transfer tax is not that solution.
We will advocate for long-term growth strategies that build competitiveness, support housing affordability, and position Hamilton County for durable economic success. RAGC is actively engaging county leadership, analyzing impacts, and mobilizing members to ensure homeowners and REALTORS® are heard before any final decision is made.
Transfer Tax Overview
RAGC Advocacy Committee Work
The RAGC Advocacy Committee has been actively engaged on this issue—researching impacts, coordinating with NAR, meeting directly with county leadership, and mobilizing rapidly as the proposal emerged. We are working hard to ensure REALTORS® and homeowners have a strong, informed voice in this process and are partnering with business organizations across Greater Cincinnati to present a unified regional perspective.
We support fiscally responsible, sustainable, and equitable strategies to maintain county services. Increasing the transfer tax is not that solution.
We will advocate for long-term growth strategies that build competitiveness, support housing affordability, and position Hamilton County for durable economic success. RAGC is actively engaging county leadership, analyzing impacts, and mobilizing members to ensure homeowners and REALTORS® are heard before any final decision is made.
Leadership Quotes
DaVan Gassett, President, REALTOR® Alliance of Greater Cincinnati
“Homeowners in Hamilton County are already feeling the squeeze from rising housing costs, higher property taxes, and limited inventory. Asking them to shoulder an additional transfer tax—amounting to roughly a 33% increase—is simply not fair. As REALTORS®, we hear firsthand the concerns of buyers and sellers across every income level, and the message is consistent: this will make homeownership harder, not easier. Our members strongly believe there are better, more balanced ways for the County to address its budget challenges without placing yet another burden on the people who keep our communities strong.”
Heather Kopf, Chair, Advocacy Committee, REALTOR® Alliance of Greater Cincinnati
“As REALTORS®, we stand on the front lines with homeowners every day. We cannot allow new policies to make homeownership more expensive or less attainable. RAGC is here to defend our clients, our members, and the health of our housing market.”
Mary Huttlinger, Government Affairs Director, REALTOR® Alliance of Greater Cincinnati
Economic Evidence
Key point: Transfer taxes are widely found to depress housing transactions and mobility, and can impose substantial deadweight loss relative to the revenue they raise. Selected research highlights:
Transfer Taxes Reduce Sales Volume
- Chicago: Research by the University of Chicago’s Harris School found that Chicago’s increased real estate transfer tax resulted in a 12% decline in sales volume in the year following the increase, primarily among middle-priced homes.
- Washington, D.C.: A study of D.C.’s deed and recordation tax increases found a significant reduction in transaction volume, especially among older homeowners and cost-sensitive sellers.
- Philadelphia: The Philadelphia transfer tax (one of the highest in the U.S. at ~4.278%) has been associated with lower sales activity compared with surrounding suburban counties with substantially lower rates.
- San Francisco Bay Area: Econometric analyses following Bay Area cities’ municipal transfer tax increases found 6–8% reductions in turnover, with greater effects in moderate-priced neighborhoods.
Transfer Taxes Depress Market Mobility
- National Association of REALTORS® (NAR): NAR reports that higher transfer taxes discourage mobility, create a “lock-in effect,” and reduce listings and sales. NAR’s Government Affairs analysis finds that transfer taxes have a “significant chilling effect” on transactions, especially in the $250,000–$500,000 range.
- Maryland (Montgomery & Prince George’s Counties): County studies show that increases in recordation/transfer taxes led to lower turnover, reduced “move-up” purchases, and fewer first-time buyer transactions.
Transfer Taxes Increase Total Selling Costs
- Transaction costs—agent fees, closing costs, staging, repairs—are already high.
- Adding additional transfer tax makes selling more expensive and disproportionately affects: Downsizing seniors, Low- and moderate-equity homeowners, Estate sales, and Distressed sellers
Broader Economic Impact
- Real estate transactions generate taxable economic activity: renovations, materials, furnishings, appliances, moving companies, landscapers, etc.
- Studies from D.C., Chicago, and Philadelphia show that lower turnover results in: Reduced permit activity, Reduced remodeling spending, Reduced sales tax revenue associated with move
This is a key U.S.-based argument:
When households don’t move, ancillary economic activity drops, and counties lose tax revenue in other categories.
For Hamilton County, where the median sale price hovers around $280–300K and prices have already risen sharply, adding more friction at the point of sale runs directly counter to goals around mobility, downsizing, and efficient use of existing housing stock.
Why REALTORS® Care
Why REALTORS® Care About an Increase in the Transfer Tax
An increase in the transfer tax directly affects the people REALTORS® serve—homeowners, buyers, and sellers—by raising the cost of completing a real estate transaction.
Higher transaction costs can discourage listings, reduce mobility, and shrink the pool of qualified buyers, all of which lead to fewer closings and a softer market.
Slower activity means less inventory, fewer opportunities for first-time buyers, and a more challenging environment for REALTORS® to do business.
Because housing plays a central role in the region’s economic health, any additional friction in the market impacts not just individual transactions but the overall strength and stability of our local real estate community.
Talking Points
It's important to talk to your colleagues and clients
It’s important to talk with your peers, colleagues, and clients about the proposed transfer tax increase because it directly affects the cost and feasibility of buying and selling a home in Hamilton County. REALTORS® are uniquely positioned to explain how even small changes in transaction costs can impact affordability, inventory, and market activity. By sharing accurate information and encouraging others to speak up, we help ensure that homeowner and industry perspectives are part of the decision-making process.
Share Your Opinion
You have a voice in this important issue.
Submit your feedback on the proposed transfer tax increase by Monday, December 8.
RAGC leaders will deliver all submissions in person to county commissioners.