✏️ Editor’s Note: Realtor Associations, agents, and MLS’ have started implementing changes related to the NAR’s $418 million settlement. While home-sellers will likely save thousands in commission, compliance and litigation risks have significantly increased for sellers throughout the nation. Learn how NAR’s settlement affects home sellers.
Congratulations! You are in the final stretch! However, the joy of finalizing the real estate deal brings with it the stress of financial planning. Closing costs in Maine are a sum of expenses you should plan for when buying or selling a house.
Key Takeaways
- Closing costs or “settlement costs” are a set of final expenses paid for completing a real estate transaction.
- The seller and the buyer both pay closing costs in Maine.
- The 3 major Seller Closing Costs in Maine are:
- 1. REALTOR Fee
- 2. Recording Fee
- 3. Escrow Fee
- The 3 major Buyer Closing Costs in Maine are:
- 1. Loan Origination Fee
- 2. Escrow or Impound Account
- 3. Appraisal Fee
- In Maine, real estate transactions are usually closed by escrow agents and title companies.
💰 CLOSING COST CALCULATOR MAINE
What are Closing Costs in Maine?
Closing costs in Maine are a sum of fees that have to be paid to different stakeholders. Closing costs are essential for finalizing the real estate deal and transferring the ownership of the house. These settlement costs are paid in addition to the net property amount.
Who Pays Closing Costs in Maine?
Both the buyer and seller pay certain closing costs at the end of the real estate transaction in Maine.
The seller shells out a higher monetary amount as closing costs as they pay the REALTOR commission. Other fees, like documentation charges, transfer fees, etc., are paid by the buyer.
Some closing costs are negotiable, while others are non-negotiable, like taxes charged by your state or local jurisdiction.
Depending upon the conditions of the Maine real estate market, the buyer or the seller can negotiate their share of the closing costs. For example, in a buyer’s market, the seller may have to bear a portion of the buyer’s closing costs.
» Is the Housing Market Going to Crash in Maine: We explain what the Maine real estate market will be like in 2023.
Who Pays Closing Costs on FSBO in Maine?
While For Sale By Owner (FSBO) property sellers do not have to pay heavy real estate agent commissions, they cannot completely escape closing costs. Some of these are:
1. Transfer Tax Maine
Transfer tax is charged by the state and/or municipality before the ownership is transferred from the seller to the buyer. In Maine, transfer tax is levied at a rate of $2.20 per $500 of the property value.
2. Seller’s Attorney Fees
The law in Maine mandates the presence of an attorney for FSBO real estate transactions.
A real estate attorney guides the owner in preparing the necessary documents like seller disclosure and drafts of other legal paperwork. Real estate attorneys in Maine typically charge $200-$300 per hour.
3. Pre-listing Appraisal
FSBO sellers may have to invest in the pre-listing appraisal, as it would help them find an appropriate buyer in less time. This will, in turn, lower the number of days on the market and make the sale faster.
Home Appraisals in Maine for single-family homes typically cost $300-$500.
How Much are Closing Costs in Maine?
Maine closing costs for sellers is approximately 8%–10% of the home’s agreement value, while the buyers are expected to pay around 2%–5% of the home’s purchase price.
Let’s put this in perspective! The median home value in Maine is $206,517. So, if you are selling a house in Maine, you may have to pay $16,521 to $20,651 as closing costs. On the other hand, if you are buying a house in Maine, your closing costs may range between $4,130 to $10,325.
How Much are Closing Costs for Sellers in ME?
As mentioned above, when calculating the cost of selling a house in Maine, you will have to factor in some closing costs to transfer the house ownership to the buyer legally. These costs include several fees that need to be paid over and above the net price of the property.
Some seller closing costs are negotiable. Real estate agents in Maine usually have information about who pays what at closing and can help you save on closing costs.
Here are some of the prime seller closing costs in Maine.
1. REALTOR Fee
The seller pays real estate commissions to both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. The real estate commissions in Maine usually amount to 5%-6% of the agreement value. So, considering the typical value of a home, the average commission for real estate in Maine can amount to $10,000-$12,500.
» How To Negotiate Real Estate Commission: Check out this blog to find how to negotiate REALTOR commissions like a pro!
2. Recording Fee
The recording fee is paid by the seller to make the real estate transaction a matter of public record. Recording a deed in Maine can cost $30-$40.
3. Escrow Fee
An escrow agent is an unbiased third party who helps you and the buyer complete the transaction. They clear the house for sale, transfer the ownership to the buyer, and the respective funds to the seller.
The escrow fee is the remuneration charged by the escrow agent for their services. It can amount to 1%$ of the purchase price.
4. Home Inspection Fee
Sellers can opt for a ME state inspection to identify any major defects and issues, like plumbing issues, water damage, mold, appliance malfunction, etc., in the house that they must resolve before selling.
This can be done before the property is listed on the market (pre-inspection) or just before the closing. So, how much does a home inspection cost in Maine? Home inspection in Maine usually costs around $400-$600.
The buyer can also undertake a home inspection. However, if the best home inspector Maine finds undisclosed defects, it might give the buyer an upper hand during negotiations, or they may back out of the deal. Whereas selling a home as is in Maine indicates that the property will not go under any maintenance.
» Typical Seller’s Closing Costs Maine: Here is a detailed breakdown of closing costs to sell a home in Maine.
How Much are Closing Costs for Buyers in ME?
These are the closing costs paid by the buyer while acquiring the property ownership from the seller. Like seller closing costs, these too are negotiable. Hence, hiring a buyer’s agent can help you save on closing costs.
We have listed some of the prime buyer closing costs.
1. Loan Origination Fees
Some mortgage lenders in ME charge buyers a loan origination fee to execute the loan with other respective documentation and legal formalities. The loan origination fee in Maine usually amounts to 1% of the mortgage loan amount.
2. Mortgage Escrow Account/ Impound Account
A part of the buyer’s monthly mortgage payments are reserved in an escrow or impound account by the mortgage lender. This reserve is maintained to pay the property tax and homeowners insurance premiums.
A mortgage servicer manages the mortgage escrow account and makes the payments on behalf of the buyer.
3. Appraisal Fee
Appraisal fees are paid to the professional appraiser who assesses the home value and ensures you get the best competitive price.
The cost for home appraisal in Maine varies between $150 and $400, depending on the property characteristics like its actual saleable area and its geographical location.
4. Title Insurance
A title company offers title policy in Maine to protect the insurer against any type of loss with respect to any outstanding taxes, unpaid dues, default in the title, or any violations. The owner’s title insurance in Maine could cost around $200-$250.
» Typical Closing Costs for Buyer in Maine: Here is a detailed breakdown of the customary buyer closing costs in ME.
How are Closing Costs Calculated?
It is important to calculate closing costs while selling a house or buying one.
The estimated closing costs give sellers an idea about the home equity they will have after the sale and helps buyers find out the amount they will have to pay over and above the agreement value of the house.
» Closing Cost Calculator: Check out the closing costs calculator for calculating the closing costs for your real estate transaction.
How to Calculate Closing Costs for Seller?
Houzeo’s Home Sale Calculator helps calculate closing costs for sellers in Maine with a swish and a click! All the sellers have to do is enter their property location, home sale price, mortgage payoff, seller agent commission, and buyer agent commission, and voila!
The Seller Closing Cost Calculator even gives sellers an estimate of their home inspection fee and home warranty fee. With the help of this home sale proceeds calculator, sellers can find out their home equity and be prepared for closing.
» Seller Closing Cost Calculator Maine: Check out the Maine closing costs calculator for seller for calculating the closing costs for seller.
How to Calculate Closing Costs for Buyer?
Houzeo’s Buyer Closing Cost Calculator helps calculate closing costs for buyers in Maine. To find the estimated buyer closing costs, the buyers have to add the property location, home purchase price, and the down payment in the buyer closing cost estimator.
The closing cost calculator for buyer gives a detailed list of the estimated closing costs for buyer in Maine.
Home buyers can find out everything right from origination fee, appraisal fee and survey fee to title search, attorney fee, recording fee, prepaid interest charges, escrow property taxes, and owner’s title insurance.
The Buyers Closing Cost Calculator even shows which fees have to be paid before closing and which ones have to be paid at closing while buy a house in Maine.
» Buyer Closing Cost Calculator Maine: Check out the closing costs calculator for buyer for calculating the closing costs for buyer.
Closing Costs in Maine for Refinance
Before we dive into closing costs for refinance, let’s look at the term refinance:
What is Refinancing?
Refinance, also called “Refi,” is nothing but replacing your current loan with one that offers a lower rate of interest. This helps lower monthly mortgage payments.
How Much are Closing Costs for Refinance?
Refinancing closing costs are the sum of several expenses paid against any services that were used in the process of underwriting and closing on your mortgage loan, which makes up 3%-5% of the mortgage amount.
The closing cost for refinancing would vary with respect to the property’s location.
Junk Closing Costs to Watch Out For
Junk costs are the additional costs that are imposed by the mortgage lender. These are usually excessive but can be challenged and negotiated for a fairer price. Some of these are:
- Application Fee: The buyer pays this fee to the lender when applying for the mortgage. Not all lenders charge an application fee.
- Loan Processing Fee: This fee is charged by the lender to execute the loan once it has been approved. Borrowers can negotiate for these charges to be waived.
- Mortgage Rate Lock Fee: This fee is a guarantee that the lender will honor the pre-agreed interest rate for a said amount for a set period.
- Underwriting Fee: Mortgage underwriters charge an underwriting fee to evaluate and verify loan applications. It is a non-recurring fee. Some lenders charge it in place of the originating fee, while others charge it in addition to the same.
- Courier Fee: A fee of $20-$50 is typically charged in order to cover the courier transactions.
Note: The costs vary by region.
Conclusion
The closing cost of selling a house in Maine is the mandatory fee that needs to be paid by the seller & the buyer. This is paid over and above the mortgage loan amount. Where the buyer pays 2%-5% and the seller pays 6%-10% against their share of the closing cost.
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Houzeo’s customer-centric approach, advanced technology, and flat fee packages make it an ideal choice for those looking to avoid paying high commissions and closing costs. It is the best company for flat fee listing Maine.
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With thousands of property listings, Houzeo.com is one of the biggest property listing sites in the US. Find condos, townhouses, co-ops, and other types of homes for sale in New Hampshire on Houzeo.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much are closing costs in Maine?
The closing cost in Maine for buyers are approximately 2%–5% of the home’s agreement value. While the sellers are expected to pay around 6–10% of the home’s purchase price. For sellers, that includes the agency commission too.
2. How much are closing costs in Maine for buyer?
The buyer closing costs are the charges paid by the buyer while acquiring the property ownership from the seller. These charges included several fees that need to be paid over and above the agreement amount and are negotiable too. Hence, you would need the best listing agent that would benefit you in this deal.
3. How much are closing costs in Maine for seller?
The seller closing costs are the charges paid by the seller while transferring the property ownership to the buyer. These charges included several fees that need to be paid over and above the agreed amount and are negotiable too. Hence, you would need the best listing agent that would benefit you in this deal.
4. Who pays transfer tax in Maine?
In Maine, transfer tax is evenly split between the seller and the buyer.
Also Read:
- Who Usually Pays Closing Costs in Maine: Closing Costs in ME can vary according to the type of real estate deal. Find out which closing costs you are responsible for.
- Title Insurance Premiums in Maine: Protect your real estate investment with title insurance.
- MLS Flat Fee Maine: Flat Fee MLS companies in Maine can help you save thousands on commission fees. Read the curated list of the best companies near you.
- Cash Buyers for Homes in Maine: Companies that buy houses for cash in Maine ensure fast closings and offer instant cash deals. Who’s the best real estate cash buyer in 2023? Read on!
- How to Sell My House for Cash: Find out the different ways to sell your house fast for cash.
- Ways to Sell a Home Fast Maine: There is more than one way for selling your house fast in Maine. Read on to find out more.
- Selling a Home As Is in Maine: Check out how you can sell your house as is in Maine.
- How To Sell a House without a Realtor in Maine: If want to sell your Maine house on your own, check out this guide to help you through the process.
- How To List on the MLS: List your home on the MLS yourself without hiring a real estate agent.
- Maine Real Estate Form: Check out how to create a contract for an FSBO transaction.
- For Sale by Owners Websites: These websites can help you market your property to prospective buyers directly.
Additional Resources
- Top Real Estate Companies in Maine: Here are the top real estate companies in Maine that can help you with all your real estate needs.
- Best Real Estate Websites Maine: Find out which are the best real estate websites in Maine that can help you crack a smooth real estate deal.
- Licensed REALTORS in Maine: There are thousands of REALTORS in Maine. Check out this blog to find the best one for you.
- Top Real Estate Brokers in Maine: Real estate brokers in Maine can help buyers and sellers with a hassle-free real estate transaction.
- Discount Realtors in Maine: Discount REALTORS in Maine can help you sell your house at a low commission.
- Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement Maine: Check out the disclosure requirements for selling your house.
- How to Stop Foreclosure in Maine: Read on to find how you you stop your property from going into foreclosure.
- Best Time to Buy a House in Maine: Check out if it’s the best time for you to buy a house in Maine.
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