Sources

Where every number comes from

Homebuying Brief computes its figures from official documents and links each one. This page lists them all.

Last updated: September 22, 2026

Datasets used on every page

• Median home prices by county and city: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 five-year estimates, table B25077; populations from table B01003.
• Income limits: HUD FY2026 income limits.
• Buyer-rebate law by state: each state's real estate commission or licensing statute, linked on the state's rebate page.

By state

The rate manual, statute or fee schedule each state's figures are computed from, with the date we last checked it. Rates change: if a link shows a newer effective date than the one here, the newer document governs and we would like to hear about it.

Alabama

• Title insurance rates: WFG National Title Insurance Company, State of Alabama Manual of Title Insurance Premiums, effective September 2, 2024 (filed with the Alabama Dept. of Insurance under Ala. Code 27-25-6), Section 3 Basic Rate Table (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Alaska

• Title insurance rates: Stewart Title Guaranty Company Rate Filing for the State of Alaska, effective 2/20/2017 (filed with the Alaska Division of Insurance), Section 1.13 Basic Insurance Rate Schedule A and Section 2.1/2.4 Owner's and Loan Policy Basic Charges (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Arizona

• Title insurance rates: WFG National Title Insurance Company, Arizona Rate and Rules Manual, effective March 1, 2023 (filed under A.R.S. 20-376), Section 3.1 Basic Rate Table (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Arkansas

• Title insurance rates: Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Arkansas Title Insurance Schedule of Charges, effective 03/16/2026, Sections C.1 (Owner's/Leasehold Basic Schedule), D.1 (Loan Policy Basic Schedule), and E (Simultaneous Issuance Transactions) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

California

• Title insurance rates: Stewart Title Guaranty Company, California Schedule of Charges, effective July 7, 2025 (includes all revisions), Section 11.2 Residential Rates (1-4 unit residential) and Section 3.1 Lender's Title Insurance Rates (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• City of Los Angeles (in addition to LA County's base $0.55/$500) transfer tax: official page
• City and County of San Francisco transfer tax: official page
• City of Oakland transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Colorado

• Title insurance rates: WFG National Title Insurance Company, Colorado Title Insurance Rate Manual, effective January 15, 2026, Section 6 Basic Rate Table (Zone 1: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Jefferson Counties) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Connecticut

• Title insurance rates: CATIC Connecticut Standard ALTA Premium Rate Schedule (Rev. 01-16, effective January 1, 2016), page 10, Computation of Premiums for Standard CATIC Policies (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Targeted investment communities (e.g. Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport) transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Delaware

• Title insurance rates: Delaware Title Insurance Rating Bureau (DTIRB) Rating Manual, approved by the Delaware Insurance Department, rates in force as of 09/01/2017 amendment (Sections 3.2 Original Owner's Rates, 3.6 Original Loan Rates, 3.12 Simultaneous Issue) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• New Castle County transfer tax: official page
• Kent County transfer tax: official page
• Sussex County transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

District of Columbia

• Title insurance rates: Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Schedule of Charges and Forms for Title Insurance in the District of Columbia, effective 02/26/2024, Sections 2 (Owner's or Leasehold Policies), 4 (Mortgagee's Policies), and 15 (Simultaneous Issue Transactions) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Florida

• Title insurance rates: Fla. Admin. Code R. 69O-186.003, Title Insurance Rates (Office of Insurance Regulation, promulgated under Fla. Stat. 627.782), rule text effective 01/27/2002, current version (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Any Florida county (discretionary surtax) transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Georgia

• Title insurance rates: Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Georgia All Inclusive Schedule of Charges, effective 4/20/2026, Sections 1 (Owner's Title Insurance Original Issue), 3 (Loan Policies), and 6 (Simultaneous Issuance of Owner's and Loan Policies) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Hawaii

• Title insurance rates: First American Title Insurance Company, Hawaii Summary of Title Insurance Rates and Fees, effective 01.15.26 (posted rate schedule for use in resale closings of one-to-four family residential property; not First American's complete internal Schedule of Fees) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Idaho

• Title insurance rates: First American Title Insurance Company Idaho Basic Title Insurance Rates, effective April 11, 2024 (distributed by an independent First American policy-issuing agent) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Illinois

• Title insurance rates: Old Republic Title Schedule of Rates for Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties, Illinois, effective September 1, 2024 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Cook County transfer tax: official page
• City of Chicago transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Indiana

• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Iowa

• Title insurance rates: Iowa Title Guaranty Residential Premium Rates, effective July 1, 2023 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Kansas

• Title insurance rates: First American Title Insurance Company, Kansas Schedule of Title Insurance Rates and Escrow Fees, on file with the Kansas Insurance Department, Appendix A (Basic Title Insurance Rate) and Sections E.1/F.1/F.2 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Kentucky

• Title insurance rates: First American Title Insurance Company, Kentucky Schedule of Title Insurance Rates, effective May 5, 2024 (filed with the Kentucky Department of Insurance) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Louisiana

• Title insurance rates: LATISSO (Louisiana Title Statistical Services Organization), Manual of Rates and Forms for Title Insurance in the State of Louisiana, (09/01/2025) Edition (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Maine

• Title insurance rates: WFG National Title Insurance Company, State of Maine Manual of Title Insurance Premiums, effective March 1, 2022 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Maryland

• Title insurance rates: Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Maryland Schedule of Charges and Forms, effective 11/24/2025 (filed with the Maryland Insurance Administration) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Baltimore City transfer tax: official page
• Baltimore County transfer tax: official page
• Montgomery County transfer tax: official page
• Prince George's County transfer tax: official page
• Anne Arundel County transfer tax: official page
• Howard County transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Massachusetts

• Title insurance rates: CATIC, Massachusetts Title Insurance Premiums (Rate Book), effective July 1, 2017 (catic.com's own hosted copy 403s a direct fetch; retrieved via the Wayback Machine's July 2024 capture of the same URL, https://web.archive.org/web/20240703035811/https://catic.com/sites/default/files/2023-02/Massachusetts%20Rate%20Book_July2017.pdf) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Michigan

• Title insurance rates: Stewart Title Guaranty Company, All-Inclusive Residential Schedule of Charges for Title Insurance in the State of Michigan, revised 1/9/2024, effective 2/26/2024 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Wayne County (and every other Michigan county) transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Minnesota

• Title insurance rates: WFG National Title Insurance Company, State of Minnesota Rate Manual, effective October 15, 2025 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Hennepin County transfer tax: official page
• Ramsey County transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Mississippi

• Title insurance rates: First National Title Insurance Company (FNTI) Mississippi Title Insurance Rates and Rules Manual, effective November 11, 2022 (filed rate manual applicable statewide) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Missouri

• Title insurance rates: Platinum Title & Escrow (Leawood, KS), Residential Owner's Policy Rate Table, serving all Missouri and Kansas counties (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Montana

• Title insurance rates: WFG National Title Insurance Company, State of Montana Manual of Title Insurance Premiums, effective December 1, 2022 (filed with the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance under MCA 33-25-212) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Nebraska

• Title insurance rates: First National Title Insurance Company (FNTI) Nebraska Title Insurance Rates and Rules Manual, effective July 31, 2023 (filed with the Nebraska Department of Insurance under the prior-approval framework of Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 44-1997) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Nevada

• Title insurance rates: Nevada Title Insurance Rates and Charges - Application and Schedule of Rates, effective January 10, 2026 (filed rate manual hosted by the Nevada Division of Insurance's own document repository, applicable in all Nevada counties) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Clark County (Las Vegas) transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

New Hampshire

• Title insurance rates: WFG National Title Insurance Company, State of New Hampshire Manual of Title Insurance Premiums, effective March 1, 2023 (filed with and approved by the New Hampshire Insurance Department) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

New Jersey

• Title insurance rates: New Jersey Land Title Insurance Rating Bureau, Manual of Rates and Charges, dated effective September 1, 2019 (this filed schedule remained in force as of the 2026 read; data/closing/new-jersey.json's source note describes the same figures as 'current schedule effective 11/1/2023', likely a later re-filing/re-approval of the identical rates rather than a rate change) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

New Mexico

• Title insurance rates: WFG National Title Insurance Company, 2025 Schedule of New Mexico Basic Premium Rates for Title Insurance, effective July 1, 2025, published under the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance's promulgated rate order (13.14.9 NMAC) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

New York

• Title insurance rates: TIRSA Rate Manual, Seventh Revision, approved by NYDFS June 10, 2024, effective October 1, 2024 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• New York City (all five boroughs) transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

North Carolina

• Title insurance rates: North Carolina Title Insurance Rating Bureau, North Carolina Title Insurance Rates, effective October 1, 2025 (filed with the NC Department of Insurance) (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• None currently in effect statewide transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

North Dakota

• Title insurance rates: First National Title Insurance Company, North Dakota Title Insurance Rates, Chapter 1 Basic Schedule of Rates, effective December 7, 2023 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Ohio

• Title insurance rates: Ohio Title Insurance Rating Bureau, Inc., Schedule of Rates and Rules for Title Insurance Policies, Rule PR-1/PR-1.1/PR-6/PR-8, (March 1, 2026) Reprint (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• 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 transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Oklahoma

• Title insurance rates: Old Republic Title, Oklahoma Residential Fee Sheet (Oklahoma, Canadian & Cleveland Counties), effective January 2024 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Oregon

• Title insurance rates: Oregon Title Rates -- Title Insurance Rates per the Oregon Title Insurance Rating Organization (OTIRO) Rating Manual, AmeriTitle rate card (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Washington County (Portland metro) transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Pennsylvania

• Title insurance rates: Manual of the Title Insurance Rating Bureau of Pennsylvania, Section 5.50 Schedule of Rates - Company or Agent Procedure, approved effective 08/01/2024 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Philadelphia transfer tax: official page
• City of Pittsburgh (Allegheny County) transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Rhode Island

• Title insurance rates: WFG National Title Insurance Company, Rhode Island Title Insurance Rate Manual, Section 3 Basic Rate Table, effective March 1, 2023 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

South Carolina

• Title insurance rates: Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Schedule of Charges and Forms for the State of South Carolina, effective May 13, 2022 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

South Dakota

• Title insurance rates: Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Manual of Charges and Forms for Use in South Dakota, Section B (Policies), effective 10/2/2023 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Tennessee

• Title insurance rates: Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Schedule of Charges and Forms for Title Insurance in the State of Tennessee, Schedule G (Davidson County), last updated 2/4/2022 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Texas

• Title insurance rates: Texas Department of Insurance, Commissioner's Order No. 2025-9697, Title Insurance Basic Premium Rates (Exhibit A), effective March 1, 2026 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Utah

• Title insurance rates: WFG National Title Insurance Company, Utah Title Rate Manual, Section 3 Basic Rate Table, effective October 1, 2024 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Vermont

• Title insurance rates: First National Title Insurance Company, Vermont Title Insurance Rates and Rules Manual, Chapter 1 Schedule of Rates, effective September 17, 2024 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)

Virginia

• Title insurance rates: WFG National Title Insurance Company, Rate and Rules for the Commonwealth of Virginia, Sections 3 & 4, effective September 1, 2023 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Northern Virginia (all localities in the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority: Arlington, Fairfax County, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Loudoun, Prince William, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park) transfer tax: official page
• Hampton Roads transportation district (localities in the district created under § 33.2-1903) transfer tax: official page
• Any city or county (local recordation tax) transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Washington

• Title insurance rates: WFG National Title Insurance Company, Rate and Rules for the State of Washington, Section I Basic Rate Table, effective May 1, 2023 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• King County (all cities, including Seattle) local REET transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

West Virginia

• Title insurance rates: Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Schedule of Charges for the State of West Virginia, effective 08/25/2023 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Kanawha County (Charleston) transfer tax: official page
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Wisconsin

• Title insurance rates: WFG National Title Insurance Company, State of Wisconsin Manual of Title Insurance Premiums, effective June 23, 2025 (checked 2026-09-22)
• Who pays for the owner's policy: source
• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

Wyoming

• Transfer tax: state statute or revenue department (checked 2026-09-11)
• Recording fees: county recorder fee schedule

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