Closing costs in Georgia: what buyers and sellers pay

Why there is no single “typical” total

Some Georgia closing costs are fixed by law or by a county fee schedule: the transfer tax, the intangible recording tax on the loan and the clerk’s recording fees. Others are set by private companies and vary with the deal: lender charges, title insurance, the closing attorney’s fee, inspections and surveys. Prorated property taxes and any escrow deposits depend on the home, the closing date and the loan.

The variable pieces appear on two federal forms. Your 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 you close (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau). For a walk-through of every line, see closing costs explained.

Line by line: what each cost is

Transfer tax. The sale price drives it: $1 for the first $1,000 plus 10 cents for each additional $100. The seller is liable by law, but the sales contract often moves it to the buyer. Details are on our Georgia transfer tax page.

Intangible recording tax. The lender pays $1.50 for each $500 of the note, up to $25,000, before recording the security instrument. The Department of Revenue says the lender may pass it on to the borrower but cannot treat it as a finance charge. Cash buyers do not owe it.

Recording fees. The clerk of superior court records the deed and the security instrument. The Fulton County clerk lists $25.00 for deeds or any instrument pertaining to real estate (as of October 2026). Each county sets its own schedule.

Lender charges. Origination, appraisal, credit report, underwriting and similar fees are set by the lender and the companies it hires. No state schedule applies. Compare them on the standard Loan Estimate. See also what a home appraisal costs.

Title insurance. I found no state-set premium schedule in the official sources I read, so do not assume that every company charges the same price. Ask for the premium and each added fee in writing and compare them on your Loan Estimate. See title insurance explained.

Closing attorney. Georgia’s General Assembly notes in Senate Bill 90 (2025, as introduced) that the Supreme Court of Georgia has issued several opinions on real estate closings and the practice of law, and the bill’s definition of the practice of law includes conveyancing. I read the bill, not the opinions, and the bill may have changed since. Our Georgia attorney guide covers who handles a closing. The attorney’s fee is set by the attorney.

Prepaids and prorations. Georgia property tax is charged to the owner on January 1, and bills are due by December 20 in most counties, though some counties set earlier dates or two installments (Department of Revenue). Your contract decides how the year’s tax is split between buyer and seller. If your lender requires an escrow account, the initial deposit appears on your Closing Disclosure. See Georgia property tax for how the bill is calculated.

Survey, inspection and insurance. The official sources I read set no price for these. See what a land survey costs, what a home inspection costs and homeowners insurance.

Who pays what in Georgia

The law fixes who owes only a few items. Everything else follows the purchase contract.