Georgia— Property Tax & Closing Costs
2024 Census dataEffective tax rate
0.81%
of assessed value annually
Median home value
$175,300
2024 ACS survey
Median taxes paid
$1,424/yr
2024 data
Stephens County's 0.81% effective property tax rate falls in the middle 50% of US counties — close to the national median of 0.81%. Within Georgia's 158 counties, it's the 61st lowest. On the county's median home value of $175,300, the typical homeowner pays $1,424 annually in property tax — close to the national median of $1,629. At closing, Georgia's 0.10% combined real estate transfer tax adds roughly $175 on a median-priced home, typically paid by the seller. About 9.0% of the county lies within a FEMA flood hazard zone — worth checking msc.fema.gov for any specific address before buying.
Calculate your true cost
Enter any purchase price to see the full cost breakdown for Stephens County.
County median: $175,300
Leave at $0 if the property has no homeowners association.
LTV: 80.00%
At closing
Monthly ongoing
Year one
Moderate flood risk. Some neighborhoods require flood insurance — check your property at msc.fema.gov.
All figures are estimates for planning purposes only. Mortgage payment assumes a 30-year fixed rate of 6.8% — your lender will confirm the actual rate. Closing costs vary by lender and transaction. Consult a licensed real estate attorney and lender before making any financial decisions.
Georgia property tax exemptions
Ways buyers in Stephens County may reduce their annual property tax. These programs apply statewide; verify county specifics with your local assessor.
Standard Homestead Exemption
$2,000 off the 40% assessed value of an owner-occupied primary residence for county and school taxes. Many counties layer larger local exemptions on top.
View official source →Senior Homestead Exemption
Owners 65+ with net income under $10,000 may claim an additional $4,000 county exemption. Many counties provide substantially larger local senior exemptions, often including full school-tax exemptions.
View official source →Disabled Veteran Homestead Exemption
$126,526 statewide homestead exemption (for 2026, indexed annually to federal VA levels) for veterans with 100% service-connected disability and their unremarried surviving spouses.
View official source →Last verified 2026-04. Exemption amounts and eligibility change frequently — always confirm with your county assessor before claiming.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions about buying a home in Stephens County.
The effective property tax rate in Stephens County is 0.81% — calculated as the median annual property tax paid ($1,424) divided by the median home value ($175,300), using 2024 US Census ACS 5-year estimates. Your actual bill depends on your purchase price, homestead or senior exemptions, and any special assessments applied in your taxing district.
Georgia's combined real estate transfer tax is approximately 0.10% of the purchase price. On the median Stephens County home value of $175,300, this adds roughly $175 at closing. Real Estate Transfer Tax is $1.00 first $1,000 + $0.10/$100 above (effectively 0.1%), seller pays by custom. Buyers with mortgages ≥62 months also pay Intangible Recording Tax of $1.50/$500 (0.3%) on loan amount (not purchase price) — max $25,000 per note. Shorter-term loans exempt as of July 2025.
Only in parts. About 9.0% of Stephens County's land area is within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. Most homes are outside these zones, but worth verifying the specific address at msc.fema.gov.
Closing costs for a buyer in Stephens County typically run $3,506–$8,765 (2–5% of purchase price) on a median-priced home, including title insurance ($800–$2,000), appraisal ($400–$700), home inspection ($350–$600), recording fees ($100–$300), and loan origination (0.5–1.0% of the loan amount). Use the calculator above for a specific estimate at your purchase price.
Data sources for Stephens County
Every figure on this page is traceable. Verify the numbers yourself against the original public data.
Source for the 0.81% effective property tax rate, median home value, and median taxes paid (ACS 5-year, 2024 vintage).
Source for county-level flood zone exposure, wildfire risk, and other natural hazard ratings. Updated quarterly by FEMA.
Look up a specific property's flood zone and insurance rate map before making an offer on a home in Stephens County.
Guides for Georgia home buyers
What every buyer should read before making an offer.
HOA Documents
HOA lawsuits — how to check for pending litigation against your future HOA before you close
A buyer closed on a house and only then found out about ongoing HOA lawsuits. Six checks you can run yourself before your contingencies expire.
Read the guide →HOA Documents
Undisclosed HOA special assessment — what you can do if you find out after closing
HOA special assessment not on the disclosure? One buyer got a $15,000 bill the day after closing. How to catch it before — and what to do after.
Read the guide →