Closing costs in Louisiana
What a buyer or seller pays at the closing table in Louisiana — the real transfer-tax rate, recording fees, title-insurance method and attorney rules, plus a calculator that uses Louisiana's actual rates.
- Transfer tax
- 0%
- customarily none-paid
- Recording fee (deed)
- ~$105
- a flat fee per document
- Title insurance
- filed
- ~$4.50 / $1,000
- Attorney at closing
- Not required
Louisiana in the national transfer-tax dataset
0%, #37 of 51 nationally; at $400,000, that is $640 below 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
- #37 of 51
- highest state transfer-tax rate first
- Median-state tax at $400,000
- $640
- Louisiana: $0
- County coverage
- 3
- 0 with a city-tax field
Louisiana transfer-tax data: official source linked on this page, reviewed 2026-Q2.
How closing costs work in Louisiana
The biggest closing-cost variable in Louisiana is the real-estate transfer tax, which here is 0% and is customarily none-paid. Louisiana has NO state real-estate transfer/documentary tax. The Louisiana Constitution Art. VII, Sec. 2.3 (added by 2011 Amendment 1, effective Nov. 30, 2011) prohibits the state and any political subdivision from levying any tax or fee on the sale/transfer of immovable property, including documentary transaction taxes. The sole exception is the grandfathered Orleans Parish (New Orleans) Documentary Transaction Tax, a flat ~$325 fee (not a percentage of price). Recording, filing, and maintenance fees are expressly excluded from the prohibition and remain legal.
On a $400,000 home, the state-level transfer tax works out to roughly $0 , before any county or city add-ons. County recording fees are a flat fee per document and run around $105 for the deed.
For title insurance, Louisiana title-insurance rates are filed with the state and broadly similar between companies, though you can sometimes shop. Louisiana does not require an attorney at closing — a title or escrow company typically handles settlement, though you can hire an attorney if you want one. Lenders here typically charge $1,400–$3,200 in origination and processing fees, and 2 months of property-tax escrow is commonly collected at closing.
Statute: La. Const. Art. VII, Sec. 2.3 (transfer tax prohibition); recording fees La. R.S. 13:844; notary execution La. Civ. Code arts. 1833 & 1839. Official source ↗
Louisiana closing cost calculator
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Counties in Louisiana
County and city taxes can change the total significantly. Open a county for its precise rate.
Frequently asked questions
How much are closing costs in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, buyer closing costs typically run about 2%–5% of the purchase price. The state-specific pieces are the transfer tax (0%, customarily none-paid), county recording fees (a flat fee per document, around $105), and title insurance. Louisiana does not require an attorney at closing. Use the calculator above for your price.
What is the transfer tax in Louisiana?
Louisiana's real-estate transfer tax is 0% and is customarily none-paid. Louisiana has NO state real-estate transfer/documentary tax. The Louisiana Constitution Art. VII, Sec. 2.3 (added by 2011 Amendment 1, effective Nov. 30, 2011) prohibits the state and any political subdivision from levying any tax or fee on the sale/transfer of immovable property, including documentary transaction taxes. The sole exception is the grandfathered Orleans Parish (New Orleans) Documentary Transaction Tax, a flat ~$325 fee (not a percentage of price). Recording, filing, and maintenance fees are expressly excluded from the prohibition and remain legal.
Who pays closing costs in Louisiana?
Both buyer and seller pay different items. The transfer tax in Louisiana is customarily none-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 Louisiana?
No. Louisiana does not require an attorney at closing; a title or escrow company typically handles settlement. You may still choose to hire one.
Closest transfer-tax comparisons
Algorithmic neighbors by verified transfer-tax rate, not a static related-links block.
Know when closing-cost rates change
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