Who Pays Closing Costs in Florida? Buyer vs. Seller, by County

Who pays closing costs in Florida is one of the most misunderstood questions in a real estate deal. The short answer: almost everything is set by local custom and negotiable by contract, and a few items even change based on which county you're in. Here's how the costs split between buyer and seller.

Key Takeaways

• Florida has no law fixing who pays closing costs; custom and your contract decide.
• The documentary stamp tax on the deed ($0.70 per $100; $0.60 in Miami-Dade) is customarily the seller's.
• The buyer/borrower customarily pays the mortgage doc stamps and intangible tax.
• Who pays owner's title insurance flips by county: seller in most of Florida, but the buyer in Miami-Dade, Broward, Sarasota, and Collier.

Costs the seller customarily pays

The big one is the documentary stamp tax on the deed: $0.70 per $100 of the sale price statewide, or $0.60 per $100 in Miami-Dade on a single-family home (Florida Department of Revenue). On a $500,000 sale that's $3,500 ($3,000 in Miami-Dade). Sellers also typically cover the real estate commission, which is negotiable and not fixed by any rule, plus any unpaid taxes and association dues through closing.

Costs the buyer customarily pays

Buyers with a mortgage pay the financing-side taxes: documentary stamp tax on the note ($0.35 per $100) and the nonrecurring intangible tax on a new mortgage ($2 per $1,000, or 0.2%) (Florida Department of Revenue). On a $400,000 loan that's $1,400 plus $800, or $2,200. Buyers also generally pay their lender fees, appraisal, inspections, and prepaid items like insurance and tax escrows.

The title insurance question, by county

This is where Florida gets local. Florida sets title insurance rates by regulation, so the premium is the same everywhere ($5.75 per $1,000 on the first $100,000, then $5.00 per $1,000 up to $1 million per the Florida CFO). What changes is who pays it, and that party also gets to choose the closing agent. In most Florida counties the seller pays and picks; but in Miami-Dade, Broward, Sarasota, and Collier, the buyer customarily pays and picks. For South Florida buyers and sellers, that single difference can swing several thousand dollars, so confirm it in your contract.

A worked example: $500,000 home, $400,000 loan

• Deed doc stamps (seller): $3,500 ($3,000 in Miami-Dade)
• Mortgage doc stamps + intangible tax (buyer): $2,200
• Owner's title premium: roughly $2,575 base, paid by seller in most counties, buyer in Miami-Dade and Broward
• Plus lender, appraisal, inspection, recording, and prepaid items

As a rule of thumb, buyers see total closing costs of about 2 to 5% of the price, and sellers about 6 to 8% including commission. Estimate your side with our home sale calculator and mortgage calculator.

Want a clear net-proceeds or cash-to-close number for your South Florida deal? Pure Equity Realty will walk you through it line by line. Talk to us, or start at our sell page.

Frequently asked questions

Who pays closing costs in Florida, the buyer or the seller?

Both pay different items, set by local custom and your contract. Sellers customarily cover the deed doc stamp tax and commission; buyers cover financing taxes and lender costs. Owner's title insurance is seller-paid in most counties but buyer-paid in Miami-Dade, Broward, Sarasota, and Collier.

Are closing costs negotiable in Florida?

Yes. No Florida law fixes who pays what, so any cost can be shifted by agreement. Buyers sometimes ask sellers for a closing-cost credit, especially in a slower market.

How much are closing costs in Florida?

Buyers typically pay about 2 to 5% of the price and sellers about 6 to 8% including the real estate commission. The exact figure depends on price, loan size, and county custom.

Sources

• Florida Department of Revenue (documentary stamp and intangible tax); Florida CFO (title insurance rates).

Published June 20, 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice; confirm current rates and county custom with your closing agent.