Updated October 2026. Tax rates were read on the Florida Department of Revenue, North Carolina General Statutes and Georgia Department of Revenue sites, and loan-form rules on the CFPB site, on October 23, 2026.
Closing costs in a for sale by owner sale are the same third-party costs as in any sale, minus the listing commission. As of October 2026, on the $417,500 US median price, a Florida seller pays $2,922.50 in deed stamps, a North Carolina seller $835 and a Georgia seller $417.50, plus title or settlement fees and prorated taxes.
Jump to: 💲 Seller costs · 🏠 Buyer costs · 📍 State taxes · 🤝 Who pays what · ❓ FAQ
Key takeaways
- Selling by owner removes the listing agent’s fee, but deed taxes, title, settlement and prorated taxes stay.
- State deed taxes on a $417,500 sale: $2,922.50 in Florida, $835 in North Carolina, $417.50 in Georgia.
- Buyers with a loan get a Loan Estimate within 3 business days of applying and a Closing Disclosure at least 3 business days before closing (CFPB).
- Beycome Title’s settlement fee is $99 in Florida (prepaid) and $299 in Texas.
What are closing costs, exactly?
Closing costs are the fees and taxes paid to third parties to transfer the home and fund the loan. They don’t include the price itself or your mortgage payoff. The CFPB lists common ones: appraisal fees, tax service fees, title insurance, government taxes, and prepaid items like property taxes, homeowners insurance and interest. Our FAQ shows what closing typically costs.
The CFPB also notes that “when you are buying a home you generally pay all of the costs associated with that transaction,” unless the contract or state law says the seller pays some. In practice, local custom decides a lot. That’s why the purchase contract matters so much in a by-owner sale. Our guide to who pays closing costs when selling a home goes deeper on custom by state.
What closing costs does a FSBO seller pay?
Here’s a typical seller list. Not every item applies in every state.
| Seller cost | What it is | Example or range |
|---|---|---|
| Deed transfer tax | State (sometimes county) tax on the deed | FL $2,922.50; NC $835; GA $417.50 on $417,500 |
| Settlement or closing fee | The title company or attorney who runs the closing | Beycome Title: $99 FL (prepaid), $299 TX |
| Owner’s title policy | Insures the buyer’s ownership; the seller pays it in some areas by custom | Set by your state’s rate rules or the insurer |
| Prorated property taxes | Your share of the year’s taxes up to closing | Depends on your tax bill and closing date |
| HOA fees | Estoppel letter, transfer fee, any dues owed | Set by your association |
| Attorney fee | If you hire one, or your state requires one | Varies by state and lawyer |
| Buyer-agent compensation | Only if you agree to offer it | Negotiable, your choice |
| Repair credits | If you agree to credits after inspection | Negotiated |
What’s missing? The listing agent’s fee. That’s the main saving when you sell by owner. If you list on the MLS with a flat fee broker, the fee is fixed. Beycome Basic is $99, with $0 due to Beycome at closing.
Your mortgage payoff comes out of the proceeds too, but it isn’t a closing cost. To see what lands in your account, use our guide to estimating your net sale proceeds.
What closing costs does the buyer pay?
Buyers with a loan usually carry more line items, because most are tied to the mortgage.
- Lender fees: origination, underwriting, processing and any points.
- Appraisal, credit report and tax service fees.
- Lender’s title policy and title search, plus a survey where needed.
- Government recording fees and any taxes on the mortgage, such as Florida’s 35 cents per $100 on the note.
- Prepaid items: homeowners insurance, property tax reserves and interest to the first payment.
- Home inspection, paid before closing in most deals.
Two federal forms keep this honest. “The lender must provide you a Loan Estimate within three business days of receiving your application,” per the CFPB. And “the lender is required to give you the Closing Disclosure at least three business days before you close.” Compare the two line by line. The CFPB’s closing costs page explains each item.
Buying a home listed by an agent? Beycome’s buyer program is open to every buyer on homes listed by other agents. There’s no upfront fee. When the seller offers buyer-agent compensation, we keep 1% of the price (minimum $1,499) and credit the rest to you at closing, with lender approval. On a $400,000 home with 3% offered, that’s $8,000 back, which can go toward your closing costs. The credit can’t apply where no buyer-agent commission is offered, like most FSBO homes, or on homes listed by Beycome sellers.
That 3% is only an example. Commissions are not set by law or NAR rules and are fully negotiable. Sellers choose whether to offer buyer-agent compensation, and since August 17, 2024, such offers can’t be shown on the MLS.
How much are deed taxes in Florida, North Carolina and Georgia?
Transfer taxes are the biggest swing between states. Here are three Beycome states, worked out on NAR’s September 2026 median price of $417,500.
| State | Rate (official source) | Tax on $417,500 | Who pays by law or custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 70 cents per $100 of price (Miami-Dade: 60 cents, plus a 45-cent surtax except on single-family homes) | $2,922.50 | Usually the seller |
| North Carolina | $1 per $500 of price | $835 | The transferor (seller) must pay, per G.S. 105-228.30 |
| Georgia | $1 for the first $1,000, then 10 cents per $100 | $417.50 | Usually the seller |
Sources: Florida Department of Revenue, North Carolina G.S. 105-228.30 and Georgia Department of Revenue, read October 23, 2026. Searching for “how much are closing costs in NC”? The excise tax is the one fixed number; title, attorney and prorations come on top.
Florida buyers also pay doc stamps on a new mortgage note: 35 cents per $100. On a $334,000 loan (80% of the median), that’s $1,169.
Who pays closing costs in a for sale by owner sale?
Whoever the contract says. There’s no special FSBO rule. Three things decide it:
- State law, like North Carolina’s rule that the transferor pays the excise tax.
- Local custom, such as which side pays the owner’s title policy in your county.
- Negotiation, for example a seller credit toward the buyer’s costs.
The CFPB points out that a seller credit usually means a higher price, and a lender credit usually means a bigger loan or higher rate. Nothing is free; it just moves. Write every split into the contract. Our FSBO paperwork checklist lists the forms.
Sell smarter
List your home on the MLS from $99
A flat fee instead of a percentage, and $0 to Beycome at closing. You stay in control of your sale.
Sell your home →Buy smarter
Get up to 2% back at closing
On homes listed by other agents, Beycome credits you up to 2% of the price at closing (1% kept, $1,499 minimum; not on FSBO homes or homes listed by Beycome sellers).
Buy a home →Who runs the closing? A title company or a closing attorney, depending on your state. They collect funds, pay off the old loan, record the deed and send each side a settlement statement. If you’re new to this, read what a title company does and our explainer on title insurance.
How can you lower your closing costs?
Start with the parts you control. Ask for a written fee quote from the title company before you sign the contract. Clear any liens or code issues early so they don’t hold up closing. Close near the end of the month only if your lender and prorations make it cheaper.
For the settlement itself, Beycome Title charges a $99 settlement fee in Florida when prepaid on beycome.com, and $299 in Texas. Starting November 1, 2026, it also opens in Michigan ($199 prepaid), Ohio ($299), Illinois ($599) and Indiana ($199). Title insurance premiums, taxes and recording fees are separate.
On the listing side, our flat fee MLS listing puts your home on the MLS for $99, with $0 due to Beycome at closing. You keep running the sale, and you choose whether to offer anything to a buyer’s agent.
Frequently asked questions
What are for sale by owner closing costs?
The same third-party costs as any sale: deed taxes, title and settlement fees, prorated taxes and HOA fees. There’s no listing agent fee, and buyer-agent pay applies only if you offer it.
What does closing costs mean?
Fees and taxes paid to third parties to transfer a home and fund the loan, such as title insurance, appraisal, government taxes and prepaid insurance and interest.
How much are closing costs in NC?
The fixed part is the excise tax: $1 per $500, or $835 on a $417,500 home, paid by the seller. Title, attorney and prorations depend on the deal.
Who pays closing costs when there’s no realtor?
The buyer and seller, as the contract says. State law and local custom set defaults, and either side can negotiate credits.
When will I know the buyer’s final closing costs?
The lender must give the buyer a Closing Disclosure at least 3 business days before closing, per the CFPB.
Do I need a realtor to close a sale?
No, it’s not required; it’s your choice. A title company or closing attorney handles the closing either way. An agent helps with pricing and negotiation if you want that.
Reviewed by Beycome Brokerage Realty LLC, a licensed real estate brokerage. Licenses are listed at beycome.com/faq/how-to/are-you-a-licensed-broker/.
Tax figures use official 2026 rates on NAR’s September 2026 median price of $417,500 and are examples; your county, price and deal terms change them. Miami-Dade rates differ as shown. Prices as of October 2026.
“$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing; doc stamps, title, other closing costs and any buyer-agent compensation you agree to still apply. No refund once a listing is live.
Beycome Title: Florida and Texas today; Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana starting November 1, 2026. Prepaid prices apply when paid upfront at checkout (list prices $245 MI, $345 OH, $995 IL, $245 IN). The $99 Florida fee applies when prepaid on beycome.com.
Buyer program: no upfront fee; Beycome keeps 1% of the price with a $1,499 minimum and credits the rest at closing, subject to the compensation offered, state rules and lender approval. It doesn’t apply to FSBO homes with no buyer-agent commission offered or to homes listed by Beycome sellers. Commissions are not set by law or NAR rules and are fully negotiable.
Licensed in 18 states and DC; sellers can list in 17 states and DC. General information, not legal or tax advice; rules vary by state and county.
Sources
- CFPB, what are closing costs?, read October 23, 2026.
- CFPB, what is a Loan Estimate?
- CFPB, what is a Closing Disclosure?
- Florida Department of Revenue, documentary stamp tax.
- North Carolina General Statutes, section 105-228.30.
- Georgia Department of Revenue, real estate transfer tax.
- NAR, existing-home sales, September 2026.
- NAR, what the settlement means for home buyers and sellers.
- Beycome, listing package features, October 2026.
- Beycome Title, settlement fees, October 2026.
Disclosure & Disclaimer
Beycome provides real estate services through affiliated licensed brokerages and has a commercial interest in the services and business models discussed on this blog. Content reflects Beycome’s perspective and may promote our services; it should not be treated as independent or neutral reporting.
Articles are provided for general informational and educational purposes only, not as financial, tax, legal, or investment advice or a recommendation for your particular situation. Reading this blog does not create a brokerage, advisory, or other professional relationship.
Information, opinions, pricing, service descriptions, and comparisons reflect the sources and information available when an article was published or last updated and may change. Although we aim for accuracy, we do not guarantee that all content is complete, current, or applicable to your circumstances. Laws, market conditions, and service availability vary by location. Examples and estimated savings are illustrative, depend on stated assumptions, and do not guarantee individual results.
Verify relevant information directly and consult qualified professionals before making decisions. Beycome services are subject to applicable agreements, eligibility requirements, and state-specific terms.
