Closing Costs by State (2026): All 50 States Compared

Average Closing Costs by State (2026)

Estimates are for a $300,000 purchase with 20% down ($240,000 loan). They include lender fees, title, and government taxes, but not prepaid items (homeowners insurance, tax escrow, prepaid interest), which vary by buyer. The percentage is total closing costs as a share of the sale price.

Estimates based on a $300,000 purchase price. Actual costs vary by lender, county, loan type, and negotiation. Transfer Tax shows the total state rate before any buyer/seller split (who pays varies by state and is negotiable); county and city taxes are extra where noted. Connecticut, New Jersey, Vermont and Washington use graduated rates. *Oregon has no state transfer tax; only Washington County charges 0.1%. Attorney at Closing: Yes = a licensed attorney must conduct or supervise the closing; Title/deed = an attorney must handle the title examination or the deed, but a non-attorney settlement agent may conduct the closing; Customary = not legally required, but attorneys usually handle closings; No = not required (title or escrow companies typically close).

What Drives State-by-State Differences?

Core lender fees (origination, appraisal, credit report) are similar everywhere. The big differences come from:

• Real estate transfer taxes — 0% in some states, 1–4% of the sale price in others, sometimes with county and city taxes on top
• Attorney requirements — some states require an attorney for all or part of the closing; attorney fees typically add $500–$1,500
• Title insurance rates — some states set or file rates, others let title companies compete
• Recording fees — set by county, from about $50 to $500+
• Local customs — who pays which fee varies by region, even within a state

Transfer taxes: the biggest variable

Transfer taxes (also called deed, stamp, or excise taxes) are charged when property changes hands. Key facts:

• 15 states have no state transfer tax: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Wyoming (a few, like Oregon's Washington County, allow a local tax)
• Who pays varies — the seller often pays, but some states split the tax and a few put it on the buyer (Vermont's tax is buyer-paid; New Hampshire charges 0.75% to each side)
• Local add-ons can dwarf the state rate — Philadelphia's combined state and city rate is 4.578% (since July 2025), and Pittsburgh's is higher still; Chicago's buyer-paid city tax alone is $7.50 per $1,000
• Some taxes hit the mortgage, not the deed — Florida buyers who finance pay 0.35% doc stamps on the note plus a 0.2% intangible tax; Georgia charges a 0.3% intangible tax on the loan (capped at $25,000); Virginia's 0.25% recordation tax applies to the deed and the loan; New York adds a mortgage recording tax
• Exemptions exist for certain transfers, such as inherited property or transfers between family members

Which states require an attorney at closing?

Lists of "attorney states" online disagree, largely because the rules come from a mix of statutes, court decisions, and bar opinions — and some cover only part of the transaction. Here's how they break down:

• Attorney required to conduct or supervise the closing (6 states): Connecticut (by statute), Delaware, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and South Carolina (by state supreme court decisions or bar rules)
• Attorney required for title or deed work (3 states): Kentucky, Rhode Island, and West Virginia — an attorney must handle certain legal work such as the title examination or preparing or reviewing the deed, but a non-attorney settlement agent may conduct the closing itself
• Customary but not required: in New York, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey (especially North Jersey), Maryland, Mississippi, and D.C., attorneys handle many or most closings by local practice rather than legal mandate

Elsewhere, closings are usually handled by title or escrow companies, though you can always hire an attorney for advice. In some states the attorney also serves as the title agent, so you may not pay a separate title company fee. Rules can change, so confirm current requirements with your lender or title company.

The Most Expensive States for Closing Costs

Delaware (4.4%)

Delaware has the highest closing costs as a share of price, mainly because of its realty transfer tax — typically 4% in combined state and local tax, customarily split so buyer and seller each pay 2%. On a $300,000 home, the buyer's share alone is $6,000. Title insurance rates are also higher than average, and an attorney must conduct the closing.

New York (4.3%)

New York layers several taxes: the state transfer tax (0.4%, customarily paid by the seller), a buyer-paid mansion tax (1% on purchases of $1M or more, graduated up to 3.9% in NYC), and New York City's own 1–1.425% transfer tax. Financed purchases also pay a mortgage recording tax of roughly 0.75% of the loan upstate and up to about 1.9% in NYC. Attorneys are customary for both buyer and seller, though not strictly required. On a $500,000 home in NYC, closing costs can easily exceed $20,000–25,000 — the highest dollar amounts in the country.

Washington D.C. (4.0%)

D.C. charges a deed transfer tax and a separate recordation tax of 1.1% each on homes under $400,000 and 1.45% each at $400,000 and above — 2.2–2.9% combined. Attorneys are commonly used though not legally required.

Maryland (3.3%)

Maryland's state transfer tax is 0.5%, plus county transfer taxes from 0% to 1.5%. In Montgomery County, total transfer taxes can reach 1.5–2% of the price.

Pennsylvania (2.5%)

Pennsylvania's 1% state transfer tax plus local (municipal and school district) taxes that usually add another 1% make a typical 2% total, customarily split between buyer and seller. Cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh charge much more. No attorney is required — title agents handle most closings — so the transfer tax is what pushes costs up.

The Cheapest States for Closing Costs

States with no transfer tax — including Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Missouri, Indiana, New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona — dominate the bottom of the table at roughly 1–1.7% of the price. Without that tax layer, you mostly pay lender fees and title insurance, which are more consistent nationwide. A few notes:

• Alaska (1.0%) — the lowest in our estimates: no transfer tax and a competitive title insurance market
• Missouri and Indiana (1.3%) — no transfer tax, reasonable title and recording costs, and no attorney requirement
• Iowa (1.4%) — a small 0.16% seller-paid transfer tax and low recording fees. Private title insurance isn't sold in Iowa; title is checked through an abstract and attorney opinion, with optional coverage from the state-run Iowa Title Guaranty
• Texas (1.4%) — no transfer tax, though state-set title insurance rates tend to run higher than average

Notes on Other Large States

• Florida — documentary stamp tax of 0.70% on the deed (0.60% in Miami-Dade for single-family homes), customarily paid by the seller in most counties, plus the buyer's mortgage taxes noted above. Title insurance rates are regulated.
• California — county documentary transfer tax of 0.11% (there is no separate state tax), plus city taxes that vary widely. San Francisco's city transfer tax is 5.5% on sales of $10M–$25M and 6% at $25M and up. High prices mean even low rates produce large dollar amounts.
• Georgia — 0.1% state transfer tax (customarily seller-paid) plus the buyer's 0.3% intangible tax on the loan. A licensed attorney must conduct the closing, adding $500–1,000.
• Illinois — state transfer tax of $0.50 per $500 (0.1%), plus county and city taxes; Chicago is the expensive outlier.
• Ohio — conveyance fee of $1 per $1,000 at the state level, up to 0.4% with county fees. No attorney requirement.
• Virginia — 0.25% recordation tax (buyer) plus 0.1% grantor tax (seller); Northern Virginia tends to cost more.
• Washington State — Real Estate Excise Tax of 1.1% to 3% on a graduated scale, customarily paid by the seller; the portion of the price above about $3M is taxed at the top rate.
• New Jersey — graduated seller-paid realty transfer fee of about 0.4%–1.21%; since July 2025 the 1%–3.5% mansion tax on homes over $1M is also paid by the seller.
• Michigan — 0.75% state transfer tax plus 0.11% county tax.
• Colorado — documentary fee of $0.01 per $100 (negligible); title insurance and lender fees drive the cost.

How to Estimate Your Actual Closing Costs

State averages are useful for planning, but your real number depends on:

• Loan amount — many fees, and mortgage taxes in some states, scale with the loan
• County and city — recording fees and local transfer taxes vary within states
• Lender — origination fees vary significantly; shopping lenders can save $500–$2,000
• Loan type — FHA loans have different fee structures than conventional; VA loans have a funding fee but no PMI
• Prepaids — insurance, tax escrow, and prepaid interest come on top of the figures above

Our free Closing Costs Calculator gives you an itemized estimate based on your purchase price, down payment, and location. Once you apply, your lender's Loan Estimate shows your actual fees. For a fee-by-fee explainer, see What Are Closing Costs?

How to Reduce Closing Costs

You can't avoid government transfer taxes, but you can cut much of the rest:

• Negotiate seller concessions — especially in buyer's markets, sellers may pay some or all of your closing costs
• Shop lenders and title companies — in most states you can choose your title company, and both title and lender fees vary by hundreds of dollars or more
• Use first-time buyer breaks — Maryland waives the state transfer tax for qualifying first-time buyers, Delaware reduces their share of the state tax, and D.C. offers a reduced recordation tax rate; many states also offer closing cost assistance or grants
• Close later in the month — this reduces prepaid interest (a small saving)

More strategies: 11 Ways to Reduce Closing Costs.

Key Takeaways

• Closing costs range from about 1% of the price (Alaska, Wyoming, Montana) to over 4% (Delaware, New York, D.C.)
• Transfer taxes are the biggest variable — 15 states charge none, while some states and cities charge 2–4% or more
• 6 states require an attorney to conduct or supervise the closing, and 3 more require one for title or deed work
• Always compare your lender's Loan Estimate against a calculator estimate before closing