Transfer taxes tend to be one of the biggest variables for sellers. Some states don’t have them at all, whereas in some states they can be very steep. In New York, for example, the transfer tax rate is $2 for every $500 in value — sell a home for $450,000 and you’re looking at $1,800 in transfer taxes. In California, where the rate is just $1.10 for every $1,000 in value, the bill for a $450,000 sale would be a mere $495. And Texas charges no transfer tax.