In short
No official source gives a “typical” Maine closing-cost percentage, so add costs line by line. The state transfer tax is $2.20 per $500 of price, split half and half by law (36 M.R.S. § 4641-A). County registries charge a flat $35 per recorded instrument (33 M.R.S. § 751). Lender and title charges vary by company.
Why there is no single “typical” total
Some Maine closing costs are fixed by law: the transfer tax and the registry’s recording fee. Others are set by private companies and negotiated: lender charges, title work, inspections, surveys and brokerage compensation. Prorated property tax and escrow deposits depend on the house, your tax bill and the closing date.
So your total depends mostly on your loan, your purchase contract and your closing date. The variable pieces appear on two federal forms. Under 12 CFR § 1026.19, the lender must deliver the Loan Estimate no later than the third business day after it receives your application, and you must receive the Closing Disclosure no later than three business days before closing. For a walk-through of each line, see closing costs explained.
Line by line: what each cost is
Transfer tax. The tax is $2.20 for each $500 or fractional part of the value. It is imposed one half on the seller and one half on the buyer (§ 4641-A). The register of deeds collects it when the deed is recorded (§ 4641-B). For sales above $1 million, an additional $3.80 per $500 applies to the value above $1 million for transfers on or after November 1, 2025. Details are on our transfer tax page.
Recording fees. Registers of deeds charge a flat fee of $35 per instrument recorded at the request of anyone other than the State or a municipality (33 M.R.S. § 751(1)(B)). A deed and a mortgage are two instruments. Plans cost $45 to record. Fees are paid when the instrument is offered for recording (§ 751(15)).
Lender charges. Origination, appraisal, credit report and underwriting fees are set by the lender and the companies it hires. No Maine fee table applies. Compare lenders on the standard Loan Estimate. See home appraisal cost.
Title work and insurance. The sources read give no official Maine rate table for title charges, so ask each provider for a written quote of the owner’s policy, lender’s policy and closing fees. See title insurance explained.
Survey and inspection. These are priced by the provider; see land survey cost and home inspection cost.
Attorney. Whether you need one, and what the fee is, are covered in Maine real estate attorneys.
Prepaids and property tax. In Maine, the person who owns the property on April 1 is responsible for the year’s property tax. Buyer and seller may agree to divide it, but an unpaid tax leads to a lien in the name of the April 1 owner, and Maine Revenue Services notes that the municipality may foreclose on the buyer’s property. It says these problems can be avoided by setting funds aside in escrow at closing. See Maine property tax and escrow accounts.
Who pays what in Maine
| Cost | Who pays | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax | Half buyer, half seller, by law | § 4641-A(1)(B) |
| Recording the deed and mortgage | Fee is $35 per instrument; the statute read does not say who pays | 33 M.R.S. § 751 |
| Lender charges | Buyer, as the borrower | Loan Estimate |
| Property tax for the year | Owner on April 1 owes it; buyer and seller may split | Maine Revenue Services notice |
| Brokerage compensation | Negotiated; see real estate commission | Private agreement |
I found no official Maine source that assigns the other costs by default. Your purchase contract controls, so read the closing-cost section before you sign.
What it costs: a worked example
This is an example, not a quote. Assume a $500,000 sale, a closing in October 2026, one deed and one mortgage recorded. Only lines fixed by statute are calculated.
| Line | Rule used | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax, total | 1,000 × $2.20 | $2,200 |
| Buyer’s half | Half of total | $1,100 |
| Seller’s half | Half of total | $1,100 |
| Recording the deed | 33 M.R.S. § 751(1)(B) | $35 |
| Recording the mortgage | 33 M.R.S. § 751(1)(B) | $35 |
| Lender charges, title, survey, inspection | Set by each provider | See your Loan Estimate |
| Tax proration and escrow deposits | Depends on your tax bill and closing date | See your Closing Disclosure |
Each side’s transfer tax is the same at a $500,000 price. Recording is $70 for these two instruments. A different price changes only the transfer tax: at $400,000 it is 800 × $2.20 = $1,760 total.
Frequently asked questions
How much are closing costs in Maine?
No official source gives a typical percentage. The statutory pieces are the transfer tax ($2.20 per $500, split half and half) and a $35 recording fee per instrument. The rest depends on your lender, title provider and contract.
Who pays the transfer tax in Maine?
Both sides. The statute imposes half on the seller and half on the buyer. On a $500,000 sale, that is $1,100 each.
How much does it cost to record a deed in Maine?
$35 per instrument for an ordinary recording, by statute (33 M.R.S. § 751). A mortgage is a separate instrument, so recording both costs $70.
When will I know my exact closing costs?
The lender must send a Loan Estimate by the third business day after you apply. You must receive the Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing (12 CFR § 1026.19).
Who pays the property tax at closing?
Maine law makes the April 1 owner responsible. Buyer and seller can split it by agreement, for example through a proration. Escrow at closing protects against an unpaid-tax lien, says Maine Revenue Services.
Compare with the other states: Closing costs by state.
More Maine guides
- Maine real estate transfer tax: rate, who pays, exemptions
- How Maine property tax works and what the homestead saves
- Seller disclosure requirements in Maine
- Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Maine?
- Foreclosure process in Maine: steps, timeline and help
- Home prices in Maine and Portland: median value and trend
- First-time home buyer programs in Maine: MaineHousing
- How to verify a real estate license in Maine
Sources
- Title 36 M.R.S. § 4641-A, Rate of tax; liability for tax (Maine Legislature) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Title 36 M.R.S. § 4641-B, Collection (Maine Legislature) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Transfer Tax (Maine Revenue Services) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Title 33 M.R.S. § 751, Registers of deeds, fee schedule (Maine Legislature) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Important Notice About Property Taxes for Buyers and Sellers of Real Estate (Maine Revenue Services) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- 12 CFR § 1026.19, Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure timing (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations) (consulted October 13, 2026)