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All Types of Loan Programs
Choosing the Best Loan for You
Closing Costs -- Who Pays What?
Common Reasons to Refinance
Full Documentation, Stated Income -- What Are They?
Helpful Reminders for Your Mortgage Experience
Reasons Behind Foreclosure
What and Why Lenders Need to Know So Much About You
Your Interest Rate and What Affects It

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Closing Costs - Who Pays What?

Neither the buyer nor the seller pay for all closing costs due on the property itself. Every city and county has their own standards and guidelines as to who pays what. Here are a few examples of who pays what closing costs in a standard transaction--keeping in mind that all things are negotiable in real estate. For more information such as how much city transfer taxes are, or for a city not shown below, contact us! We have more breakdowns of other counties, regions, and cities in California and we would be more than happy to find you the answer. In order to simplify finding your city, we have categorized the counties for easier search: Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano.

Alameda County

Alameda
Escrow Fees - Buyer
Title Insurance Policy - Buyer
City Transfer Tax ($5.40 per $1,000) - Seller or Buyer & Seller split 50/50
County Transfer Tax ($1.10 per $1,000) - Seller
Recording Fees for Deeds of Trust - Buyer
Recording Fees for Deeds - Seller

Berkeley
Escrow Fees - Buyer
Title Insurance Policy - Buyer
City Transfer Tax ($15 per $1,000) - Seller or Buyer & Seller split 50/50
County Transfer Tax ($1.10 per $1,000) - Seller
Recording Fees for Deeds of Trust - Buyer
Recording Fees for Deeds - Seller

Hayward
Escrow Fees - Buyer
Title Insurance Policy - Buyer
City Transfer Tax ($4.50 per $1,000) - Seller or Buyer & Seller split 50/50
County Transfer Tax ($1.10 per $1,000) - Seller
Recording Fees for Deeds of Trust - Buyer
Recording Fees for Deeds - Seller

Oakland
Escrow Fees - Buyer
Title Insurance Policy - Buyer
City Transfer Tax ($15 per $1,000) - Seller or Buyer & Seller split 50/50
County Transfer Tax ($1.10 per $1,000) - Seller
Recording Fees for Deeds of Trust - Buyer
Recording Fees for Deeds - Seller

Contra Costa County

Richmond
Escrow Fees - Buyer
Title Insurance Policy - Buyer
City Transfer Tax ($7 per $1,000) - Seller
County Transfer Tax ($1.10 per $1,000) - Seller
Recording Fees for Deeds of Trust - Buyer
Recording Fees for Deeds - Seller

El Cerrito
Escrow Fees - Buyer
Title Insurance Policy - Buyer
City Transfer Tax ($7 per $1,000) - Seller
County Transfer Tax ($1.10 per $1,000) - Seller
Recording Fees for Deeds of Trust - Buyer
Recording Fees for Deeds - Seller

Pinole
Escrow Fees - Buyer
Title Insurance Policy - Buyer
City Transfer Tax ($5.50 per $1,000) - Seller
County Transfer Tax ($1.10 per $1,000) - Seller
Recording Fees for Deeds of Trust - Buyer
Recording Fees for Deeds - Seller

San Francisco County

Escrow Fees - Buyer
Title Insurance Policy - Buyer
City Transfer Tax - None
County Transfer Tax (Purchase price $1,000-250k = $5 per $1,000, Purchase price $250,001-$1M = $6.80 per $1,000, Purchase price $1M+ = $7.50 per $1,000) - Seller
Recording Fees for Deeds of Trust - Buyer
Recording Fees for Deeds - Buyer

San Mateo County

Escrow Fees - Buyer
Title Insurance Policy - Buyer
City Transfer Tax ($5 per $1,000) - Seller or Buyer & Seller split 50/50
County Transfer Tax ($1,10 per $1,000) - Seller or Buyer & Seller split 50/50
Recording Fees for Deeds of Trust - Buyer
Recording Fees for Deeds - Buyer

Santa Clara County

Mountain View
Escrow Fees - Seller
Title Insurance Policy - Seller
City Transfer Tax ($3.30 per $1,000) - Seller or Buyer & Seller split 50/50
County Transfer Tax ($1,10 per $1,000) - Seller
Recording Fees for Deeds of Trust - Buyer
Recording Fees for Deeds - Buyer

Palo Alto
Escrow Fees - Seller
Title Insurance Policy - Seller
City Transfer Tax ($3.30 per $1,000) - Seller or Buyer & Seller split 50/50
County Transfer Tax ($1,10 per $1,000) - Seller
Recording Fees for Deeds of Trust - Buyer
Recording Fees for Deeds - Buyer

San Jose
Escrow Fees - Seller
Title Insurance Policy - Seller
City Transfer Tax ($3.30 per $1,000) - Seller or Buyer & Seller split 50/50
County Transfer Tax ($1,10 per $1,000) - Seller
Recording Fees for Deeds of Trust - Buyer
Recording Fees for Deeds - Buyer

Solano County

Vallejo
Escrow Fees - Buyer
Title Insurance Policy - Buyer
City Transfer Tax ($3.30 per $1,000) - Seller
County Transfer Tax ($1,10 per $1,000) - Seller
Recording Fees for Deeds of Trust - Buyer
Recording Fees for Deeds - Buyer