In short
No official source gives a “typical” Illinois closing-cost percentage, so add the lines up. The fixed ones are public: the Cook County Clerk charges $107 to record a deed or a mortgage, and transfer taxes in Chicago total $6.00 per $500 of price (state $0.50, county $0.25, city $5.25). Title premiums and lender fees vary.
Why there is no single “typical” total
Some costs are set by a government body: recording fees and transfer taxes. Others are set by private companies: lender charges, the title company’s premium and settlement fee, inspections and surveys. Property tax prorations depend on the bill and the closing date.
Your lender must give you a Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau). Compare it with your Loan Estimate line by line. For a plain-language walk-through, see closing costs explained.
Line by line
Transfer taxes. Illinois taxes the transfer at 50 cents per $500 (35 ILCS 200/31-10). Cook County adds $0.25 per $500, and Chicago adds $5.25 per $500. The details and exemptions are on our Illinois transfer tax page.
Recording fees. The Cook County Clerk’s schedule, effective since April 1, 2024, prices deeds, mortgages, releases of mortgage, easements and miscellaneous documents at $107 each. A document priced at $107 or more includes a $55 county recording fee, a $23 GIS fee, a $10 document storage fee, an $18 State Rental Housing Support fee and a $1 non-government filer fee. Documents not subject to the state fee are priced $19 lower. Recording by mail with return costs $5 per document. A certified paper copy costs $55.
Transfer declaration. The sellers and buyers, or their agents, sign a declaration of the value, the parcel number and the type of deed. It is presented with the deed or within three business days of the transfer, whichever is earlier (35 ILCS 200/31-25).
Title insurance. I found no Illinois statute or agency schedule that sets the premium, so ask each title company for its quote. The Title Insurance Act requires escrow and closing funds to be held in a separate fiduciary trust account (215 ILCS 155/16). For how the policies work, see title insurance explained.
Lender charges. Origination, appraisal, credit report and underwriting fees come from the lender and the companies it hires. See home appraisal cost.
Attorney, inspection, survey. Each is priced by the provider. See when to hire an Illinois real estate attorney and home inspection cost.
Property tax proration. Cook County bills are paid after the year they cover. The first installment is estimated at 55% of the prior year’s bill and the final bill comes by June 30 (35 ILCS 200/21-30). A closing early in the year therefore cannot use a final bill, so the contract and the title company set how the tax is shared. See Illinois property tax.
Who pays what
| Cost | Who pays, according to the government source |
|---|---|
| State and county transfer tax | Seller (Cook County Clerk table) |
| Chicago transfer tax, city portion ($3.75) | Buyer, in general (Department of Finance) |
| Chicago transfer tax, CTA portion ($1.50) | Seller, in general (Department of Finance) |
| Recording of the deed | Set by the contract |
| Lender charges, appraisal | Buyer, as the borrower |
| Title premium, settlement fee, commission | Negotiated; see your contract |
Commission is not set by law; see real estate commission.
Example: a Chicago home at the median value
The ACS 2024 puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in Chicago at $341,200. This is an illustration, not a quote. Only the government-set lines are calculated.
| Line | Rule | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| State transfer tax | 683 × $0.50 | $341.50 |
| Cook County transfer tax | 683 × $0.25 | $170.75 |
| Chicago transfer tax | 683 × $5.25 | $3,585.75 |
| Transfer taxes, total | 683 × $6.00 | $4,098.00 |
| Record the deed | Cook County Clerk | $107 |
| Record the mortgage | Cook County Clerk | $107 |
| Title premium, lender fees, survey, inspection | Set by each provider | See your Loan Estimate |
By default the buyer owes $2,561.25 of the transfer taxes (city portion) and the seller $1,536.75 (state, county and CTA portion), if your contract does not say otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to record a deed in Cook County?
The Clerk’s schedule prices a deed at $107, which includes the county, GIS, document storage, rental housing and filer fees. A document not subject to the state rental housing fee costs $19 less.
Who pays transfer tax in Chicago?
In general the buyer pays the $3.75 city portion and the seller pays the $1.50 CTA portion, says the Department of Finance. The Clerk’s table names the seller for the state and county taxes.
Does Illinois set title insurance rates?
I found no state schedule that fixes the premium. Ask each title company for a quote and compare the Loan Estimates.
When will I see my final closing costs?
Your lender must give you the Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing.
Are Cook County recording fees the same everywhere in Illinois?
No. They are the Cook County Clerk’s fees. Other counties set their own.
Compare with the other states: Closing costs by state.
More Illinois guides
- Illinois and Chicago real estate transfer tax: rates, who pays
- How Cook County and Chicago property tax works
- Seller disclosure in Illinois: the form, radon and lead rules
- Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Illinois?
- Foreclosure process in Illinois: timeline and redemption
- Home prices in Illinois and Chicago: median value and trend
- First-time buyer programs in Illinois and Chicago
- How to verify a real estate license in Illinois (5 trades)
Sources
- Recording Fees (Cook County Clerk, Recordings Division) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Transfer Fees (Cook County Clerk, Recordings Division) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Real Property Transfer Tax (7551) (City of Chicago Department of Finance) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- 35 ILCS 200/31-10 and 31-25, Real Estate Transfer Tax Law (Illinois General Assembly) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- 215 ILCS 155/16, Title Insurance Act, escrow and closing funds (Illinois General Assembly) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- 35 ILCS 200/21-30, tax billing in Cook County (Illinois General Assembly) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- 2025 Cook County Tax Rates Released, September 23, 2026 (Cook County Clerk) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- What is a Closing Disclosure? (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- ACS 2024 1-year, table B25077, Chicago city (U.S. Census Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)