How Much are Closing Costs in California for Seller?

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the finish line. Closing on a home can be one of the most exciting moments as a seller, but it can also be stressful if you aren’t prepared. This blog will answer all your questions about seller closing costs in California and how to calculate and negotiate them.

What are Closing Costs in California?

Key Takeaways

Closing costs, also known as “settlement costs,” are the final expenses to complete the real estate transaction.
Closing costs are separate from the price of the property.
The seller and the buyer have to pay specific closing costs.
Typically, in California, the closing process is managed by an escrow company or a title company.
Due to different fees and statute requirements, closing costs vary in municipalities and states.

💰 CALCULATE YOUR CLOSING COSTS

Who Pays Closing Costs in California?

The answer to who pays for the closing costs in California is, “both, the buyer and seller, pay the closing costs”. As a seller, you can negotiate some closing costs with the homebuyer. However, you must pay closing costs like taxes charged by your state or local jurisdiction. They are non-negotiable.

Most real estate agents know who pays what closing costs in California. So, it’s important to seek professional advice. Hiring an experienced real estate agent can help reduce your closing costs.

» Top Real Estate Agents: Check out the top real estate agents who can guide you in your real estate journey.

How Much are Seller Closing Costs in California?

The closing cost in California for sellers is approximately 8%–10% of the home’s agreement value. This estimated seller closing costs for California include the commission of the listing and buyer’s agent.

Let’s put this in perspective! The typical home value in California is $765,495. So, if you are selling a house in California, you may have to pay $61,240 to $76,550 as closing costs.

Most of the closing costs for seller in California will be deducted from the proceeds you get from the property. As such, you need enough equity to cover some of the expenses.

» How Much are Closing Costs in California: Read all about how much closing costs are paid by sellers and buyers in California!

What are the Typical Closing Costs for Seller in California?

1. Attorney’s Fee

Sellers usually hire real estate attorneys to review the sales contract, especially when no real estate brokers are involved or there are any legal issues with the property. However, you can hire a real estate attorney in California even if your case is not unusual.

In most cases, the seller and buyer hire different attorneys to represent their best interests. However, if you and the buyer decide to hire the same attorney, the attorney fee will be split.

Typically, the average attorney fee for house closing in California is $200-$300 per hour.

2. Credits Towards Closing Costs

You can offer to help buyers with closing costs to make the property more attractive, especially if you live in an area where market competition is low. These costs are called closing credits or seller concessions and are paid at closing.

You can also negotiate concessions with homebuyers if a requirement for repairs arises after the inspection. This may help you save some money on the costs of repair.

3. Escrow Fees California

An escrow is a neutral third party that holds certain funds or the property until the contract conditions have been met. It protects the interests of both parties by ensuring that either does not wrongfully back out of the deal and lose money. Typically, escrow fees in California will be split between the buyer and you as both parties benefit from it.

You should budget between $200 to $500 or more for escrow fee, depending upon the circumstances of their sale.

4. Home Inspection Fee

Home Inspections are non-invasive visual examinations of homes. Home inspections can reveal significant defects in the property that a homebuyer may miss.

California home inspection entails identifying any major defects and issues in the house that you must resolve before selling it. These may include plumbing issues, water damage, mold, appliance malfunction, etc. This can be done before the property is listed on the market (pre-inspection) or just before the closing.

California seller disclosure requires sellers to declare any known issues and defects with the property. Some of these are:

Structural defects: The buyer must be informed about leaking roofs, loose masonry, foundational cracks, etc.
Factors that pose health risks: You must disclose the presence of asbestos, lead paint, etc., to the buyer. However, Illinois law does not mandate radon testing and identifying the presence of mold.
Soil problems: You must identify any issues related to the foundation of the home that could potentially render the house inhabitable. This includes underground pits, mines, or other instability.
Flood risk: You must provide a list of flooding instances and water damage caused by pipe leaks, broken sewer lines, leaking roof, etc.
Pest infestation: You must also offer a list of any previous or current infestations of termites or other wood-boring insects.
Utility defects: You must list defects such as malfunctioning heating and air conditioning systems, damaged lighting fixtures, faulty wiring, leaky ventilation systems, etc.

» What is a Home Inspection Cost in California: Here’s how much you’ll have to pay for closing costs in California!

5 Home Warranty Fee

A home warranty covers the maintenance cost of the devices and appliances in the house for a limited time period, like, days, months, or years. You may offer a home warranty to make the property more desirable for buyers.

Home warranty fee in California may vary from $40 to $60 per month, depending on the plan.

6. Homeowner Association (HOA) Fee/ Document Fee

HOA Fee in California usually ranges from $200 to $300 per month. If you are a part of the Homeowners Association (HOA), you will have to pay the fee due until the closing date and clear the remaining dues, if any. In most cases, you will not be able to close on the house until the dues are paid.

However, if the issue persists and is not resolved before closing, the HOA can place a lien on your house and even initiate foreclosure.

» Foreclosure in California: How to stop foreclosure in California? Here’s a guide.

7. HOA Estoppel Fee

The HOA Estoppel letter is a legally binding document containing details about the financial obligations like the monthly or annual fee, that the buyer will have to pay after closing. It also offers information about any unresolved dues you may owe.

The HOA Estoppel fee in California needs to be paid by you as part of the process. It ranges from $200-$500.

8. HOA Transfer Fee

If you are a part of the Homeowners Association, at the time of closing, the ownership of your house needs to be transferred to the buyer in HOA records. HOA transfer fee is a one-time non-negotiable charge that you pay the HOA to update their records. HOA transfer fee in California typically costs between $100-$400.

9. Mortgage Payoff

Mortgage payoff will most likely be one of the biggest items on your list of fees. You’ll have to pay off any remaining balance of the mortgage on your property with the proceeds of your home sale at closing. This includes interest accrued from the last payment to the day of closing and any penalty the lender might charge you for prepayment of the mortgage.

Contact your lender and discuss the requirements to pay off the mortgage to get the overall details of your closing costs. Also, check for the loan documents to see if there’s any prepayment penalty with your mortgage.

» Mortgage Lender California: Read to know about mortgage lenders in California.

10. Municipal Lien Search

A Municipal Lien Search can help you uncover any unrecorded liens, code violations, permits, taxes, and utility bills, associated with the property. Even though many sellers forego a municipal lien search, it can complement a title search, especially since it offers additional information about open or expired permits.

An open or expired permit can be a thorn in the side for both you and the buyer as it can lead to further expenses and delays in the sale. On average, a municipal lien search costs $200.

11. Owner’s Title Insurance

Primarily, the seller will pay for the owner’s title insurance to protect the buyer against discrepancies relating to the ownership of the property or false documentation. Furthermore, title insurance also takes care of any back taxes, liens, ownership clauses, etc.

Both parties can negotiate who purchases the owner’s title insurance.

» Who Pays Owner’s Title Insurance in California: Find out who pays owner’s title insurance in California.

12. Property Tax

While there is no set rate, with a statewide average of 0.73%, the property tax in California is less than the national average.

You must pay prorated property tax according to the date of purchase at closing.

13. Realtor Fees California

The real estate agent’s commission is the biggest chunk of the closing cost you need to pay. However, it’s negotiable and typically paid from the proceeds of your house sale. Likewise, don’t forget to contact your agent to negotiate the fees. In total, you are expected to pay the real estate agent commission that ranges from 4% to 6% (listing agent commission + buyer’s agent commission which costs 2% to 3% of the total sales price).

To put this in perspective, as per the typical home value in California of $765,495, you may have to spend $38,000-$46,000 in commission.

If you want to avoid paying hefty commissions, you can list your property for a flat fee or with no commission at all! Choosing FSBO (For Sale by Owner) and listing your home with a Flat Fee MLS listing service California can help you save more. What’s more, you pay zero realtor commission if your buyer has no agent.

» How to Sell a House By Owner in California: A Comprehensive Guide

14. Recording Fee

A recording fee is paid to the local government to register the change in ownership of a house or sale of a property in the public record. It also records mortgages and other liens against the house. Recording fee is usually charged by the county.

15. Transfer Tax

Transfer tax is levied to transfer ownership of the house from the seller to the owner. The tax amount is based on the value of the property. It may be imposed by the municipality, county, or state. The current transfer tax rate in California is $1.10 per $1000 of the property value.

Depending on the negotiations, the transfer tax can be paid by either seller or buyer. In some cases, the tax is split between the parties.

16. Utility Bills

You must pay all utility bills till the date of purchase of the house. The title company usually checks for unpaid bills and utility liens. If there are any dues, you must clear them at closing.

How to Reduce Seller Closing Costs in California?

1. Opt for a discount broker or a flat fee realtor

As compared to traditional brokers who charge 6% of the sales price as commission, discount real estate brokers in California only charge 3%-4% of the sales price for their services. Some low commission realtors offer higher concessions if you let them represent you as buyer’s agents for your next real estate purchase.

» Largest Mortgage Brokers in California: Read to know about California mortgage brokers.

2. Choose “For Sale By Owner”(FSBO)

Sellers can save up to 3% commission and cut several costs by opting for “For Sale By Owner” services. Houzeo offers Flat Fee MLS packages for FSBO sellers that list properties on the MLS and make the selling process easier and smoother. Additionally, if the buyer is unrepresented, with Houzeo, sellers can sell their homes for zero realtor commission charge!

» Flat Fee MLS: Everything You Need to Know

3. Research and compare

You can save more cash on closing costs for seller, such as the pest inspector or homeowner’s insurance agent, title and escrow companies that are more economical. Browse and ask friends who have already experience hiring one.

4. Ask to roll pay your closing costs into your loan

Your lender may offer to pay the seller closing costs at closing and add it to your mortgage. However, it comes with a price. The lender may charge you a higher interest on the loan, which now also includes the closing cost.

5. Negotiate realtor fees

While traditional real estate agents usually charge 6% of the sale price as commission, this number is not set in stone. You can negotiate the fee with your realtor.

6. Ask the buyer to cover seller closing costs

Buyers may agree to cover closing costs for sellers if the market is competitive and fewer houses are in the market. Alternatively, you can raise the listing price according to closing costs to cover full or partial closing costs.

» How Much are Closing Costs for Buyer in California: Check out what are the buyer closing costs in California.

Seller Closing Costs Calculator California

Closing costs vary heavily according to location and mortgage rates. Houzeo’s Closing Costs Estimator is a free tool that factors in these elements to help sellers and buyers estimate their closing costs. It shows the user a detailed list of itemized costs and highlights junk costs that can be avoided.

All the sellers have to do is enter their property location, home sale price, mortgage payoff, seller agent commission, and buyer agent commission in the Home Sale Calculator and find out how much closing costs they will have to bear.

The Seller Closing Cost Calculator even gives sellers the estimate of their home inspection fee and home warranty fee. With the help of this home sale proceeds calculator, sellers can find out their home equity and be prepared for closing.

» Calculate Seller Closing Costs in California: Check out the seller closing costs calculator for calculating the closing costs for the seller.

How Should I Prepare for My California Home Closing?

Your closing agent will schedule a date for your closing. Here’s how to prepare for your closing day.

1. Review Your Closing Documents in Advance

Closing documents should generally be available to you in advance of the scheduled date of closing. Review these documents at length and understand their provisions. Here are some key documents you’ll likely sign at closing:

The HUD-1 or Closing Disclosure

If the buyer is taking out a mortgage to purchase a house in California, they will get the closing disclosure summarizing the costs in detail. These documents detail the fee being charged, the seller’s your loan payoffs if any, and the net proceeds the seller will take to the bank.

Remember, depending on how much equity you have in the property, you might be asked to bring a check (or send a wire) on the closing date. Ensure there are no typos in your name, address, property address, bank info, and other details. After that, review every amount and the totals to ensure there are no mathematical errors or inadvertent costs. You’ll be surprised how many times these documents have errors.

The Deed

This document enables the legal transfer of title from the seller to the buyer. Read this document carefully, verifying all details including the legal description of the property, the deed book, the deed book page, and the Property Identification Number (PIN), if any.

In fact, we know of a case where a home seller sold a $94,000 property, but the deed also legally transferred the 5 other homes they owned worth $680,000 to the buyer. There was a huge scramble post-closing to correct this mistake. It could have been a nightmare for the seller if the buyer didn’t honestly transfer the rest of the properties back to them.

Statement of Closing Costs

This statement summarizes all the expenses involved in the transaction. This document is easier to understand vs. the HUD-1/Closing Disclosure, but they should tie.

Certificate of Title

This document allows you to state that you have the right to sell the property.

2. Ask Questions

If this is your first time selling a house in California, schedule an appointment with the closing agent before the date of the closing. Prior to that appointment do your research and ask clarifying questions on anything you have doubts about.

3. Bring TWO Forms of Official ID

There will likely be a licensed notary involved to verify your identity. Take a valid driver’s license or passport for ID. Carry a secondary ID as well, just in case.

Conclusion: Seller Closing Costs in California

Developing an understanding of the cost of selling your own home in California is important for you as a seller, as it can greatly impact your profits. Consequently, it is an important factor in calculating the listing price of a house in California.

Now you’re ready! You might’ve heard horror stories of people being blindsided by high closing costs in California – but that’s often the result of not preparing and educating themselves ahead of time. If you are a Houzeo For Sale By Owner Seller in California, we want you to be one of the most well-informed home sellers out there. Next step, log on to Houzeo.com and list your home for sale by owner. You’ll be in full control of your listing, and save thousands in the process!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are seller closing costs in California tax deductible?

Yes. You can claim tax deductions on some closing costs that are considered taxes or insurance.

2. Who pays for title insurance in California, the buyer or the seller?

Usually, the seller pays for the owner's title insurance in California. However, you can negotiate this cost with the buyer. If the buyer has opted for a mortgage, they will pay for the lender's title insurance. Click on this link for more information on who pays owner's title insurance in California.
Want to know what title insurance covers in California? Or what is the cost of title insurance in CA ?

3. How is California seller closing costs calculated?

California seller closing costs are a sum of specific settlement expenses. These vary according to the location, mortgage rates, and market conditions. Houzeo's closing cost estimator is a free tool sellers can use to get a close estimate of settlement costs.

Cash Home Buyers in California: Read the blog to know about the companies that buy houses for cash in California.
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Why do You Need Title Insurance: Read our blog to know the significance of title insurance.
Home Inspectors of California: Know about the best home inspectors in California.
Selling an Inherited House in California: Read the blog to know how to sell an inherited property in California.
Where to Get Preapproval for a Mortgage: A comprehensive guide!

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