California Closing Cost Calculator (2026)
Estimate buyer closing costs for a California home purchase — county documentary transfer tax, city transfer tax, escrow fees, title insurance, and total cash to close.
CA Closing Costs by County (2026)
| County / City | Transfer Tax Rate | Est. Costs on $700k Home |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | $5.60/$1,000 (city+county) | $3,920 |
| San Diego County | $1.10/$1,000 | $770 |
| Orange County | $1.10/$1,000 | $770 |
| San Francisco (tiered) | $6.80–$25/$1,000 | $4,760+ |
| Alameda / Oakland | Up to $15/$1,000 | $10,500 |
| Riverside County | $1.10/$1,000 | $770 |
| Sacramento County | $1.10/$1,000 | $770 |
| Santa Clara County | $1.10/$1,000 | $770 |
Transfer tax only. LA and SF city surtaxes are added on top of county rate.
NorCal vs. SoCal Closing Customs
| Item | NorCal (SF Bay Area) | SoCal (LA/SD/OC) |
|---|---|---|
| Owner's Title Insurance | Buyer pays | Seller pays |
| Escrow Company | Independent escrow | Title company escrow |
| Transfer Tax | Seller pays (custom) | Seller pays (custom) |
| Attorney Required | No — escrow state | |
California-Specific Closing Cost Rules
Documentary Transfer Tax (DTT)
California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 11911 authorizes counties to levy a documentary transfer tax of $0.55 per $500 of value (equivalent to $1.10 per $1,000). Cities may levy an additional city transfer tax on top of the county rate. The tax is typically based on the full purchase price, not the loan amount — unlike some states that calculate only on the financed portion.
Transfer tax is customarily paid by the seller in California, but this is a negotiable term of the purchase contract — not a statutory requirement. In some transactions, particularly in buyer's markets, buyers may agree to pay it.
San Francisco Transfer Tax — Tiered Rates
| Sale Price | Combined Rate (County + City) | Tax on That Amount |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $250,000 | $6.80/$1,000 (0.68%) | Up to $1,700 |
| $250,001 – $999,999 | $6.80/$1,000 | Up to $6,800 on $1M |
| $1,000,000 – $4,999,999 | $11.25/$1,000 (1.125%) | $11,250 per $1M |
| $5,000,000 – $9,999,999 | $12.50/$1,000 (1.25%) | $62,500 on $5M sale |
| $10,000,000 – $24,999,999 | $15.00/$1,000 (1.5%) | $150,000 on $10M sale |
| $25,000,000+ | $25.00/$1,000 (2.5%) | $625,000 on $25M sale |
Title Insurance in California
California title insurance rates are promulgated (filed with the California Department of Insurance) and are the same across title companies for the base rate — you cannot negotiate the rate itself. However, title companies can compete on endorsements, search fees, and escrow services. The two standard policies are:
- CLTA (California Land Title Association) policy — standard coverage, protects against recorded title defects only.
- ALTA (American Land Title Association) policy — extended coverage, protects against survey disputes, unrecorded easements, and other off-record risks. Most lenders require ALTA for the lender's policy.
Title insurance premium is calculated as a percentage of the purchase price, typically around 0.19% – 0.35% depending on county and coverage level. On a $700,000 purchase, the owner's ALTA policy typically runs $1,500–$2,450.
California Escrow Fees
Escrow companies in California charge a combination of a base fee plus a per-thousand rate. A typical formula used by major California escrow companies:
| Purchase Price | Typical Total Escrow Fee | Buyer's Share (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| $400,000 | ~$1,200 | ~$600 |
| $600,000 | ~$1,500 | ~$750 |
| $800,000 | ~$1,800 | ~$900 |
| $1,000,000 | ~$2,200 | ~$1,100 |
| $1,500,000 | ~$3,000 | ~$1,500 |
Property Tax — Proposition 13 Reassessment
When you purchase a California property, it is reassessed to the full purchase price under Prop 13. The effective property tax rate across California averages approximately 1.1% – 1.25% of purchase price (base 1% plus local voter-approved bonds and assessments). This means on a $700,000 purchase you can expect annual property tax of $7,700 – $8,750 per year — significantly higher than the prior owner may have been paying if they owned for decades.
Worked Example: $700,000 Home, Los Angeles, Conventional 20% Down
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Down Payment (20%) | $140,000 | Paid at closing |
| Loan Origination (0.75% of $560k) | $4,200 | Lender fee |
| Appraisal | $650 | Lender-ordered |
| Title Insurance (lender's, buyer pays) | $1,400 | ALTA lender policy |
| Owner's Title Insurance | $0 | SoCal — seller pays by custom |
| Escrow Fee (buyer's 50%) | $875 | ~$1,750 total split 50/50 |
| County Transfer Tax (seller pays) | $0 | Buyer's share = $0 by custom |
| LA City Transfer Tax (seller pays) | $0 | Buyer's share = $0 by custom |
| Home Inspection | $500 | |
| Prepaid Property Tax (2 months) | $1,458 | Based on ~$8,750/yr |
| Prepaid Homeowners Insurance | $1,800 | First year premium |
| Estimated Total Cash to Close | ~$150,883 | Excl. seller-paid items |