✏️ 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 TN 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 Tennessee.
- The 3 major Seller Closing Costs in Tennessee are:
- 1. REALTOR Fee
- 2. Recording Fee
- 3. Escrow Fee
- The 3 major Buyer Closing Costs in Tennessee are:
- 1. Loan Origination Fee
- 2. Escrow or Impound Account
- 3. Appraisal Fee
- In Tennessee, real estate transactions are usually closed by attorneys or title companies.
💰 CLOSING COST CALCULATOR TENNESSEE
What are Closing Costs in Tennessee?
Closing costs in Tennessee 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 ownership of the house. These settlement costs are paid in addition to the net property amount.
Who Pays Closing Costs in Tennessee?
Both the buyer and seller pay certain closing costs at the end of the real estate transaction in Tennessee.
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 market conditions, 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.
Who Pays Closing Costs on FSBO in Tennessee?
While Tennessee 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 Taxes
Transfer tax is charged by the state and/or municipality before the ownership is transferred from the seller to the buyer. In Tennessee, the transfer tax is levied by the county. All counties in Tennessee charge a transfer tax amounting to $0.37 per $100 of the property value.
2. Seller’s Attorney Fees
The law in Tennessee does not mandate the presence of an attorney for FSBO real estate transactions. However, it is highly advised to hire a real estate attorney for FSBO deals to avoid any type of legal risk.
A real estate attorney guides the owner in preparing the necessary documents like the Tennessee seller’s disclosure notice and drafts of other legal paperwork.
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.
» How to Sell a House in Tenessee by Owner: A comprehensive guide for FSBO sellers in Tennessee.
How Much are Closing Costs in Tennessee?
The closing cost in Tennessee 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 typical home value in Tennessee is $309,460. So, if you are selling a house in Tennessee, you may have to pay $24,756- $30,946 as closing costs. On the other hand, if you are buying a house in Tennessee, your closing costs may range between $6,189 to $15,473.
How Much are Closing Costs for Sellers in Tennessee?
As mentioned above, when selling a house in Tennessee, you will have to pay some closing costs to legally transfer the house ownership to the buyer. 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee.
1. REALTOR Fee
The seller pays real estate commissions to both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. The realtor commission usually amounts to 5%-6% of the agreement value.
» What is the Average Real Estate Commission in Tennessee: Check out the average Realtor commission in Tennessee
2. Recording Fee
The recording fee is paid by the seller to make the real estate transaction a matter of public record. In Tennessee, the recording fee ranges from $600 to $700 across different counties.
3. Home Inspection Fee
Sellers can opt for a home inspection in Tennessee to identify any major defects and issues, like plumbing issues, water damage, mold, appliance malfunction, etc., in the house. This can be done before the property is listed on the market (pre-inspection) or just before the closing. Home inspection cost in Tennessee is around $400-$600.
You can choose to resolve the issues found by the Tennessee real estate inspector before selling the house to avoid having to offer seller points in lieu of the cost of reparations.
The buyer can also undertake a home inspection. However, if they find undisclosed defects, it might give them the upper hand during negotiations, or they may back out of the deal.
» Selling Home As Is in Tennessee: Avoid paying the cost of home improvement by selling your house as is in Tennessee.
4. 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.
» Tennessee Home Seller Closing Costs: Find out the details of ALL the closing costs in Tennessee for sellers.
How Much are Closing Costs for Buyers in Tennessee?
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 charge buyers a loan origination fee to execute the loan with other respective documentation and legal formalities. The loan origination fee 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 Tennessee varies between $300 and $500, depending on the property characteristics like its actual saleable area and its geographical location.
» How Much Does an Appraisal Cost in Tennessee: The average cost of home appraisal in Tennessee also depends on the home type and loan type. Read more here.
4. Title Insurance
Title insurance protects against any type of loss with respect to any outstanding taxes, unpaid dues, default in the title, or any violations. Title policy cost in TN is around $200-$250.
5. Land Survey Fee
A land survey gives the buyer a better idea of the property they are buying in a legal and official capacity. The cost of a land survey may start from $250 and go further depending on the size of the land.
» How Much are Buyers Closing Costs in Tennessee: Find out ALL about what closing costs do buyers pay in Tennessee.
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee: Check out the seller closing costs calculator 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 Tennessee. 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 gives a detailed list of estimated closing costs for buyer in Tennessee.
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.
» Buyer Closing Cost Calculator Tennessee: Check out the closing costs calculator for buyer for calculating the closing costs for buyer.
Closing Costs in Tennessee 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 in Tennessee 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 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 in Tennessee 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.
» Houzeo Reviews: Check out Houzeo.com’s reviews before listing your house!
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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 Tennessee on Houzeo.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much are closing costs in Tennessee if you pay cash?
Closing costs in Tennessee for cash buyers are around 1% of the purchase price. Cash home sales don't have a financing contingency. So, cash buyers skip mortgage-related closing costs. Additionally, most cash buyers purchase homes as is which further helps them save appraisal and inspection costs. You can use the closing costs calculator for cash buyers in Tennessee available online to get an estimate of closing your expenses.
2. Are closing costs in Tennessee high?
Average closing costs in Tennessee are 1.4% of the buying price. This is slightly lower than the national average of 1.81%.
3. When are closing costs paid in Tennessee?
Closing costs are paid on the day of settlement when you transfer the funds and sign the paperwork for buying your house in Tennessee.
4. How can I lower my closing costs in Tennessee?
You can do the following to lower your closing costs in Tennessee:
1. Negotiate seller concessions
2. Opt for a no-closing cost mortgage
3. Apply for closing costs assistance programs
Also Read
- Who Pays Closing Costs in Tennessee Buyer or Seller: Closing costs vary according to the type of real estate deal. Read about the closing costs you’ll have to pay.
- Tennessee Multiple Listing Service: Flat Fee MLS companies in Tennessee can help you save thousands on commission fees. Read our curated list of the best companies near you.
- Cash For My House in Tennessee: Companies that buy houses for cash in Tennessee ensure fast closings and offer instant cash deals. Who’s the best real estate cash buyer in 2023? Read on!
- Tennessee Housing Market Forecast: Find out whether the housing market in Tennessee is a seller’s market or a buyer’s market.
- List of Real Estate Companies in Tennessee: Here are the top real estate companies in Tennessee that can help you with all your real estate needs.
- REALTORs in Tennessee: There are thousands of REALTORS in Tennessee, which may make it tough for you to pick the right one. Check out this blog to find the best one for you.
- Low Commission Real Estate Agent: Click here to know about best low commission real estate agents.
- Selling an Inherited House in Tennessee: Sell your inherited house in Tennessee with the help of our detailed guide.
- Sell My House Fast Tennessee: Check out our tips to sell your Tennessee property quickly.
- For Sale by Owner Websites Reviews: Take a look at our reviews of the best FSBO websites.
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