Estimate buyer closing costs by state, with an itemized breakdown
| Cost Item | Typical Amount |
|---|---|
| Loan origination fee (0.5% – 1% of loan) | — |
| Appraisal | $300 – $600 |
| Title insurance (~0.5% of price) | — |
| Escrow / settlement fee | $500 – $1,000 |
| Recording fees | $125 average |
| Transfer tax | State-dependent (included in the state average above) |
| Prepaids (insurance + property tax escrow) | $2,000 – $4,000 |
Note: prepaids aren't technically fees since the money funds your escrow account, but they're due at closing, so budget for them either way.
| State | Average % of Price | On a $400,000 Home |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 5.4% | $21,600 |
| Pennsylvania | 4.3% | $17,200 |
| District of Columbia | 3.9% | $15,600 |
| Maryland | 3.7% | $14,800 |
| Washington | 3.4% | $13,600 |
| New York | 3.1% | $12,400 |
| Connecticut | 2.8% | $11,200 |
| New Jersey | 2.7% | $10,800 |
| Vermont | 2.6% | $10,400 |
| Florida | 2.3% | $9,200 |
| New Hampshire | 2.0% | $8,000 |
| Hawaii | 1.9% | $7,600 |
| Massachusetts | 1.9% | $7,600 |
| Illinois | 1.8% | $7,200 |
| Michigan | 1.8% | $7,200 |
| National average | 1.8% | $7,200 |
Based on published ClosingCorp/ATTOM state averages. Treat these as estimates; your Loan Estimate from the lender is the number that counts.
Closing costs are the fees due when a home purchase actually completes: lender charges, title work, government recording, transfer taxes, and the escrow deposits your lender collects up front. They're the part of buying a house people forget to budget for, and they vary wildly by state. This calculator gives you a realistic estimate in seconds using published state averages.
Estimated closing costs = home price × your state's average closing-cost percentage (which includes transfer taxes). Because averages hide plenty of variation, the calculator also shows a ±20% range and an itemized breakdown scaled to your price and loan amount, so you can see roughly where the money goes. The percentages come from published ClosingCorp and ATTOM survey data, so treat them as planning numbers rather than quotes; the same state can vary by county, and lender fees differ from bank to bank.
Enter your target home price, pick your state, and set your down payment percentage. The down payment matters because origination fees are charged on the loan amount, not the price. Everything recalculates as you type. Once you have a real Loan Estimate from a lender, compare it line by line against the breakdown here; big gaps are worth questioning.
Say you're buying a $400,000 home in Florida with 20% down. Florida's average is 2.3% of the purchase price including transfer taxes, so the estimate is $9,200, with a realistic range of $7,360 to $11,040. Your loan is $320,000, which puts the origination fee around $1,600 to $3,200, title insurance near $2,000, plus the appraisal, escrow fee, recording, and $2,000 to $4,000 in prepaids. Move that same purchase to Missouri or Indiana (around 0.8%) and the estimate drops to roughly $3,200. Same house price, very different closing table.
Nationally, expect around 1.8% of the price with transfer taxes, which is about $7,200 on a $400,000 home. Location swings it hard: the same house runs roughly $9,200 in Florida (2.3%) and over $21,000 in Delaware (5.4%). Add prepaids like insurance and property tax escrow on top.
Both, but different items. Buyers typically cover lender fees, appraisal, title insurance, and prepaids. Sellers usually pay the real estate commissions and, in many states, some or all of the transfer tax. Almost everything is negotiable, and seller credits toward buyer costs are common in slower markets.
Delaware tops published averages at roughly 5.4% of the purchase price once transfer taxes are included, followed by Pennsylvania at about 4.3% and Washington DC near 3.9%. States like Missouri, Indiana, and North Dakota sit at the other end, around 0.8%, mostly because they charge little or no transfer tax.
On a refinance, usually yes, since lenders can add them to the new balance. On a purchase, generally no, though you can use lender credits (a higher rate in exchange for reduced fees), negotiate seller concessions, or apply state and local assistance programs to cover part of the bill.
Transfer taxes are the big driver. Some states charge 1% to 2% of the sale price just to record the deed, while others charge almost nothing. Title insurance rates, attorney requirements, and local recording fees also differ, which is why two identical houses can close thousands of dollars apart.