Connecticut

Closing costs in Connecticut: what buyers and sellers pay

On a $300,000 Hartford sale, the seller owes $3,750 in conveyance tax and recording costs $70 for the first page. Line-by-line costs for both sides.

Checked on against the official sources listed at the bottom of the page.

In short

I found no official source for a “typical” Connecticut closing-cost percentage, so add the costs up line by line. By law the seller pays the conveyance tax, 1.25% of the price on a $300,000 Hartford sale if the city’s 0.5% municipal rate still applies (C.G.S. § 12-494; Office of Legislative Research, 2020). Recording a deed costs $70 for the first page and $5 for each extra page (C.G.S. § 7-34a, 2026 Supplement).

What is fixed by law and what is not?

Two kinds of costs show up at a Connecticut closing.

  • Set by statute: the conveyance tax and the town clerk’s recording fees. You can calculate them.
  • Set by the people you hire: lender charges, appraisal, inspection, survey, title search and insurance, and attorney fees. I did not find an official Connecticut rate table for these, so compare quotes.

Your lender must send a Loan Estimate within three business days of your application. You must receive the Closing Disclosure, with final numbers, at least three business days before closing (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau). For a general walk-through, see closing costs explained.

Line by line

Conveyance tax (seller). The state part is 0.75% of the price, rising to 1.25% on the part of a home price above $800,000. The municipal part is 0.25%, or 0.5% in a targeted investment community that adds the optional 0.25%. The Office of Legislative Research reported in 2020 that Hartford does. The tax is payable by the person conveying the property when the deed is recorded (§§ 12-494, 12-495). Details are on the conveyance tax page.

Recording fees. The town clerk charges for recording a document: $10 for the first page and $5 for each later page, plus a $10 fee on each document in the land records, plus a $50 community investment fee on each document (§ 7-34a(a), (d), (e)). The $50 amount rose from $40 on July 1, 2025. The first page of a deed therefore costs $70. Three extras apply:

  • $2 more on documents covered by § 10-261b.
  • $5 more on a deed that lacks the grantee’s current mailing address.
  • $1 more if the names under the signatures are not typed or printed.

Property tax proration. Hartford bills in two installments, due July 1 and January 1, so a closing between those dates usually involves splitting a bill. The split is a contract term, not a state formula. Lenders may also hold tax money in an escrow account. See Connecticut property tax.

Lender, appraisal, inspection, survey. These are priced by each provider. The Loan Estimate shows the lender’s. Guides: home inspection cost, home appraisal cost, land survey cost.

Title insurance and attorney. The conveyance and recording lines above are the statutory ones; for the rest, read your quotes. See title insurance explained and hiring a Connecticut real estate attorney.

Brokerage. Compensation is negotiated; see real estate commission.

What it costs: an example in Hartford

This is an example, not a quote. It assumes a $300,000 sale in Hartford, a deed of 3 pages, and the 0.5% municipal rate the Office of Legislative Research reported in 2020. Only statutory lines are calculated.

LineRuleAmountWho pays under the statute
State conveyance tax0.75% × $300,000$2,250Seller
Hartford conveyance tax0.5% × $300,000$1,500Seller
Recording the deed, 3 pages$70 first page + 2 × $5$80Not set by § 7-34a; depends on the contract
Recording the mortgageSame formula, by page countSee your Closing DisclosureUsually the borrower, per the contract
Lender charges, inspection, appraisal, survey, titleSet by each providerSee your Loan EstimatePer the contract

On this example the seller owes $3,750 in conveyance tax before any commission or payoff. The recording fees are small by comparison.

Frequently asked questions

Who pays closing costs in Connecticut, the buyer or the seller?

By statute, the seller pays the conveyance tax (§ 12-495). The law does not assign most other costs, so your purchase contract decides who pays the recording fees, inspection and other items.

How much is the Connecticut conveyance tax at closing?

The state part is 0.75% of the price up to $800,000 on a home, and 1.25% above that. Add 0.25% municipal, or 0.5% in Hartford according to a 2020 state report.

How much does the town clerk charge to record a deed?

As of the 2026 Supplement to the statutes, $70 for the first page and $5 for each additional page, with small add-ons in some cases. Ask the Hartford Town Clerk to confirm the total for your documents.

Do I have to pay anything when I refinance?

The seller’s conveyance tax does not apply, since a deed securing a debt is exempt (§ 12-498). You pay your lender’s charges and the recording fees for the new mortgage.

When will I know my exact closing costs?

Your lender must send a Loan Estimate within three business days of your application, and the Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing.

Compare with the other states: Closing costs by state.

More Connecticut guides

Sources

Connecticut · All states · Federal guides