California closing cost calculator

California has no buyer-paid mortgage tax. Depending on the region, the buyer may pay the owner’s title policy and a share of any city transfer tax, and a supplemental property tax bill follows the purchase.

California’s rules checked September 30, 2026Runs in your browser. Nothing you type is saved.

State Closing date

County or city

California: Documentary transfer tax: 0.11% of the price, and the seller usually pays it. Owner’s title is usually paid by the seller, though it varies.

Purchase price

$

The loan

Loan type

Down payment

Interest rate

%

Term

Estimated cash to close $162,967

1.4%closing costs

Purchase price$760,000
Down payment (20%)$152,000
- Loan amount$608,000
Loan costs+$6,780
- Origination and lender feesest.+$6,080
- Appraisalest.+$700
Title and closing+$1,519
- Lender’s title insuranceest.+$669
- Settlement or escrow feeest.+$600
- Recording feesest.+$250
Taxes−$7,038
- Property tax credit from the sellerest.−$7,038
Prepaids and escrow+$9,256
- Homeowner’s insurance, first yearest.+$3,800
- Prepaid interest (27 days)est.+$2,923
- Property tax escrow (3 months)est.+$1,900
- Insurance escrow (2 months)est.+$633
Other costs+$450
- Home inspectionest.+$450
Cash to close$162,967

Estimated monthly payment$4,793

Principal and interest$3,843
Mortgage insurance$0
Property taxes$633
Insurance$317
HOA dues$0

An estimate, not a Loan Estimate or Closing Disclosure. Your lender's Loan Estimate and the title or escrow company give the final figures. Rates, fees and insurance vary by lender and property.

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A California purchase, worked out

The calculator opens on $760,000, about the median value of an owner-occupied home in California ($759,500, 2024 Census estimate), with 20% down on a 30-year conventional loan and a closing on December 5, 2026.

The buyer brings about $162,967: $152,000 down and $10,967 in closing costs, 1.4% of the price. California charges the buyer no state transfer or mortgage tax, though a county or city can. The monthly payment comes to about $4,793, with property tax and insurance.

Cash to close on $760,000, 20% down
Down payment	$152,000
Origination and lender feesest.	+$6,080
Appraisalest.	+$700
Lender’s title insuranceest.	+$669
Settlement or escrow feeest.	+$600
Recording feesest.	+$250
Property tax credit from the sellerest.	−$7,038
Homeowner’s insurance, first yearest.	+$3,800
Prepaid interest (27 days)est.	+$2,923
Property tax escrow (3 months)est.	+$1,900
Insurance escrow (2 months)est.	+$633
Home inspectionest.	+$450
Cash to close	$162,967

Estimates are tagged “est.”; California’s taxes follow its rules. A “−” is a credit, like the seller’s share of this year’s property tax where it’s paid after the year ends.

At other prices

California has no state tax of its own on the buyer. Each row has 20% down on a conventional loan.

Price	California’s buyer taxes	Closing costs	Cash to close	Monthly payment
$250,000	—	$5,522	$55,522	$1,597
$500,000	—	$7,960	$107,960	$3,153
$750,000	—	$10,850	$160,850	$4,730
$1,000,000	—	$13,800	$213,800	$6,307
$2,000,000	—	$25,599	$425,599	$12,613

Buying in California: what to know

No buyer’s taxes

California has no buyer-paid mortgage or recording tax beyond fees. Some cities’ transfer taxes are split with or paid by the buyer by local custom, so check the city line in your contract.

Documentary transfer tax

Every California county charges a documentary transfer tax of $0.55 per $500 (0.11%), customarily paid by the seller statewide, on the price minus any loans the buyer assumes. General-law cities can take $0.275 per $500 that is credited against the county tax, so the total stays 0.11%. Charter cities levy their own rates on top, and those city taxes are split by local custom and the contract.

Title insurance

Southern California (including Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties) customarily has the seller pay for the owner’s policy. Much of Northern California, including San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Marin, customarily has the buyer pay. Some Central Valley and Sacramento-area counties split it or differ, and the contract always controls.

Who runs the closing

California doesn’t require an attorney. Escrow companies close sales in the South, and title companies acting as escrow close them in the North.

Property taxes and escrow

California’s tax year runs July 1 to June 30. The first installment is due November 1 (delinquent December 10) and the second February 1 (delinquent April 10), so each half is paid during the half-year it covers. Proration follows which installments the seller has paid, and the county sends the buyer a supplemental bill after the change of ownership.

Local differences

City of Los Angeles: 0.45% base plus Measure ULA on the entire price, 4% above $5,400,000 and 5.5% at $10,900,000 and up for closings after June 30, 2026 (indexed each year). San Francisco replaces the county rate with a tiered rate on the entire price: 0.5% up to $250,000, 0.68% to $1 million, 0.75% to $5 million, 2.25% to $10 million, 5.5% to $25 million and 6% above. Culver City: 0.45% under $1.5 million, 1.5% to $3 million, 3% to $10 million and 4% above. Pomona and Redondo Beach charge $2.20 per $1,000. Oakland (1% to 2.5%) and Berkeley (1.5% or 2.5%) tax the entire price, split between buyer and seller by custom; Santa Monica, Palo Alto and other charter cities have their own rates. The calculator includes Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley: pick the city to use its taxes.

California by city

Most of California follows the rules above. These cities add a tax of their own, set a different rate or change who pays, and the calculator applies them when you pick one. Amounts are what the buyer usually pays in transfer and deed taxes on $760,000 with 20% down, plus the owner’s title policy where the buyer usually buys it.

Everywhere else in California

The state’s rules, as above

$0

City of Los Angeles

City’s 0.45% tax
Measure ULA (4% over $5.4 million, 5.5% from $10.9 million)

$0 Same as elsewhere

San Francisco

Transfer tax 0.5% to 6% by price

$0 Same as elsewhere

Oakland

Oakland’s city transfer tax 1% to 2.5%, split

$5,700 +$5,700 vs. elsewhere

Berkeley

Berkeley’s city transfer tax 1.5% to 2.5%, split

$5,700 +$5,700 vs. elsewhere

Buying in California: questions

What is a supplemental tax bill in California?

After a purchase, the county reassesses the home and sends the new owner a supplemental property tax bill for the difference between the old and new assessed value for the rest of the tax year. Budget for it separately from the regular installments.

Does the buyer pay transfer tax in California?

Not the county tax, which sellers customarily pay. Some cities’ transfer taxes are split or buyer-paid by local custom, so check the city line in your purchase agreement.

Who pays for the owner’s title policy when buying in the Bay Area?

In most Bay Area counties, including San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo, the buyer customarily pays for the owner’s policy. In Southern California the seller usually does.

How much are closing costs in California?

On a $760,000 home with 20% down on a conventional loan, the calculator’s estimates put a California buyer’s closing costs at about $10,967, or 1.4% of the price, and cash to close at $162,967. California charges the buyer no state transfer or mortgage tax, though a county or city can. Lender fees, insurance and the rate vary, so put in your lender’s Loan Estimate for a closer number.

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