Average closing costs in Georgia

Ready to buy a home in Georgia? You'll need to pay closing costs in Georgia, which are the fees paid to your mortgage lender and other third-party providers for services such as credit checks, document preparation, the home appraisal, and underwriting. Closing costs usually are estimated to total between 3% and 6% of the loan amount. Since you pay closing costs in addition to your down payment, it's essential to understand how much you can expect to pay and who covers closing costs in Georgia.

How much are closing costs in Georgia on average?

Closing costs in Georgia when buying a home averaged $16,014, according to data from Rocket Mortgage®.¹ That's about 11% more than the national average of $14,422.

When refinancing, the average closing costs in Georgia were $9,028, which is about 3% more than the national average of $8,762.

The median Georgia home price in October 2025 was $368,700, according to Redfin. That's significantly lower than the national median sale price of $439,701.

Using data from Rocket Mortgage and Redfin, the average closing cost percentage in Georgia is about 4.3% of the home’s sale price, which is higher than the national average of 3.2%.

Georgia closing costs overview

Your closing costs might be higher or lower than the average, depending on the county in which you are buying.

Median housing prices, the price at which half of homes sell for more and half for less, are higher in certain counties in the state. If you live in one of these counties, you’ll typically pay higher closing costs. If you live in a Georgia county with a low median housing price, you might pay closing costs that are lower than average.

Buying a home in Johns Creek, Georgia, where the median sale price in October 2025 was $650,000, likely will require you to pay more closing costs than if you bought in Forest Park, where the median sale price was $145,000.

What closing costs might you pay when taking out a mortgage? Here are the most common:

• Lender origination fees. These are the fees that your mortgage lender charges for processing, underwriting, and funding your home loan.
• Appraisal. Your mortgage lender will require an appraisal of the property to make sure it's not lending you more than the home's fair market value. If you are refinancing your mortgage, your lender will appraise your home to determine how much equity you have.
• Real estate commissions. When a home is sold, the real estate agents or REALTORS® representing the buyers and sellers typically split a commission. Traditionally, sellers paid both agents, using the proceeds from the sale of the home. A 2024 legal settlement changed this practice. Today, buyers are responsible for paying their own agent’s commission. This can be negotiated, though, and sellers might still agree to pay both agents’ commissions.
• Credit reports. Your lender will charge a fee to pull your credit reports and credit scores. Lenders use this information to determine how likely you are to pay your mortgage on time.
• Inspections. When buying a home, it's common to schedule a home inspection. The home inspector will examine both the exterior and interior of your home and provide a report on its condition. This can help you determine if the home requires significant repairs. You also may want to schedule inspections for termites, radon gas, or mold, which you’d also be responsible for paying for.
• Attorney fees. Georgia requires both buyers and sellers to hire attorneys during the closing. Your attorney can review or prepare legal documents and answer any questions about the home buying process.
• Prepaid costs (taxes and insurance). Both buyers and sellers typically prepay property taxes at the mortgage closing. The sellers might pay a prorated amount for the time that they've lived in the home since the beginning of the new tax year, while the buyers often prepay their property taxes for the rest of the calendar year. This can be pricey: The Tax Foundation reported that the average property tax in Georgia as of 2023 equaled 0.77% of a home’s value. Buyers will typically prepay a portion of their homeowners insurance premiums at closing, too.

Calculating Georgia closing costs

How can you estimate closing costs in Georgia? It isn't easy to be precise, but closing costs usually total between 3% and 6% of the loan amount.

Once you've agreed to buy a home and apply for a mortgage, your lender will deliver a Loan Estimate that includes your closing costs. Some costs will be fixed, while others are for services you can shop for, such as your homeowners insurance.

At least 3 business days before closing, your lender will provide you with a Closing Disclosure that details your final closing costs.

Are closing costs in Georgia above average?

Closing costs in Georgia are higher than the national average. When buying a home, closing costs averaged $16,014 — about 11% more than the national average of $14,422, according to data from Rocket Mortgage^®.¹

Refinancing closing costs averaged $9,028, about 3% higher than the national average.

Why are closing costs higher in Georgia?

One reason is you have to pay transfer taxes in Georgia when real estate is sold. Sellers typically pay the real estate transfer tax at a rate of $1 for the first $1,000 of the purchase price and $0.10 for each additional $100. On a home worth $350,000, that would come to about $350.

Sellers and buyers are required to use real estate attorneys during the mortgage closing, which not all states require.

Georgia also charges an intangible recording tax. This tax is typically paid by buyers and covers the costs lenders incur when recording the mortgage in the county where the home sale took place. The tax for recording the note is charged at a rate of $1.50 for each $500 of the note. The maximum recording tax on any single note is $25,000.

If you borrowed $350,000 to buy a home, your intangible recording tax would be $1,050.

Who pays closing costs in Georgia?

Both the buyers and sellers pay some of the closing costs in a home sale.

Usual costs for buyers

Buyers typically cover the following costs:

• Loan origination fees
• Appraisal fees
• Credit report fees
• Home inspections
• Title insurance (lender's policy)
• Recording fees
• Prepaid costs (taxes, insurance, mortgage interest)

Usual costs for sellers

Some of the closing costs that sellers usually pay include:

• Real estate agent commissions
• Transfer taxes
• Title insurance (owner's policy)
• Deed preparation and recording fees
• Outstanding liens or mortgages

Remember, though, that sellers and buyers can negotiate with each other. You can convince the other party in your home sale to cover some closing costs that you'd typically pay.

FAQ

Questions about closing costs in Georgia? Here are answers to some of the most common.

Can you save on closing costs in Georgia?

Yes. If you are buying or selling, you can negotiate with the other parties in your transaction, asking them to cover fees that you'd usually pay. For instance, you might be able to convince the sellers to cover your attorney's fees. Just remember that buyers or sellers are under no obligation to cover any expenses for which you are responsible. You may qualify for the Georgia Dream program, which provides down payment and closing cost assistance to low- to moderate-income first-time home buyers. You also can shop around for title insurers, attorneys, and home inspectors who charge lower closing costs.

How do you pay the intangible recording tax?

You won't need to worry about sending the intangible recording tax to any government official when you close. A closing official, possibly your attorney, will instead collect the tax at closing and send it to the clerk of the superior court in the county where the home is located.

The bottom line: Georgia closing costs are higher than the national average

Because closing costs in Georgia are above average, it’s important to start saving to cover them as early as possible. Remember, you’ll also need to pay for your down payment.

If you’re ready to begin your journey toward owning a home in Georgia, start an application today with Rocket Mortgage.

¹ Data pulled from Rocket Mortgage closing costs info from Aug. 15, 2024, to Aug. 15, 2025.