Here’s what closing fees buyers and sellers are typically responsible for.
I’ve been getting a lot of questions recently about closing fees and who is responsible for them in the state of Washington.
Let’s start with what the seller is responsible for. In Washington, the seller will pay the real estate commission based on their listing contract. They will also pay for the excise tax, half of escrow (unless it’s a military buyer, who will pay full escrow), title insurance, any and all delinquent taxes, unpaid HOA fees, and settlement or reconveyance fees.
On the buyer side, they’re responsible for:
- Title insurance premium for their lender
- The other half of escrow
- Tax prorations from the closing date
- All new loan fees for their loan
- Interest from the date the loan closes up until the first payment date
- Hazard insurance/homeowners insurance for the first year.
Can the buyer pay some of the seller’s costs or vice versa? Of course. However, the buyer’s lender may need to be consulted because they have a say in this as well.
If you have any questions about closing fees, buying, selling, or real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
