Last updated: March 2026
Typical closing costs
$3,000–$7,500
Median home price
$250,000
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Ohio is one of the more affordable states for closing costs. The state charges a conveyance fee (transfer tax) of $1–$4 per $1,000 of purchase price, paid by the seller, with the exact rate set by each county — Cuyahoga (Cleveland) and Franklin (Columbus) are at or near the maximum. Ohio has no mortgage recording tax. Title insurance rates are set by the Ohio Title Insurance Rating Bureau (OTIRB) and were updated January 2026. Ohio is not an attorney state — closings are handled by title companies.
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Before you get to the Closing Disclosure, your Loan Estimate is your first chance to catch overcharges and compare lenders.
Ohio title insurance rates are OTIRB-regulated — all licensed title insurers must charge the same premiums. Every Ohio Loan Estimate you receive should show nearly identical title insurance costs for the same purchase price. If one lender's LE shows a significantly different title premium, that's a red flag worth investigating before choosing that lender.
Ohio has no mortgage recording tax, so you won't see a loan-amount-based tax line on your LE. The only recording fees are the flat per-page county fees — typically $68–$150 total. This keeps Ohio LEs notably clean compared to states like Florida (intangible tax), New York (MRT), or Georgia (intangible recording tax). Your main LE variable is lender origination fees.
Ohio's conveyance fee is paid by the seller — it won't appear on your buyer's LE. But do verify the county-specific rate before closing: Cuyahoga (Cleveland) charges $4/$1,000 and Franklin/Hamilton charge $3/$1,000, while many rural counties charge $1–$2/$1,000. This affects seller net proceeds and can influence price negotiations.
The escrow section of your Ohio LE may show a significant property tax prepayment, especially in Cuyahoga County where effective rates run 1.8%–2.0%. On a $250,000 Columbus home at 1.56% effective rate, expect $1,600–$3,000 in upfront escrow funding. Verify your lender's escrow calculation uses the correct county rate for the specific property.
Lender origination fees are the primary variable on an Ohio Loan Estimate — shop at least three lenders. Ohio is a competitive lending market, and origination fees range from $0 to 1%+ of the loan amount depending on the lender. On a $200,000 loan, the difference between a no-origination lender and a 1% origination lender is $2,000 — more than Ohio's title insurance and recording fees combined.
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Check my Loan Estimate →Typical ranges for a home purchase in Ohio. Exact amounts depend on purchase price, county, and lender.
| Fee |
|---|
| Conveyance fee (transfer tax)Seller · No — $1–$4/$1,000, varies by county |
| Owner's title insurance (OTIRB rate)Buyer · No — OTIRB bureau-filed rates |
| Lender's title insurance (simultaneous issue)Buyer · Minimal — simultaneous issue discount |
| Recording feesBuyer · No — $34 first 2 pages + $8/additional page |
| Settlement / closing feeBuyer · Slightly — compare title companies |
| Lender origination feeBuyer · Yes — most negotiable item at closing |
| Homeowners insurance prepaidBuyer · Yes — shop insurance carriers |
| Prepaid property taxes (escrow)Buyer · No — based on county rate |
Ohio title insurance rates are OTIRB-regulated and non-negotiable. Lender origination fees, settlement fees, and the choice of title company (for service, not price) are the most impactful variables on an Ohio Closing Disclosure.
Closing-cost benchmarks from 75,267 verified Ohio closing disclosures — typical lender median is $4,310.
Many of the fees listed above also appear on your Loan Estimate — the document your lender must provide within 3 business days of your mortgage application. Comparing Loan Estimates from multiple lenders is the single best way to reduce closing costs. Check if your Loan Estimate fees are competitive →
Origination Fee
Negotiable · Section A
Processing Fee
Negotiable · Section A
Underwriting Fee
Negotiable · Section A
Title Insurance
Negotiable · Section C
Appraisal Fee
Non-negotiable · Section B
Recording Fee
Non-negotiable · Section E
Transfer Tax
Non-negotiable · Section E
Attorney Fee
Negotiable · Section C
Courier Fee
Negotiable · Section H
Credit Report Fee
Non-negotiable · Section B
Flood Certification Fee
Non-negotiable · Section B
Tax Service Fee
Non-negotiable · Section B
Wire Transfer Fee
Negotiable · Section H
Document Preparation Fee
Negotiable · Section A
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Ohio title insurance rates are set by the Ohio Title Insurance Rating Bureau (OTIRB) under a bureau-filed system — all licensed Ohio title insurers must charge these rates. The January 2026 rate schedule is tiered: $5.75/K for coverage up to $150,000; $4.50/K for $150,001–$250,000; $3.50/K for $250,001–$500,000. For a $250,000 purchase, the blended effective rate is approximately $4.75–$5.25/K, and the total owner's policy premium runs $1,100–$1,200.
Ohio's conveyance fee varies significantly by county. The state-mandated base is $1.00/$1,000, but counties may add a permissive fee up to $3.00/$1,000 for a maximum of $4.00/$1,000 total. Key county rates: Cuyahoga (Cleveland) $4.00/$1,000; Franklin (Columbus) and Hamilton (Cincinnati) $3.00/$1,000; Montgomery (Dayton) $2.00/$1,000; most rural counties $1.00–$2.00/$1,000. The seller pays.
Ohio has no mortgage recording tax — there is no tax assessed on the loan amount at closing, unlike Florida (0.2% intangible), New York (up to 1.925%), or Georgia (0.3%). The only recording fees are the flat per-page fees set by ORC 317.32 ($34 for first 2 pages, $8 per additional page). A typical purchase closing records for $68–$150 total.
Ohio property taxes are assessed at 35% of market value, then a millage rate is applied to that assessed value. The effective rate on market value averages 1.43%–1.56% statewide. Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) runs higher, near 1.8%–2.0% effective. At closing, your lender will collect 2–6 months of prepaid taxes into escrow.
Ohio buyer closing costs typically run $3,000–$7,500 depending on purchase price, county, and lender. The main costs are title insurance (OTIRB-regulated, roughly $1,100–$1,200 on a $250,000 purchase), lender fees, and recording costs. Ohio has no mortgage recording tax, which keeps buyer costs lower than many comparable states.
Ohio's conveyance fee is a transfer tax paid by the seller, ranging from $1.00 to $4.00 per $1,000 of purchase price depending on the county. The statewide minimum is $1.00/$1,000; counties may add up to $3.00/$1,000 more. Cuyahoga (Cleveland) charges $4.00/$1,000; Franklin (Columbus) and Hamilton (Cincinnati) charge $3.00/$1,000. On a $250,000 sale in Columbus, the seller pays $750 in conveyance fees.
No. Ohio does not have a mortgage recording tax or any loan-amount-based tax at closing. The only recording fees are the per-page fees set by ORC 317.32 ($34 for the first 2 pages, $8 per additional page). This is a meaningful cost advantage compared to states like Florida, New York, or Georgia that levy taxes on the loan amount.
No. Ohio uses a bureau-filed rate system through the Ohio Title Insurance Rating Bureau (OTIRB) — all licensed Ohio title insurers must charge these rates. The January 2026 rates are tiered by coverage amount ($5.75/K for coverage up to $150K, stepping down to $3.50/K for $250K–$500K). You cannot negotiate the premium, but you can compare title companies on service quality, turnaround, and ancillary fees.
No. Ohio is not an attorney state. Closings are handled by licensed title companies and settlement agents. Attorney involvement is uncommon for standard residential purchases in Ohio. The closing process is typically straightforward compared to attorney-required states like Georgia, North Carolina, and New York.
Ohio is one of the more affordable closing-cost states in the Midwest and the country. The absence of a mortgage recording tax, moderate title insurance rates, and relatively low transfer fees (in most counties) keep total buyer costs well below states like Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York. For buyers relocating from high-cost states, Ohio's closing costs are often a pleasant surprise.
Compared to neighboring states: Pennsylvania has significantly higher transfer taxes (especially in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh). Michigan has a state + county transfer tax totaling about $8.60/$1,000. Indiana has no transfer tax and low title rates, making it marginally cheaper. Kentucky has no mortgage tax and modest transfer fees, similar to Ohio.
Within Ohio, Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) has the highest conveyance fee ($4.00/$1,000) and above-average property taxes, making it the most expensive county to close in. Franklin (Columbus) and Hamilton (Cincinnati) counties are at $3.00/$1,000. The Columbus metro has seen significant home price appreciation since 2020, which increases absolute closing costs even as rates remain fixed.
Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) offers first-time buyer programs including the Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance program, which provides 2.5% or 5% of the purchase price toward down payment and closing costs as a forgivable grant (forgiven after 7 years of occupancy). Income and purchase price limits apply by county.
Many Ohio cities and counties have local down payment and closing cost assistance programs. Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Dayton all offer programs through their housing departments or affiliated CDFIs. Search '[your city] homebuyer assistance' for current availability.
Ohio's recording fees are among the lowest in the country — a complete closing typically records for under $150. This is a genuine cost advantage compared to states like Florida ($10 first page + $8.50/page) or Pennsylvania ($277 deed recording in Philadelphia).
The conveyance fee is paid by the seller, not the buyer — one less cost to factor into your cash to close. However, in negotiations, remember that the seller factors their closing costs into pricing. In a balanced market, asking the seller to contribute $2,000–$4,000 toward your buyer closing costs is reasonable.
Refinancing in Ohio typically costs $3,000 to $6,000. Ohio has no mortgage recording tax. The state and county conveyance fees apply only to property transfers, not refinances — refis are exempt. The main costs are lender origination, the lender's title insurance policy (often discounted via the reissue rate on a refi within a few years of the prior title work), and standard recording fees.
For the full refinance guide tailored to Ohio — including the title reissue discount, lender-fee benchmarks, and the patterns we see most often on Ohio refinance LEs — see the dedicated Ohio refinance page at /refinance/ohio.
Nearby states: Indiana · Kentucky · Michigan · Pennsylvania · West Virginia
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