In short
No official source gives a “typical” Colorado closing-cost percentage, so add it up line by line. The state charges a documentary fee of $0.01 per $100 of the price (C.R.S. § 39-13-102), which is $62.50 on a $625,000 home. Denver’s Clerk and Recorder charges a flat $43 to record each real estate document (as of October 2026).
Why there is no single “typical” total
Some Colorado closing costs are fixed by law: the state documentary fee and the county recording fee. Others are set by private companies or negotiated: lender charges, the title insurance premium, the closing services fee, inspections and appraisals. The sources read for this article give no Colorado title premium schedule, so ask the title company for a written quote.
Two federal forms show the variable pieces. The lender must give you a Loan Estimate within three business days of your application, and you must receive the Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau). For a walk-through of each line, see closing costs explained.
Line by line: what each cost is
Documentary fee. The county clerk collects it when the deed is recorded: one cent for each $100 of consideration, nothing at $500 or less. The statute puts it on the person who offers the deed for recording and does not pick a side. See our Colorado transfer tax guide.
Transfer tax. The Colorado Constitution prohibits “new or increased transfer tax rates on real property” (Art. X, § 20(8)(a)). The standard contract still has a line for any “Local Transfer Tax,” which the parties assign. Denver’s recording page lists no local transfer tax.
Recording fees. Since July 1, 2025, county clerks charge a flat $40 fee instead of a per-page fee (HB24-1269). Denver lists $43 per real estate document, so a deed and a deed of trust are $43 each.
Title insurance. In the standard contract, the owner’s policy is at the seller’s expense if the seller selects the title company, and at the buyer’s expense if the buyer selects it. If neither box is checked, the seller selects and pays (§ 8.1).
Closing services fee. The contract has a checkbox for who pays the real estate closing services fee: buyer, seller, half each, or other (§ 15.2).
Lender charges. Origination, appraisal, credit report and underwriting fees are set by the lender and its vendors. Compare them on the Loan Estimate.
Association charges. If the home is in an owners’ association, the seller pays the status letter fee. The record change fee, reserves and working capital, and other association fees at closing are assigned by checkbox (§ 15.3).
Prorations and taxes. General real estate taxes are prorated to the closing date (§ 16.1.1). Lenders often add escrow deposits; see escrow accounts and Colorado property tax.
Who pays what in the standard contract
The Colorado Real Estate Commission approves the Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate (Residential), form CBS1, adopted August 5, 2025 and mandatory from January 1, 2026. Section 15.1 says buyer and seller each pay “their respective closing costs” unless the contract says otherwise.
| Cost | Who pays under CBS1 |
|---|---|
| Owner’s title policy | Seller if seller selects the company (default); buyer if buyer selects it (§ 8.1) |
| Tax certificate | Checkbox: seller or buyer (§ 8.5) |
| Closing services fee | Checkbox: buyer, seller, half each or other (§ 15.2) |
| Association status letter fee | Seller (§ 15.3.1) |
| Record change fee, reserves, working capital | Checkbox for each (§§ 15.3.2 to 15.3.4) |
| Local transfer tax, sales and use tax, private transfer fees | Checkbox for each (§§ 15.4 to 15.6) |
| Water and utility transfer fees | Checkbox for each (§§ 15.7, 15.8) |
| Documentary fee and recording fees | Not named; closing statement shows the split |
| Seller concession toward the buyer’s costs | Seller, up to the amount written in § 4.2 |
If a buyer’s loan does not allow the buyer to pay a fee in § 15, the seller pays it. For FHA and VA loans, the seller can agree to pay costs the buyer is not allowed to pay, up to a stated cap. A nonresident seller may have tax withheld from proceeds (§ 15.9). For commissions, see real estate commission.
What it costs: a worked example in Denver
This is an example, not a quote. Assume a $625,000 purchase in Denver, the Assessor’s typical single-family value, and a closing on October 31, 2026. Only the lines fixed by law or by a published schedule are calculated.
| Line | Rule used | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Documentary fee | $0.01 per $100 (C.R.S. § 39-13-102) | $62.50 |
| Recording the deed | Denver, flat per document | $43.00 |
| Recording a deed of trust (if you finance) | Denver, flat per document | $43.00 |
| Transfer tax | Colorado Constitution, Art. X, § 20(8)(a) | $0 state level |
| Owner’s title premium, lender charges, closing services fee | Set by each provider | See your quote and Loan Estimate |
| Property tax proration | See below | About $2,807 credited to the buyer |
The three fixed fees add up to $148.50. For the proration, suppose the parties use the preceding year’s taxes. Denver’s 2025 bill on a $625,000 home was $3,370.82 under the Assessor’s formula. The seller owes the 304 days from January 1 through October 31, which is about $2,807, as a credit to the buyer, who will pay the full bill in 2027. The day-count method comes from your contract.
Frequently asked questions
How much are closing costs in Colorado?
No official source gives a typical percentage. The state documentary fee is $0.01 per $100 of the price, recording in Denver is $43 per real estate document, and the rest comes from your Loan Estimate and title company quote.
Does Colorado have a transfer tax?
Not by that name. It has a state documentary fee of $0.01 per $100, and the Constitution bars new or increased real property transfer tax rates.
Who pays for the owner’s title policy in Colorado?
Under the standard contract, the seller if the seller selects the title company, the buyer if the buyer does. If neither box is checked, the seller selects and pays.
Who pays the documentary fee?
The statute imposes it on the person offering the deed for recording and does not assign it to the buyer or the seller. The standard contract does not name it, so check the closing statement.
When will I know my exact closing costs?
You get a Loan Estimate within three business days of applying and the Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing.
Compare with the other states: Closing costs by state.
More Colorado guides
- Colorado transfer tax: the $0.01 per $100 documentary fee
- Colorado property tax: 2026 assessment rates and Denver example
- Seller disclosure requirements in Colorado
- Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Colorado?
- Foreclosure in Colorado: public trustee sale timeline
- Home prices in Colorado and Denver: median value and trend
- First-time home buyer programs in Colorado and Denver
- How to verify a real estate license in Colorado
- Natural hazards and home insurance in Colorado
Sources
- Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 39, Article 13, documentary fee (Office of Legislative Legal Services) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Colorado Constitution, Article X, Section 20(8)(a) (Office of Legislative Legal Services) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Record Documents, recording and documentary fees (Denver Clerk and Recorder) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- HB24-1269, Modification of Recording Fees (Colorado General Assembly) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- CBS1 Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate (Residential), adopted August 5, 2025, mandatory use date January 1, 2026 (Colorado Real Estate Commission) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Frequently Asked Questions, 2025 tax calculation (Denver Assessor) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Understanding Property Taxes in Colorado (Colorado Division of Property Taxation) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- What is a Loan Estimate? (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- What is a Closing Disclosure? (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)