Florida Closing Cost Examples: What Buyers and Sellers Pay at Three Prices
Roger Verghese
CEO & Founder, Warehouse Company Holdings
Roger is CEO, Founder & Licensed Title Agent of Title Warehouses of America Inc (est. 2006). With 50+ years of combined experience in Title Services, Real Estate, Lending, and Insurance, he understands every aspect of the home closing process from contract to keys. A 30+ year Central Florida resident, Roger helps Orlando families navigate title insurance and closing services with expertise and transparency.
Florida closing costs are more predictable than most buyers and sellers expect. The biggest items, title insurance premiums and the state's documentary stamp and intangible taxes, are set by Florida law and calculated from the price and the loan amount. This guide shows who customarily pays each item and what the main costs add up to at three common Orlando prices.
Who Pays What in Florida
| Item | Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties | Miami-Dade and Broward counties |
|---|---|---|
| Owner's title policy | Seller | Buyer |
| Documentary stamp tax on the deed | Seller | Seller |
| Title search and municipal lien search | Seller | Varies by contract |
| Lender's title policy | Buyer | Buyer |
| Documentary stamp tax on the mortgage note | Buyer | Buyer |
| Intangible tax on the mortgage | Buyer | Buyer |
| Recording the deed and mortgage | Buyer | Buyer |
| Closing fee | Each side pays its own | Each side pays its own |
These are customs, not law. The purchase contract decides, and buyers and sellers can agree to split costs any way they like.
The Rates Behind the Numbers
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Owner's title policy | $5.75 per $1,000 up to $100,000, then $5.00 per $1,000 up to $1 million |
| Lender's title policy, issued with the owner's policy | $25 simultaneous issue rate, plus endorsements |
| Deed documentary stamps | $0.70 per $100 of the price ($0.60 per $100 for a single-family home in Miami-Dade) |
| Mortgage note documentary stamps | $0.35 per $100 of the loan |
| Intangible tax on a new mortgage | 0.2% of the loan |
| Recording fees (Orange County) | $10 for the first page, $8.50 for each additional page |
Title insurance premiums are set by Rule 69O-186.003, Florida Administrative Code. Our guide to title insurance in Florida explains what each policy covers.
Examples at Three Prices
These examples assume a Central Florida purchase with a 20% down payment and Title Warehouses of America's flat $299 closing fee per side. They show the main title and tax items only.
Buyer, financing 80%
| Item | $250,000 home | $350,000 home | $500,000 home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | $200,000 | $280,000 | $400,000 |
| Closing fee | $299 | $299 | $299 |
| Lender's title policy (simultaneous issue) | $25 | $25 | $25 |
| Mortgage note stamps | $700 | $980 | $1,400 |
| Intangible tax | $400 | $560 | $800 |
| Main title and tax items | $1,424 | $1,864 | $2,524 |
Lender endorsements and recording fees are added to these figures.
Seller
| Item | $250,000 home | $350,000 home | $500,000 home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closing fee | $299 | $299 | $299 |
| Title search and municipal lien search | $160 | $160 | $160 |
| Owner's title policy | $1,325 | $1,825 | $2,575 |
| Deed documentary stamps | $1,750 | $2,450 | $3,500 |
| Main title and tax items | $3,534 | $4,734 | $6,534 |
For a $400,000 example matched to our closing fee schedule, see our Florida closing costs page. For your exact numbers, use our quote calculator.
How the Picture Changes
Paying cash
A cash buyer pays no mortgage note stamps, no intangible tax, no lender's title policy and no lender fees. In Central Florida, where the seller customarily pays for the owner's policy, a cash buyer's main costs are usually the closing fee, recording fees and prorations. See our guide to buying a home with cash in Florida.
Buying in Miami-Dade or Broward
The buyer customarily pays for the owner's title policy, which moves the largest title cost from the seller to the buyer. On a $350,000 home, that is $1,825 more for the buyer. In Miami-Dade, deed stamps on a single-family home are $0.60 per $100 instead of $0.70, so the seller's deed stamps on a $350,000 home are $2,100.
Refinancing
There is no owner's policy and no deed stamps. The borrower pays for a new lender's policy, which may qualify for a reissue credit, and documentary stamps and intangible tax on the new loan. Some refinances with no new money qualify for partial exemptions, which your title company applies when they fit.
Costs Not in the Examples
- Prorations. Florida property taxes are paid in arrears, so the seller usually credits the buyer for the seller's share of the current year's taxes. HOA dues are prorated too.
- HOA or condo estoppel fees for the association's statement of what is owed. See our guide to estoppel certificates.
- Lender charges such as origination, the appraisal and credit report.
- Prepaids and escrow deposits for homeowners insurance and property taxes.
- Inspections and surveys.
- Real estate commissions.
- The seller's mortgage payoff, which comes out of the seller's proceeds.
Can You Negotiate Closing Costs?
You can negotiate who pays, not the rates set by law:
- A buyer can ask the seller to pay part of the buyer's closing costs as a seller credit. Lenders cap these credits, usually at a percentage of the price that depends on the loan type and down payment, so check with your lender first.
- New construction builders often pay some closing costs, sometimes when you use the builder's preferred lender or title company. Compare the full offer, not just the credit.
- The title company's own fees vary. Ask for them in writing before you choose. Our guide on how to choose a title company in Orlando lists what to ask.
Get Your Exact Numbers
Title Warehouses of America has handled closings from Orlando since 2006, backed by Stewart Title, with a flat $299 closing fee per side on contracts of $100,000 or more. Get an instant estimate with our quote calculator, see what happens between contract and keys in our guide to the Orlando home closing process, or call 888-354-8005.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Your contract, lender and county determine the exact costs in your transaction.