Average closing costs on a house in 2024

David McMillin

Key takeaways

  • Closing costs can range anywhere from 2 percent to 5 percent of the home’s purchase price.

  • Closing costs averaged $6,905 as of 2021, according to ClosingCorp. This includes costs paid by both the buyer and seller.

  • Washington, D.C. buyers and sellers pay the highest average closing costs, at $29,888. Missouri buyers and sellers pay the lowest, at $2,061.

Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you may ever make, but the price doesn’t offer the complete picture of how much you’ll need to get the keys. You’ll also have to account for closing costs, which are the fees associated with getting a mortgage, like home appraisal and credit check fees. One other big factor that impacts your closing cost tab: where you’re buying. Keep reading for the most recent data on average closing costs on a house.

How much are closing costs?

Closing costs are the upfront fees you pay when getting a mortgage and finalizing a home sale. In 2021, the national average closing costs for purchasing a single-family home were $6,905 including transfer taxes and $3,860 without, according to ClosingCorp.

In general, closing costs cover:

Together, these fees and costs typically range between 2 to 5 percent of the amount you’re borrowing for your mortgage.

You’ll also pay closing costs when you refinance your mortgage. Those costs, however, tend to be much lower: an average of $2,375 in 2021, according to ClosingCorp.

State

Closing costs for home purchase (including taxes)

Closing costs for refinancing (including taxes)

Washington, D.C.

$29,888

$3,370

Delaware

$17,859

$7,223

New York

$16,849

$10,084

Maryland

$14,721

$4,096

Washington

$13,927

$3,824

Pennsylvania

$10,634

$7,614

Connecticut

$8,821

$2,678

Florida

$8,554

$5,821

New Hampshire

$8,183

$2,283

Massachusetts

$7,964

$2,486

California

$7,953

$5,762

New Jersey

$7,915

$4,963

Vermont

$7,906

$2,356

Hawaii

$7,463

$4,730

Nevada

$6,383

$3,586

Virginia

$6,346

$3,230

Illinois

$5,929

$2,066

Michigan

$5,714

$3,011

Rhode Island

$5,568

$2,037

Utah

$4,837

$2,380

Arizona

$4,701

$1,798

Texas

$4,548

$3,588

Maine

$4,420

$2,944

Oregon

$4,327

$3,271

Ohio

$4,223

$2,091

Idaho

$4,082

$3,253

Minnesota

$4,011

$2,369

Tennessee

$3,911

$2,436

Colorado

$3,881

$2,266

Georgia

$3,762

$2,727

Louisiana

$3,711

$2,523

Alaska

$3,581

$2,671

New Mexico

$3,513

$2,693

Wisconsin

$3,459

$2,067

South Carolina

$3,447

$3,009

North Carolina

$3,406

$2,660

West Virginia

$3,406

$3,370

Montana

$3,337

$2,657

Iowa

$3,146

$2,043

Arkansas

$3,115

$2,223

South Dakota

$3,105

$2,388

Alabama

$2,986

$1,914

Oklahoma

$2,893

$2,918

Kentucky

$2,802

$1,907

Kansas

$2,793

$2,150

Nebraska

$2,781

$2,038

Mississippi

$2,756

$1,810

Wyoming

$2,589

$2,069

North Dakota

$2,501

$2,067

Indiana

$2,200

$1,447

Missouri

$2,061

$1,405

States with no transfer taxes

One of the expenses that adds to mortgage closing costs: real estate transfer or conveyance taxes, which cover the cost of transferring a title or deed from the seller to the buyer. These states have no transfer taxes:

  • Alaska

  • Arizona (charges $2 fee instead)

  • Idaho

  • Indiana

  • Louisiana

  • Kansas

  • Mississippi

  • Missouri

  • Montana

  • New Mexico

  • North Dakota

  • Oregon (unless you’re buying in Washington County)

  • Texas

  • Utah

  • Wyoming

Markets with the highest average closing costs

1. Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts

$28,724

2. Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, Washington

$16,003

3. Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware

$15,723

4. Dover, Delaware

$13,799

5. New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

$13,596

1. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, California

$7,063

2. Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, Hawaii

$7,016

3. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California

$6,412

4. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California

$6,363

5. Stockton, California

$6,137

FAQ about closing costs

  • What are closing costs?

    Closing costs are the fees and charges associated with closing on a mortgage and completing a real estate sale. The costs cover professional fees for services like the home appraisal and attorney’s fees, as well as filing fees for necessary paperwork with the municipality and your lender.

    Learn more: Closing costs: What are they and how much are they?

  • Who pays closing costs?

    Most of the time, both the buyer and seller pay home loan closing costs. These specific costs vary by location, financing and other factors.

    Learn more: Who pays closing costs?

  • How can you save on closing costs?

    Though many mortgage closing costs are fixed, you could save by comparing costs of the non-fixed fees listed on your closing disclosure. There might also be wiggle room for negotiation with your lender. If possible, you could strategically plan your closing date, as well, to lower the upfront per diem interest costs on the mortgage.

    Learn more: How to reduce closing costs: 7 negotiation strategies

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