Closing Costs in Santa Clara County

What sellers usually pay

In Santa Clara County the seller usually pays the county transfer tax and, in cities that have one, the city transfer tax. Sellers also usually pay their share of escrow, the owner's title insurance policy, any agreed repairs or credits, and the real estate commissions they agreed to.

Run your own numbers with the seller cost calculator. It uses each city's current transfer tax, including San José's Measure E and Mountain View's Measure G.

• County documentary transfer tax: $1.10 per $1,000 of the price
• City transfer tax in San José, Mountain View and Palo Alto (others in the county have none)
• Escrow fee (share agreed in the contract), notary and recording
• Owner's title insurance policy
• Payoff of the existing loan, and property tax and HOA dues up to the closing day

What buyers usually pay

Buyers usually pay their loan's costs (lender fees, appraisal, any points), the lender's title policy, their share of escrow, recording of the new deed and loan, prepaid interest, and the first months of homeowners insurance and property tax that the lender holds in an impound account.

The lender's Loan Estimate lists these within three business days of a loan application, and the Closing Disclosure confirms them at least three business days before signing. Compare the two.

Prorations

Property tax, HOA dues and sometimes rent are split to the closing day, so each side pays for the days it owns the home. California property tax runs July to June, so a seller who has paid the November installment gets a credit for the days after closing.

How to keep them down

Ask for the escrow and title fees early, compare loan offers using the Loan Estimate, and agree in writing who pays each item. Diana can show you what sellers and buyers in your city usually agree to, and what recent sales nearby closed at, so the net number is no surprise.