Ohio Closing Costs for Buyers: How Much You'll Pay
In Ohio, the state transfer tax is 0.1% (about $263 on a $262,900 home; county and city taxes can push the total to about $789), and an owner's title policy runs about $1,729 plus $150 for the lender's policy. Figures below come from Ohio statutes, the state's revenue and insurance regulators and filed title rate cards, read on September 11, 2026.
Transfer tax in Ohio
| Jurisdiction | Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio (state) | Ohio's statewide 'conveyance fee' (Ohio Revised Code § 319.54(G)(3)): $1.00 minimum, or ten cents per $100 of the value of real property transferred, whichever is greater (i.e., $1.00 per $1,000, or 0.1%), collected by the county auditor when a deed is presented for transfer. | source |
| County-permissive real property transfer tax (ORC § 322.02), varies by county, up to an additional 0.3% (30 cents per $100 / $3 per $1,000) on top of the $1/$1,000 state conveyance fee | Ohio counties may, by resolution of the county commissioners (after two public hearings, subject to referendum), levy an additional real property transfer tax of up to 30 cents per $100 ($3.00 per $1,000, or 0.3%) on every deed. | source |
More on Ohio (state)
Ohio's statewide 'conveyance fee' (Ohio Revised Code § 319.54(G)(3)): $1.00 minimum, or ten cents per $100 of the value of real property transferred, whichever is greater (i.e., $1.00 per $1,000, or 0.1%), collected by the county auditor when a deed is presented for transfer. A long list of statutory exemptions applies (government transfers, gifts between spouses/parent-child, security transfers, corrections, transfers under $100, etc.). A separate flat $0.50 per-parcel 'transfer or entry' fee (§ 319.54(G)(2)) is charged in addition, regardless of value.
More on County-permissive real property transfer tax (ORC § 322.02), varies by county, up to an additional 0.3% (30 cents per $100 / $3 per $1,000) on top of the $1/$1,000 state conveyance fee
Ohio counties may, by resolution of the county commissioners (after two public hearings, subject to referendum), levy an additional real property transfer tax of up to 30 cents per $100 ($3.00 per $1,000, or 0.3%) on every deed. It is levied on the seller (grantor) and paid when the deed is delivered, before it goes to the recorder. Combined with the mandatory $1 per $1,000 state conveyance fee, the maximum total in a county that imposes the full permissive rate is $4.00 per $1,000 (0.4%). Franklin County (Columbus) example, per the county auditor's calculator: Franklin imposes the full $2 per $1,000 permissive rate on top of the $1 per $1,000 state fee, for a combined $3.00 per $1,000 (0.3%), with a $3 minimum and a separate flat $0.50 state transfer tax on every non-exempt transfer. If the seller receives the homestead exemption on the property, the permissive portion is waived and the fee drops to $1 per $1,000. Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) is commonly reported to charge at or near the $3 per $1,000 permissive maximum. Confirm the current rate with the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer.
None beyond the conveyance fee described above. Ohio has no separate mortgage recording tax; mortgages are subject only to the flat per-page recording fees under ORC 317.32.
Who pays: The grantor (seller) pays both the mandatory state conveyance fee (ORC § 319.54) and any county-permissive additional transfer tax (ORC § 322.02); ORC § 322.02 explicitly states the county-permissive tax 'shall be levied upon the grantor named in the deed and shall be paid by the grantor... prior to the presentation of the deed to the recorder... for recording.' Source
Worked example: On a $262,900 home in Franklin County (Columbus), rounding up to the nearest $100 increment used by the county's own calculator ($263,000): the combined conveyance fee at Franklin County's $3 per $1,000 total rate (state $1 + county permissive $2) is about $789, plus the flat $0.50 state transfer tax, for a total of about $789.50, paid entirely by the seller. In a county that imposes no permissive transfer tax (state minimum only, $1 per $1,000), the same home would owe about $263 in conveyance fee plus the $0.50 transfer tax, about $263.50 in total, also seller-paid. Ohio's combined conveyance fee therefore ranges from about $263 (state only) to about $1,052 (full $4 per $1,000 permissive maximum) on a $262,900 home depending on the county, and is seller-paid in every case. That is why the buyer's share below is $0 and why one statewide total cannot be given without knowing the county's permissive rate.
How much is title insurance in Ohio?
On a $262,900 home in Ohio, an owner's title policy costs about $1,729 and the lender's policy about $150 when both are issued together (the simultaneous-issue discount). The buyer customarily pays for the owner's policy and the lender's policy. Ohio is a filed-competitive state: each title insurer files its own rates, so premiums differ by company and it pays to get two quotes. Premiums computed from First American Title Fee Calculator (filed rates), Franklin County, Ohio, as of September 11, 2026.
Who pays the owner's policy: buyer (First American's calculator default allocation for Franklin County; negotiable by contract) Source
Owner's policy on the full $262,900 price and the lender's policy on an 80% loan ($210,320), quoted together so the simultaneous-issue rate applies.
Ohio-specific buyer costs on a $262,900 home
These are the line items set by Ohio law or filed rates. Lender fees, appraisal, escrow and prepaid taxes and insurance come on top and depend on your loan.
| Owner's title policy | $1,729 |
|---|---|
| Lender's title policy | $150 |
| Deed recording | $34 |
| Mortgage recording | $34 |
| State-set items, total | $1,947 |
Recording fees
Recording the deed costs $34 and the mortgage $34 at the Uniform statewide statutory fee schedule (Ohio Revised Code § 317.32), applies in every Ohio county recorder's office including Franklin (Columbus) and Cuyahoga (Cleveland), the state's most populous counties. ORC § 317.32(A)(1): recording and indexing a standard instrument (deed, mortgage, or other conveyance-related document) costs a base fee of $17 plus a housing trust fund fee of $17, $34 total, for the first two pages, plus $4 base + $4 housing trust fund ($8 total) for each subsequent page (up to a $5 document preservation surcharge may also apply). A typical single-page or two-page deed therefore costs about $34 to record. A mortgage is usually longer (often 10-20+ pages with riders/legal description), so a typical Ohio mortgage recording fee commonly runs well above the $34 base, for example, a 12-page mortgage would be about $34 + (10 × $8) = $114. The $34 figure given here for 'mortgage' reflects only the base (first-two-page) fee, not a typical full mortgage package; buyers should budget for a higher total based on actual document length. These fees are set by state statute and are uniform in every Ohio county, not set by the individual county recorder.. Fee schedule
Other Ohio specifics
- County-permissive transfer tax varies by county (seller-paid, informational for buyers). Ohio's total conveyance fee combines a fixed statewide $1 per $1,000 fee with a county-optional permissive fee of up to $3 per $1,000 that varies county by county (see the county rates), so the same home price can trigger a materially different total conveyance fee depending on which Ohio county it is in, from about $1 per $1,000 (0.1%) in a county with no permissive tax up to about $4 per $1,000 (0.4%) in a county at the permissive maximum. This cost is legally the seller's obligation in every case, but buyers negotiating price or comparing counties should be aware the figure is not uniform statewide the way it is in states like New York or North Carolina. Source
How much are closing costs in Ohio?
For a buyer, closing costs usually run 2% to 5% of the purchase price. On Ohio's median-priced home (about $262,900), that is roughly $5,258 to $13,145, and it is separate from your down payment. The exact figure depends on your lender, your loan, and local taxes.
What closing costs include
Closing costs are a bundle of one-time fees due at settlement: lender or origination fees, an appraisal, title insurance, escrow and settlement fees, recording fees and any Ohio transfer tax, plus prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Why Ohio closing costs vary
The single biggest reason closing costs differ from state to state is transfer taxes, which states and sometimes counties and cities charge on the sale. Title insurance customs and whether an attorney is required at settlement also matter.
How a rebate offsets Ohio closing costs
Buyer commission rebates are legal in Ohio. Because a rebate can be paid as a credit at closing, it can erase a meaningful share of these costs. On a $262,900 home, a 2% rebate is about $5,258, often enough to cover much of the closing bill.
Frequently asked questions
How much is title insurance in Ohio?
About $1,729 for an owner's policy on a $262,900 home, plus about $150 for the lender's policy when both are issued together. Rates vary by insurer, so get two quotes.
Who pays closing costs in Ohio?
Transfer tax: The grantor (seller) pays both the mandatory state conveyance fee (ORC § 319.54) and any county-permissive additional transfer tax (ORC § 322.02); ORC § 322.02 explicitly states the county-permissive tax 'shall be levied upon the grantor named in the deed and shall be paid by the grantor... prior to the presentation of the deed to the recorder... for recording.' The buyer customarily pays for the owner's policy and the lender's policy, plus lender fees, appraisal and prepaid taxes and insurance. Sellers often cover part of the buyer's costs through a negotiated concession.
How much is the transfer tax in Ohio?
Ohio's statewide 'conveyance fee' (Ohio Revised Code § 319.54(G)(3)): $1.00 minimum, or ten cents per $100 of the value of real property transferred, whichever is greater (i.e., $1.00 per $1,000, or 0.1%), collected by the county auditor when a deed is presented for transfer. A long list of statutory exemptions applies (government transfers, gifts between spouses/parent-child, security transfers, corrections, transfers under $100, etc.). A separate flat $0.50 per-parcel 'transfer or entry' fee (§ 319.54(G)(2)) is charged in addition, regardless of value.. On a $262,900 home that is about $789, customarily paid by the seller. County-permissive real property transfer tax (ORC § 322.02), varies by county, up to an additional 0.3% (30 cents per $100 / $3 per $1,000) on top of the $1/$1,000 state conveyance fee add local taxes on top.
How much are closing costs in Ohio?
Buyer closing costs in Ohio typically run 2% to 5% of the purchase price. On Ohio's median-priced home (about $262,900) that is roughly $5,258 to $13,145, on top of your down payment.
What do closing costs include in Ohio?
Lender or origination fees, an appraisal, title insurance, escrow and settlement fees, recording fees and any Ohio transfer tax, plus prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Can a buyer rebate offset closing costs in Ohio?
Often yes. In Ohio, buyer commission rebates are legal, and a rebate can be applied as a credit toward your closing costs at the settlement table.
Sources
- Ohio transfer tax statute
- Who pays the transfer tax
- First American Title Fee Calculator (filed rates), Franklin County, Ohio, as of September 11, 2026
- Uniform statewide statutory fee schedule (Ohio Revised Code § 317.32), applies in every Ohio county recorder's office including Franklin (Columbus) and Cuyahoga (Cleveland), the state's most populous counties recording fees
- Franklin County Auditor, Transfer Tax & Conveyance Fee Calculator (confirms Franklin County's specific $3/$1,000 combined rate + $0.50 transfer tax + homestead reduction)
- Franklin County Auditor, Transfer & Conveyance FAQ
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: buyer closing costs are typically 2% to 5% of the purchase price
Ohio figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
Ohio title insurance at every purchase price, with a calculator →
Ohio transfer tax at every purchase price, who pays and local surcharges →
Read the full buyer closing-costs guide →
Figures are typical 2026 ranges and vary by lender, loan, and location. This is general information, not financial advice; confirm your numbers with your lender and closing agent.
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