Seller or Buyer: Who Pays Closing Costs in Pennsylvania in 2024

✏️ 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.

Closing is the final stage of a real estate transaction. The sheer amount of paperwork involved in the process can make you feel flustered and overwhelmed, especially if you are buying or selling a house for the first time.

A rookie mistake that most first-time home buyers and home sellers make is not taking closing costs into consideration. To be specific, who pays closing costs in PA, and how much are they?

Why are Closing Costs Important?

Paying closing costs is important to finalize the real estate transaction. For instance, Pennsylvania mortgage lenders typically require a home appraisal report and home inspection reports to determine the net worth of the property, the loan amount and calculate the risk involved. Without these, they may not approve the loan.

Closing costs are also important to transfer the ownership of the house from the seller to the buyer. To understand this better, let’s consider recording fee. It is charged by state and/or local government agencies to register the real estate sale, making it a matter of public record. Not recording the sale can be a gateway to legal liabilities in the future.

That being said, it is crucial to develop an understanding of closing costs before you begin a real estate transaction. If you are selling a home in Pennsylvania, it will help you find the right price for your property without narrowing your profit margins.

If you are buying a house, being well-versed with closing costs can help you establish your affordability.

» Free Home Value Calculator: Find your home’s value within a minute.

Who Pays Closing Costs in PA: Buyer or Seller?

Both the buyer and the seller have to pay certain closing expenses in Pennsylvania.

Seller closing costs in Pennsylvania can amount to 8%-10% of the final sale price of the home. This does not include the mortgage payoff. The biggest closing cost (5%-6%) the seller has to pay is the listing and buyer’s agent commission. The remaining 3%-4% includes expenses like home inspection fee, land survey fee, HOA fees, estoppel fees, etc.

» How to Calculate Closing Costs for Seller in Pennsylvania: Find out what are typical closing costs for sellers in Pennsylvania.

Usually, the buyers are responsible for paying most of the settlement costs in Pennsylvania.

Usually, the buyers are responsible for paying most of the settlement costs in Pennsylvania. Buyers closing costs in Pennsylvania can amount to 2%-5% of the final sale price of the home or the mortgage amount.

in Pennsylvania can amount to 2%-5% of the final sale price of the home or the mortgage amount.

Buyers can negotiate certain closing costs with the seller and the lender. Some sellers may offer to pay certain buyer closing costs to sweeten the deal or sell their home faster.

» Estimated Closing Costs for Buyer in Pennsylvania: Here are the typical closing costs for buyer in the US.

Who Usually Pays Closing Costs in PA?

As mentioned above, the buyers are responsible for most of the settlement costs. However, the closing costs to be borne by the buyer and the seller varies by the type of transaction. Let’s take a look at the buyer nd seller closing costs by transaction type.

Who Pays Closing Costs for Cash Buyer in Pennsylvania?

Cash house buyers in Pennsylvania do not have to take a mortgage to finance their real estate purchase. As a result, cash deals are beneficial for both the buyer and the seller as they are quicker, less risky and complicated, and have lower closing costs.

Both the seller and the buyer have to bear certain closing expenses in a cash sale.

Some seller closing costs on a cash sale in Pennsylvania are attorney fees, closing/settlement fees, escrow fees, HOA fees, pro-rated property taxes, title insurance, and transfer tax.

Since the buyer does not opt for a mortgage in case of a cash sale, they do not have to pay lender-related closing costs like application fees, appraisal fees, credit report fees, discount points, lender’s title insurance, and underwriting fee. Buyer closing costs on a cash sale in Pennsylvania include attorney fees, courier fees, escrow fees, homeowners insurance, HOA fees, title search fees, transfer tax, and property tax.

» Cash Offers Pennsylvania: Here is a guide on how to deal with cash offers in Pennsylvania.

Who Pays Closing Costs in PA on a Wholesale Deal?

Three parties are involved in a real estate wholesale deal, the seller, the wholesaler, and the buyer. The wholesaler acquires the property from the seller on contract and sells it on their behalf. Wholesalers often look for distressed properties priced below market value. Such deals are usually low risk and present the opportunity to make a larger profit in a shorter time span.

The seller and the buyer pay closing costs in case of a wholesale real estate deal in Pennsylvania. The wholesaler is not responsible for closing costs. However, they may have to pay taxes on the assignment fee (monetary compensation wholesalers receive for organizing the deal, usually a percentage of the final purchase price).

Some seller closing costs on a wholesale deal in Pennsylvania are attorney fees, escrow fees, HOA fees, transfer tax, and pro-rated property tax.

Buyer closing costs on a wholesale deal in Pennsylvania include appraisal fees, assignment fees, escrow fees, owner’s title insurance, recording fee, survey fee, title search fee, etc.

» Pennsylvania Wholesale Real Estate: Find out more about the wholesale real estate market in Pennsylvania.

Who Pays Closing Costs on a Vacant Land in Pennsylvania?

Land is a tangible asset, and its value only increases with time as it has a limited supply. In addition, this niche of real estate is less competitive as compared to wholesale deals and house flipping in Pennsylvania.

Both the buyer and the seller have to pay some closing costs on the sale of land in Pennsylvania.

Seller closing costs on land sale in Pennsylvania include attorney fees, deed preparation fees, HOA fees, pro-rated property tax, real estate agent commission, recording fees, transfer taxes, etc.

Some buyer closing costs on land sale in Pennsylvania are appraisal fees, attorney fees, environmental inspection, land survey fees, loan application fees, origination fees, soil percolation test fees, title insurance, and title search fee.

» Why Do You Need Title Insurance in Pennsylvania: Protect your real estate investment by opting for title insurance.

Who Pays Closing Costs on a New Construction Home in Pennsylvania?

Purchasing a new construction home means buying a house directly from the builder or developer. Here, the buyer is the first person to live in the house since its construction.

Usually, the buyer has to bear all closing costs in Pennsylvania on a new construction. Nonetheless, the builder may offer certain incentives towards closing costs to make the property more attractive, especially if the buyer chooses to work with their in-house lender.

Buyer closing costs in Pennsylvania on a new construction include attorney fees, deposit registration fees, development fees, harmonized sales tax, loan origination fees, meter installation fees, notary fees, pro-rated property taxes, real estate broker commission, settlement fees, transfer taxes, and Tarion enrolment fee for new homes.

» How to Buy a House in Pennsylvania: Here is a step-by-step guide on buying a house in Pennsylvania.

How to Lower Closing Costs in PA?

Pennsylvania has some of the highest closing costs in the United States. Let’s put this in perspective. The median home price in Pennsylvania is $265,800. So, the closing costs for seller in Pennsylvania typically range from $21,264 to $26,580. And, closing costs for buyer in Pennsylvania can amount to $5,316-$13,290.

» How Much are Closing Costs in Pennsylvania: Here’s everything you need to know about the closing costs in Pennsylvania for buyers and sellers.

How to Lower Closing Costs for Seller in Pennsylvania?

If you are putting your house on the market, here are some ways you can reduce the cost of selling a house in Pennsylvania.

1. Opt for a discount broker or a flat fee realtor

Compared to traditional brokers who charge 6% of the sales price as commission, discount real estate brokers in Pennsylvania only charge 3%-4% of the sales price for their services. In fact, some low commission realtors offer higher concessions if sellers choose them as their buyer’s agents for their next real estate purchase.

2. Choose “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO)

Sellers can save up to 3% realtor commission and cut several costs by opting for “Pennsylvania For Sale By Owner” services. Houzeo offers services like Pennsylvania Flat Fee MLS Listing for FSBO sellers. With Flat Fee MLS, sellers can list their property on the MLS, which makes the selling process easier and smoother. What’s more, if the buyer is unrepresented, with Houzeo, sellers can sell their homes for zero realtor commission charge!

» For Sale By Owner Sites: Check out the best For Sale By Owner websites in 2023!

3. Research and compare

Sellers can save on closing costs such as attorney fees, home inspection cost Pennsylvania, and escrow fees by researching and comparing more affordable services to find the one most suitable for them.

4. Ask the buyer to cover seller closing costs

Buyers may agree to cover the seller’s closing costs if the market is competitive and fewer houses are in the market. On the other hand, sellers can raise the listing price to cover full or partial closing costs.

How to Lower Closing Costs for Buyer in Pennsylvania?

If you are putting your house on the market, here are some ways you can reduce closing costs for buyer.

1. Opt for a rebate program

Some real estate brokers offer buyers incentives like rebates that help lower their closing costs and/or buy down the mortgage interest. Real estate agent services are free for buyers as sellers pay the agent commission for both parties.

2. Give a solid offer

Present an attractive deal to entice the other party to cover some of the closing costs. Although it doesn’t mean more proceeds, an irresistible offer can reduce expenses. The better the offer, the more they’ll want to accommodate the deal. Hence, there’s a great chance the seller will pay the added cost to keep the transaction easier and quicker.

3. Minimize requests

Making demands can make the deal slow and troublesome for both parties. Therefore, buyers should make minimal requests so the seller will be more willing to cover some of the closing costs. If there are too many inconveniences, the seller may question the genuineness of the buyer and feel the need to back out.

4. Ask the seller to cover closing costs

Depending on the market conditions, the buyer can negotiate the deal with the seller. They can the seller to cover some of the buyer’s closing costs or offer credits towards closing costs.

» Mortgage Broker in Pennsylvania: A mortgage broker can help you find the best loan deal.

Closing Cost Calculator Pennsylvania

Closing costs vary heavily according to location and mortgage rates. Houzeo’s Closing Costs Calculator is a free tool that factors in these elements to help you calculate closing costs in Pennsylvania. It shows the user a detailed list of itemized costs and highlights junk costs that can be avoided.

Houzeo’s Home Sale Calculator Pennsylvania helps calculate closing costs for sellers 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!

» Closing Costs Calculator for Seller Pennsylvania: Check out the seller closing costs calculator for calculating the closing costs for seller.

Houzeo’s Buyer Closing Cost Calculator helps calculate closing costs for buyers in Pennsylvania. 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.

» Estimated Closing Costs for Buyer In Pennsylvania Check out the closing costs calculator for buyer for calculating the closing costs for buyer.

Conclusion

If you have not begun your real estate journey yet, opt for Houzeo. Houzeo.com, a tech company, provides an unbeatable combination of maximum savings, cutting-edge technology, and 5-star customer support.

With its 100% virtual service, it helps home sellers list their properties without any hassle from the comfort of their homes while also allowing home buyers to explore properties and make offers online.

Houzeo’s customer-centric approach, advanced technology, and MLS flat fee Pennsylvania 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!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who pays transfer taxes in Pennsylvania?

Transfer taxes in Pennsylvania are typically paid by the seller. In Pennsylvania, transfer taxes are called documentary stamp taxes.

2. Are Pennsylvania property taxes paid in arrears?

Yes. Property taxes in Pennsylvania are paid in arrears (at the end of the year).

3. Is a survey required for closing in Pennsylvania?

No. The law in Pennsylvania does not mandate a land survey when buying or selling a house. However, it may be required by mortgage lenders and title companies.

4. Who pays owner's title insurance in Pennsylvania?

The seller usually pays for the owner's title insurance in Pennsylvania.

Additional Resources

Real Property Disclosure Pennsylvania: Check out the seller disclosure requirements in Pennsylvania.
Who Pays Title Insurance in PA: Find out if you need title insurance and if you need to pay or it.
Home Inspections Pennsylvania: Home inspection is an important part of a real estate transaction. Here’s all you need to know.
Preapproval Mortgage: A step-by-step guide on how to get a mortgage preapproval.
Disadvantages of Seller Paying Closing Costs: Learn more about why the sellers should negotiate with the buyer to pay for their closing costs.

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