Who Pays Closing Costs in Florida?
Last updated: February 2026
Max Cohen
Licensed General Contractor · FL Home Buyers
Quick Answer
In Florida, sellers pay 6-10% (commissions, title insurance, doc stamps) and buyers pay 2-5% (lender fees, appraisal, recording). When you sell to us, we pay all closing costs, you net the full offer amount.
Traditional Florida Closing Cost Breakdown
Seller Pays
- Realtor commissions5-6%
- Documentary stamps (deed)0.70%
- Owner's title insurance0.5-1%
- Title search & settlement$500-1,500
- HOA estoppel letter$150-500
- Total6-10%
Buyer Pays
- Lender origination fees0.5-1%
- Appraisal$400-700
- Home inspection$300-500
- Recording fees$100-200
- Lender's title insuranceVaries
- Total2-5%
Florida Closing Costs by Line Item
The seller/buyer split above covers the broad strokes. Here's the full breakdown with exact amounts.
| Cost Item | Who Pays | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Doc stamps on deed | Seller | $0.70/$100 ($0.60 in Miami-Dade) |
| Doc stamps on mortgage | Buyer | $0.35/$100 of loan amount |
| Owner's title insurance | Seller (most counties) | $5.75/$1K first $100K, $5.00/$1K after |
| Lender's title insurance | Buyer | Varies by loan amount |
| Title search and exam | Seller | $200-$400 |
| Settlement/closing fee | Negotiable | $500-$1,000 |
| HOA estoppel letter | Seller | $250 (capped by FL law) |
| Recording fees | Buyer | $10 first page + $8.50 each add'l |
| Property tax proration | Both (split at closing) | Calculated daily |
| Survey | Buyer (if required) | $300-$600 |
| Home inspection | Buyer | $300-$500 |
Note: In Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the buyer traditionally pays for the owner's title insurance instead of the seller. This is a local custom, not a state law, so it can be negotiated.
How Cash Sales Change the Equation
In a financed sale, the seller typically loses 6-10% of the sale price to closing costs. About 60% of that goes to agent commissions, and the rest covers title insurance, doc stamps, and settlement fees. On a $300K home, that's $18,000-$30,000 out of your proceeds.
A cash sale to FL Home Buyers removes most of those costs entirely. There are no commissions because we're the buyer, not an agent. There's no lender involved, so no appraisal contingency, no mortgage doc stamps, and no loan origination fees. We pay all standard seller closing costs: title insurance, deed doc stamps, title search, and settlement fees.
The practical math: on a $300K home sold through an agent, you'd net roughly $270,000-$282,000 after all costs. Our cash offer might come in at $255,000-$270,000, but you pay $0 at closing, close in 7-14 days, and skip 2-3 months of mortgage payments, insurance, and utility costs. The gap between a retail sale and a cash sale is often smaller than sellers expect once you account for everything that gets deducted from a traditional closing.
Negotiation Strategies for Closing Costs
In a traditional sale, everything is negotiable. Sellers can ask buyers to cover doc stamps or split title costs, but the market dictates who has use. In a seller's market, buyers absorb more to win the deal. In a buyer's market, sellers offer concessions to get offers across the finish line.
Since August 2024 (post-NAR settlement), sellers no longer have to offer buyer agent commission. That's now negotiated directly between the buyer and their agent. If you do list traditionally, this is one area where you may save 2-3%.
The simplest way to skip the negotiation entirely: sell to a cash buyer who covers all costs upfront. No back-and-forth over who pays what.
When You Sell to Us
Cash sales to FL Home Buyers are different:
- We pay all seller closing costs, title, doc stamps, settlement fees
- No commissions, we're the buyer, not an agent
- Our offer = your net, no surprise deductions at closing
Ready to sell without closing cost headaches? Call (561) 258-9405 or get your cash offer.