Closing costs in Delaware
What a buyer or seller pays at the closing table in Delaware — the real transfer-tax rate, recording fees, title-insurance method and attorney rules, plus a calculator that uses Delaware's actual rates.
Estimated — not yet source-verified.Estimated — not yet source-verified. This figure is a knowledge estimate we have not yet confirmed against the official source, so this page is not indexed. Treat it as a rough guide only and verify with the state revenue department or county recorder.
- Transfer tax
- 4%
- customarily split-paid
- Recording fee (deed)
- ~$256
- a flat fee per document
- Title insurance
- filed
- ~$5.50 / $1,000
- Attorney at closing
- Required
Delaware in the national transfer-tax dataset
4%, #1 of 51 nationally; at $400,000, that is $15,360 above the median $640 tax at $400,000. The comparison uses the 51 source-verified state and DC records in the TallyClose dataset; null transfer-tax states count as 0% rather than being filled with an estimate.
- National rank
- #1 of 51
- highest state transfer-tax rate first
- Median-state tax at $400,000
- $640
- Delaware: $16,000
- County coverage
- 0
- 0 with a city-tax field
Delaware transfer-tax data: official source linked on this page, review date not provided.
How closing costs work in Delaware
The biggest closing-cost variable in Delaware is the real-estate transfer tax, which here is 4% and is customarily split-paid. Delaware's realty transfer tax is 4% total — 2.5% to the state and 1.5% to the county or municipality — making it one of the highest in the country. First-time Delaware homebuyers get a reduction (½ of the state's 2.5% portion is reduced on the first $400,000). Buyer and seller customarily split the 4%, so ~2% each.
On a $400,000 home, the state-level transfer tax works out to roughly $16,000 , before any county or city add-ons. County recording fees are a flat fee per document and run around $256 for the deed.
For title insurance, Delaware title-insurance rates are filed with the state and broadly similar between companies, though you can sometimes shop. Delaware is also an "attorney state": a licensed attorney must be involved in the closing, which adds an attorney fee that title-only states don't have. Lenders here typically charge $1,500–$3,200 in origination and processing fees, and 2 months of property-tax escrow is commonly collected at closing.
Statute: Del. Code Title 30 § 5401 et seq.. Official source ↗
Delaware closing cost calculator
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Frequently asked questions
How much are closing costs in Delaware?
In Delaware, buyer closing costs typically run about 2%–5% of the purchase price. The state-specific pieces are the transfer tax (4%, customarily split-paid), county recording fees (a flat fee per document, around $256), and title insurance. Delaware also requires an attorney at closing, which adds a fee. Use the calculator above for your price.
What is the transfer tax in Delaware?
Delaware's real-estate transfer tax is 4% and is customarily split-paid. Delaware's realty transfer tax is 4% total — 2.5% to the state and 1.5% to the county or municipality — making it one of the highest in the country. First-time Delaware homebuyers get a reduction (½ of the state's 2.5% portion is reduced on the first $400,000). Buyer and seller customarily split the 4%, so ~2% each.
Who pays closing costs in Delaware?
Both buyer and seller pay different items. The transfer tax in Delaware is customarily split-paid. Buyers generally cover lender fees, the appraisal, lender's title insurance and prepaids; sellers generally cover the agent commission and, in most states, the bulk of the transfer tax. Everything is negotiable in the contract.
Do I need an attorney to close in Delaware?
Yes. Delaware is an "attorney state" — a licensed attorney must conduct or oversee the real-estate closing, which adds an attorney fee to your costs.
Closest transfer-tax comparisons
Algorithmic neighbors by verified transfer-tax rate, not a static related-links block.
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