Tool
Closing Cost Calculator
Most calculators show "2–5% of price." Yours is different — closing costs vary wildly by state. This tool uses real per-state transfer tax and title-insurance figures to itemize what you'll actually pay at the table.
Purchase details
Closing costs are recalculated live as you change inputs.
Home price
$
Down payment13.3% of price
$
Loan amount (auto)$390,000
State
Interest rate
%
California · applied figures
Transfer / recording tax0.11% of price(buyer pays 50%)
Typical title insurance0.45% of price
$1.10/$1,000 state documentary tax; many cities (SF, LA, Oakland) add 0.45%–2.25%. Split is negotiable.
Estimated closing costs · California
$13,804
≈ 3.07% of home price
Down payment
$60,000
Closing costs
$13,804
Total cash to close
$73,804
Down payment + estimated closing costs
Lender & origination
$5,445
Origination fee (1% of loan)negotiable$3,900
Underwriting feenegotiable$795
Appraisal$575
Credit report$65
Flood certification$25
Tax service fee$85
Third-party services
$475
Home inspectionnegotiable$475
You choose the inspector — shop around.
No state-required survey or attorney for California.
Title & settlement
$3,410
Lender's title insurance$585
Required by the lender.
Owner's title insurancenegotiable$2,025
Optional in most states but strongly recommended.
Title search$275
Settlement / escrow feenegotiable$525
Government recording & transfer taxes
$423
Transfer tax (your share)$248
Total transfer tax on the deal: $495. Buyer's customary share: 50%.
Recording fees$175
Prepaids & escrow reserves
$4,051
Prepaid interest (~15 days)$1,042
Interest from closing date to month-end.
Property tax escrow (3 mo.)$844
Homeowners insurance (1 yr + 2 mo. escrow)negotiable$2,166
1-year premium ≈ $1,856 in California.
Estimates only. Actual closing costs depend on your lender, county, title agent and closing date. Always rely on your Loan Estimate (LE) and Closing Disclosure (CD) for the real numbers.
What you're actually paying for at closing
"Closing costs" is a bucket of five very different things. Knowing which line items you can shop, which are state-mandated, and which are pre-paid future expenses is the difference between feeling ambushed at the table and walking in with a number you already trust.
1. Lender fees — mostly negotiable
Origination, underwriting, processing, and assorted "admin" fees. These come from the lender and vary widely. Always get Loan Estimates from at least three lenders and compare the total lender fees line — not just the interest rate. A "no-fee" loan usually means a higher rate.
2. Third-party services — partly shoppable
Appraisal, credit report, flood certification, inspection, and (in some states) survey and attorney fees. The lender picks the appraiser, but you pick the inspector — and in attorney-closing states like Georgia, Massachusetts and New York, you pick the closing attorney too.
3. Title insurance & settlement — shop your own
Title insurance protects against ownership defects. The lender's policy is required; the owner's policy is optional but smart. In Texas, Florida and New Mexico the rates are set by the state, so shopping won't help. Everywhere else, you can choose your own title company and save real money.
4. Government taxes — fixed by your state
Transfer and recording taxes. This is where states differ the most. A $500,000 home pays roughly:
- $0 in Texas, Arizona, Idaho, Missouri and several others
- ~$550 in California (0.11%)
- ~$5,000 in Pennsylvania (2% split)
- ~$8,900 in Washington State (1.78% effective)
- ~$20,000 in Delaware (4% combined)
5. Prepaids & escrow — not fees, but real cash
Prepaid interest from your closing date to month-end, the first year of homeowners insurance, and 2–3 months of property tax and insurance reserves. You'd pay these anyway after closing; bundling them just front-loads the cash. A later closing date in the month means less prepaid interest.
Closing Costs FAQ
On a typical home purchase, buyer closing costs run 2–5% of the home price — but that range hides huge state-by-state variation. In states like Washington, Delaware and Pennsylvania, transfer taxes alone can add over 1% of the price. In Texas, Arizona, Idaho and most no-transfer-tax states, the same purchase can close for under 2%.