Closing costs in Massachusetts
What a buyer or seller pays at the closing table in Massachusetts — the real transfer-tax rate, recording fees, title-insurance method and attorney rules, plus a calculator that uses Massachusetts's actual rates.
- Transfer tax
- 0.46%
- customarily seller-paid
- Recording fee (deed)
- ~$155
- a flat fee per document
- Title insurance
- filed
- ~$4.00 / $1,000
- Attorney at closing
- Required
Massachusetts in the national transfer-tax dataset
0.46%, #14 of 51 nationally; at $400,000, that is $1,184 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
- #14 of 51
- highest state transfer-tax rate first
- Median-state tax at $400,000
- $640
- Massachusetts: $1,824
- County coverage
- 1
- 0 with a city-tax field
Massachusetts transfer-tax data: official source linked on this page, reviewed 2026-Q2.
How closing costs work in Massachusetts
The biggest closing-cost variable in Massachusetts is the real-estate transfer tax, which here is 0.46% and is customarily seller-paid. Massachusetts charges deed excise 'tax stamps' of $4.56 per $1,000 of price (0.456%) in most counties; Barnstable County (Cape Cod) is higher. The seller pays. Some municipalities have sought local transfer taxes on high-value sales, but statewide the excise stamp is the main transfer cost.
On a $400,000 home, the state-level transfer tax works out to roughly $1,824 , before any county or city add-ons. County recording fees are a flat fee per document and run around $155 for the deed.
For title insurance, Massachusetts title-insurance rates are filed with the state and broadly similar between companies, though you can sometimes shop. Massachusetts 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 $1,600–$3,500 in origination and processing fees, and 2 months of property-tax escrow is commonly collected at closing.
Statute: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 64D § 1 (deeds excise). Official source ↗
Massachusetts closing cost calculator
Pre-set to Massachusetts. Adjust your price, down payment and loan type.
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Counties in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, buyer closing costs typically run about 2%–5% of the purchase price. The state-specific pieces are the transfer tax (0.46%, customarily seller-paid), county recording fees (a flat fee per document, around $155), and title insurance. Massachusetts also requires an attorney at closing, which adds a fee. Use the calculator above for your price.
What is the transfer tax in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts's real-estate transfer tax is 0.46% and is customarily seller-paid. Massachusetts charges deed excise 'tax stamps' of $4.56 per $1,000 of price (0.456%) in most counties; Barnstable County (Cape Cod) is higher. The seller pays. Some municipalities have sought local transfer taxes on high-value sales, but statewide the excise stamp is the main transfer cost.
Who pays closing costs in Massachusetts?
Both buyer and seller pay different items. The transfer tax in Massachusetts is customarily seller-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 Massachusetts?
Yes. Massachusetts 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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