Selling a Home in Connecticut: Costs, Conveyance Tax and What You'll Walk Away With

Selling a home in Connecticut is straightforward once you know the costs. This guide explains each one, how the conveyance tax tiers work and how to estimate what you will take away. Use the net proceeds calculator to run your own numbers.

Seller costs

• Commission. Commissions are negotiable and are set out in your listing agreement. We leave this blank in our calculator for you to fill in.
• Attorney. Your attorney prepares the deed and conveyance tax return, clears title issues and handles the closing.
• State conveyance tax. Paid by the seller, in tiers (below).
• Town conveyance tax. 0.25 percent of the price in most towns and up to 0.50 percent in certain towns that qualify for a higher rate¹².
• Mortgage payoff and any home equity line.
• Prorations. Property taxes, utilities and common charges are prorated at closing.
• Repairs and credits agreed after the buyer’s inspection.

How the conveyance tax tiers work

For a residential sale, the state conveyance tax is charged in tiers on the price¹:

Portion of the price	State rate
Up to $800,000	0.75%
$800,000 to $2,500,000	1.25%
Above $2,500,000	2.25%

For example, on a $1,000,000 sale the state tax is 0.75 percent of $800,000 ($6,000) plus 1.25 percent of $200,000 ($2,500), or $8,500. A town rate of 0.25 percent adds $2,500.

The federal home-sale exclusion

If you owned and lived in the home as your main home for at least two of the five years before the sale, you can usually exclude up to $250,000 of gain from federal income tax, or $500,000 for most married couples filing jointly³. Gain above that may be taxable. Keep records of improvements, which add to your cost basis. A tax professional can confirm how the rules apply to you.

Timing a sale

Market activity in Connecticut is seasonal. SmartMLS publishes monthly indicators for its whole area⁴ and town-level reports with days on market; in Milford, for example, single-family homes sold in a median of 29 days in 2025⁵. A licensed agent can show you the pattern for your town and price range.

Preparing the home

Fix what an inspector will flag, such as small leaks, missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and obvious deferred maintenance. Declutter, clean and consider staging. Gather records: permits, the oil tank history, septic pumping, radon tests and any foundation reports. Complete the disclosure report honestly and early.

Selling while buying

If you are moving to a smaller home or another town, decide whether to sell first, buy first or line up both. Options include a rent-back from your buyer, a bridge loan or a contingent offer. See downsizing in Connecticut.

Conveyance tax at real prices

The tiers are easier to understand with real numbers. Here is the conveyance tax a seller would pay at the 2025 median single-family sale price in several towns, assuming the standard 0.25 percent town rate¹. Check whether your town charges a higher rate before you rely on these figures.

• Milford, $539,000⁵. The whole price falls in the first tier, so the state tax is 0.75 percent, or $4,042.50. The town tax is $1,347.50. Total: about $5,390.
• Stamford, $960,500⁶. State tax is $6,000 on the first $800,000 plus 1.25 percent of $160,500 or about $2,006, for about $8,006. The town tax is about $2,401. Total: about $10,408.
• Fairfield, $1,072,500⁷. State tax is $6,000 plus 1.25 percent of $272,500 or about $3,406, for about $9,406. The town tax is about $2,681. Total: about $12,088.
• Westport, $2,300,000⁸. State tax is $6,000 plus 1.25 percent of $1,500,000, or $18,750, for $24,750. The town tax is $5,750. Total: $30,500.
• Greenwich, $2,504,475⁹. State tax is $6,000 plus $21,250 on the second tier plus 2.25 percent of $4,475 or about $101, for about $27,351. The town tax is about $6,261. Total: about $33,612.

The jump between the Stamford and Westport examples shows why the tiers matter. Above $800,000 every extra dollar is taxed at a higher state rate. Above $2.5 million the rate rises again.

The net proceeds calculator does this math for any price.

The disclosure report

Connecticut sellers of most residential property must give the buyer a written property condition disclosure report before the buyer signs a contract¹⁰. If a seller does not, the seller must credit the buyer $500 at closing¹¹.

The report asks about the roof, the basement, the heating and cooling systems, the plumbing, the water and sewage systems and environmental issues such as radon and lead. Answer each question from what you actually know. If you do not know, say so.

Honest disclosure protects you. A buyer who finds a problem you knew about and did not disclose may have a claim against you after closing. Ask your attorney if you are unsure how to answer a question.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Sellers must give the buyer an affidavit at closing confirming that the home has working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as the law requires. The former option of giving a $250 credit in place of the affidavit was eliminated in 2023¹².

Check the detectors early, replace old units and keep receipts. It is a small job that avoids a last-minute problem at closing.

Things buyers will ask about

Connecticut buyers and their inspectors tend to ask about a few things in particular.

Oil tanks. Many older homes were heated with oil. Buyers will ask whether there is a tank, where it is, whether any buried tank was removed and whether there are records. Gather what you have.

Radon. Buyers often test for radon in the air and, for homes on wells, in the water. The state Department of Public Health has information on radon testing and mitigation¹³. A recent test and any mitigation records help.

Wells and septic systems. If your home has a private well or septic system, have records of water tests and septic pumping ready¹⁴. Buyers will often test the water during the inspection period.

Foundations. In parts of northeastern and north-central Connecticut, some concrete foundations have deteriorated because of the mineral pyrrhotite. Buyers in those areas often ask about the foundation, and the state has information for owners¹⁵. If your home has had a foundation test, have the report ready.

Pricing and the first weeks

The first weeks on the market usually bring the most attention from buyers. A home priced in line with recent sales tends to get the strongest response in that window.

Ask your agent for recent sales of similar homes nearby, not just active listings. Town-level SmartMLS reports show the median price and days on market in each town⁴. In Milford, for example, single-family homes sold in a median of 29 days in 2025⁵.

If a home sits without offers, the market is telling you something. Your agent can help you decide whether the issue is price, condition or marketing.

Choosing an agent and an attorney

Interview more than one listing agent. Ask each for a pricing opinion with recent sales, a marketing plan and their proposed commission. Commissions are negotiable.

In Connecticut, closings are usually handled by attorneys. Your attorney prepares the deed and the conveyance tax return and makes sure the sale closes cleanly. Ask for the fee up front.

Selling from out of state

If you have already moved, you can still sell a Connecticut home. Your agent can handle showings and your attorney can arrange for you to sign documents remotely or by power of attorney.

Keep the home insured, heated and checked regularly while it is empty. Ask your insurer whether a vacant home needs a different policy.

Where sellers go next

Many sellers are also buyers. If you are moving within Connecticut, the downsizing guide, the best towns for downsizing and the Guilford, Madison and West Hartford comparison can help you choose your next town. If you are weighing two towns side by side, see Westport vs Fairfield.

For the money side of the next purchase, read buying a home in Connecticut and costs and money. Town guides for Stamford, Fairfield, Milford and Greenwich show local prices.

When you are ready, get matched with a licensed Connecticut agent who sells homes in your town.

Run your numbers

The net proceeds calculator applies the state tiers and your town’s rate to your price. Enter your commission, attorney fee and payoff to estimate what you will walk away with. When you are ready, we can introduce you to one licensed Connecticut agent for a pricing opinion.

After the sale

Keep your closing statement, the conveyance tax return and your records of improvements with your tax papers. You may need them to report the sale or to show your cost basis³.

Cancel your homeowners insurance only after the sale has closed and the deed has been recorded. Transfer or close utilities and leave the new owner the keys, manuals and warranty papers for appliances and systems.

If you have moved out of Connecticut, the state will expect a part-year resident return for the year of the move. A tax professional can help. See Connecticut taxes for new residents, Southbury and West Hartford for buyers and sellers moving within the state.