Property transfer process and fees

The process of buying and selling property can be confusing, and transferring property comes with its own set of rules and requirements.

If you own real estate and want to transfer it to someone else, you’ll need to change the title on the deed to reflect that. There are two main ways to do this — a quitclaim deed and a warranty deed — and the one you choose depends on who you’re transferring the property to, why you’re doing it, and what kind of tenant you are.

What kind of paperwork will I need?

When you’re transferring ownership property, you’ll typically need to fill out two forms:

• A quitclaim deed form. This asks for the value of your home, location of your home and a legal description (property dimensions and boundaries) of the property.
• A preliminary change of ownership form. If you’re the owner who’s intending to keep the property, you’ll complete this form.

You can get these forms from your county recorder’s office.

What is the difference between a grantor and a grantee?

The person transferring property ownership is the grantor, or the seller. The person receiving it is the grantee, or buyer.

Who is most likely to be researching the property transfer process?

Finder data suggests that women aged 35-44 are most likely to be researching this topic.

What is a quitclaim deed vs. a warranty deed?

To sign over property ownership to another person, you’ll use one of two deeds: a quitclaim deed or a warranty deed.

Quitclaim deed

This transfers any ownership interest the grantor (seller) has in the property, but it doesn’t make promises about whether the title is good and if anybody else owns the property. Basically, it says, “I’m transferring you whatever interest I have in this property, but I’m not guaranteeing anything about this claim.”

When you sign a quitclaim deed, you’re effectively giving up — aka quitting — your claim or rights to the property. No money or warranties are exchanged, so it offers a pretty low level of buyer protection. Since they’re risky, quitclaim deeds are usually used to transfer property among family members or between spouses after a divorce. They’re also used to clear up title issues, transfer property to a trust and gift property to someone.

As a seller, it safeguards you from being sued by your family member, spouse or future buyer later if it turns out there’s an issue with the deed or you didn’t have full ownership of the house.

Quitclaim deeds are often, mistakenly called “quick claim” deeds for their speed and simplicity. While that’s incorrect, it’s useful when trying to wrap your head around the concept.

Warranty deed

This property transfer comes with legal assurances. It states that you, the seller, have the right to transfer the property and explicitly says that nobody else owns it. It also asserts that there are no debts or liens on the property. In other words, a warranty deed says, “I promise that I’m the rightful owner of this property, and the title to it is good.”

Warranty deeds are typically used for real estate sales. They legally protect buyers from title challenges. Unlike quitclaim deeds, someone who signs a warranty deed knows they won’t face unpaid taxes or creditor liens later down the line.

What is a joint tenant vs. a tenant in common?

They’re both forms of property co-ownership. When two or more people purchase property together, the attorney asks how they will hold title: as joint tenants or tenants in common.

Joint tenants have equal shares of the property with the same deed and at the same time. This type of holding title is common between married couples and family members. It can be broken if one of the tenants transfers (or sells) their interest in the property to another person. At that point, the title is converted to a tenancy in common.

With tenancy in common, the owners may have different ownership interests. For instance, Tenant 1 might own 50% of the home, while Tenant 2 and Tenant 3 each own 25%. Tenancies in common can also be granted at different times. To use the same example, Tenant 3 might obtain interest in the property years after the others signed off on the title. A tenancy in common can be broken if one or more of the co-owners sells their stake or buys out another tenant’s interest in the property, or if the property is sold.

While joint tenants and tenancy in common are similar in that the co-owners have rights and duties to the property, the key difference revolves around what happens when a co-owner dies.

When a joint tenant dies, their interest in the property is automatically — and equally — transferred to the surviving owners — the right of survivorship.

Tenants in common have no rights to survivorship. They don’t inherit any shares after a co-owner’s death. The deceased tenant’s interest in the property passes to their heirs or the people named in their will.

What fees could I potentially pay?

Transferring your rights to a property doesn’t mean you’re off the hook with fees and charges. While they vary between states, be prepared to pay the following fees:

• Transfer tax. The seller typically has to pay a transfer tax on the property, which is imposed by the county. The tax you’re charged depends on your county, but it’s usually around 1% of the home’s purchase price. However, if the county reassesses the value of your property at the time of transfer, the person taking over ownership may end up paying higher property taxes.
• Deed preparation fee. This covers the costs of drafting the document that transfers the title from the seller to the buyer. Usually, the seller pays this fee at closing, but it’s not unusual for buyers to pay the attorney directly.
• Gift tax. If you’re gifting the property to someone, like a child, you’ll have to pay a gift tax to the IRS. The IRS uses current market data to assess the value of the gift, or property. As of 2018, individuals are allowed up to $15,000 annually in nontaxable gifts, and married couples can gift $30,000 without being subject to the tax. The estate and gift tax limit is $5.6 million for individuals and $11.2 million for married couples.
• Title insurance. Buyers sometimes purchase title insurance. This protects them from any issues with the home’s ownership history later on. Also, sellers often buy a title policy for the new homeowner, which typically costs between $500 and $1,000.
• Recording fees. When you file your deed with the county recorder’s office, you’re charged a fee. This is based on the value or sale price of the property, as well as the number of pages and documents. Typically, the buyer pays this fee upon filing.

How to avoid fees and charges when transferring property

There are two situations where you may be able to skirt fees and charges.

Transferring property in a state that doesn’t charge transfer taxes.

If the property you’re transferring is located in one of these states, you won’t have to pay a transfer tax:

Using the annual gift tax exclusion to your benefit.

The IRS imposes a gift tax on those who gift property to their kids or family members. However, the annual gift tax exclusion is $15,000, which means that if you and your spouse join forces, you can transfer up to $30,000 in assets without triggering the tax. The estate and gift tax exemption is capped at $5.6 million for individuals and $11.2 million for married couples.

Under these rules, the gift tax is charged based on the value of the home minus the exclusion amount.

Does transferring the property to someone else’s name affect the mortgage?

No, transferring a deed to another person doesn’t remove your responsibility to pay the mortgage on the property. As the original owner, you’re still obligated to make the payments to your lender — even if you’re divorced and don’t have interest in the property.

The only way to free yourself from the mortgage is if the new owner is approved for a loan to pay off your lender’s lien on the property.

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Can I cancel my property transfer quitclaim deed once it’s signed?

No, once the quitclaim deed is signed, notarized and recorded with the county office, it’s a legally binding document. You can’t cancel it unless you can prove in court that the deed was the result of fraud, threats or illegal pressure. If you go down that route, you’ll need an attorney.

While a quitclaim deed can’t be nullified, if the seller agrees to take back the property, the buyer can draft and file a new quitclaim deed. This voids the first deed and returns the property back to the original owner.

Bottom line

Your property is an asset, and transferring ownership can be time consuming. There are a few paths to take, but quitclaim deeds are commonly used to turn over any interest you have to a trusted person, like a family member or friend.

To learn more about the ins and outs of property ownership, check out our comprehensive guide to mortgages.

Frequently asked questions

• Are there gift tax implications of putting children on a quitclaim deed?

  Yes. If they’re not paying you for the property, that means you’re giving them a gift. The IRS imposes a tax on almost all gifts given during the tax year, so you’ll have to file a gift tax return that states you’re transferring interest in your home to your children. As of 2018, the annual gift tax exemption is $15,000 for individuals and $30,000 for married couples. The estate and gift tax limit is $5.6 million for individuals and $11.2 million for married couples.

  The gift tax is based on the home’s fair market value.

• Who pays the gift tax on a quitclaim deed?

  The gift giver pays the applicable gift taxes, not the receiver. In other words, as a parent, you’ll owe the IRS a gift tax if you add your children to a quitclaim deed.

• Is it possible to transfer a deed to your house to your children before you die?

  Yes, you can legally transfer the deed to your house to your kids before you die. To do this, you’ll need to sign a deed transfer and record it with the county recorder’s office. The most common is the quitclaim deed, but some parents opt for a “transfer on death” deed, which comes into effect after you pass away.

• Can you transfer the deed to a house with a mortgage?

  Yes, although you may still be responsible for the mortgage payments. To get rid of that obligation, the new owner has to apply and be approved for a loan to pay your lender.