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 application. Pay close attention to the origination fee, the most negotiable lender-charged item and often the biggest variable between competing quotes. Comparing Loan Estimates from multiple lenders is the single best way to reduce what you pay at closing. Check if your Loan Estimate fees are competitive →
These smaller lender and third-party fees show up on most Ohio Closing Disclosures. Each is worth checking against its typical range — several are negotiable or removable.
The processing fee covers the administrative work of assembling your loan file — collecting documents, ordering verifications, and preparing the file for underwriting. This fee typically appears in Section A of your Closing Disclosure.
Typical range: $200–$900 · Flag above $1,200 · Section A
Often, yes. If your lender charges both an origination fee and a processing fee, you may be paying twice for the same work. The CFPB has flagged duplicative loan processing charges as a common junk fee.
Yes. Many lenders will remove or reduce the processing fee when asked — especially if you point out that the origination fee should already cover file processing.
Processing fees typically range from $200 to $600. Anything above $600 should be questioned, and any processing fee alongside an origination fee is worth challenging.
The underwriting fee compensates the lender for evaluating your creditworthiness, verifying your income and assets, and deciding whether to approve your loan. It appears in Section A of your Closing Disclosure.
Typical range: $300–$900 · Flag above $1,200 · Section A
A typical underwriting fee is $300 to $700. If you're also paying an origination fee, the total of all Section A lender charges should be evaluated as a whole rather than line by line.
Yes. Underwriting fees are negotiable, especially when you have competing offers from other lenders. Many lenders will reduce this fee or fold it into the origination charge.
The underwriter reviews your credit, income, assets, and the property appraisal to decide whether to approve the loan. This is a core lending function that many argue should be included in the origination fee.
Courier fees cover the cost of physically transporting documents between parties — the title company, lender, county recorder, and sometimes the borrower. This fee appears in Section C or Section H of your Closing Disclosure.
Typical range: $25–$100 · Flag above $150 · Section H
Often, yes. Most modern closings transmit documents electronically. If no physical courier was used, this fee is not justified. The CFPB has flagged courier fees as a common junk fee on mortgage closings.
Yes. Simply ask your lender or title company whether any documents were physically couriered. If everything is electronic, request removal in writing.
If a physical courier is genuinely used, $25 to $50 is reasonable. Anything above $75 should be questioned, and any courier fee in an all-electronic closing should be challenged.
The credit report fee covers the cost of pulling your credit reports from the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) as part of the mortgage application process. This fee appears in Section B of your Closing Disclosure.
Typical range: $25–$75 · Flag above $100 · Section B
A standard tri-merge credit report costs the lender $15 to $30. The fee passed to you should be $25 to $65. Anything above $75 includes excessive markup.
The lender must pull your credit from all three bureaus to evaluate your mortgage application. The fee covers this service. It's a legitimate cost, but the markup should be minimal.
No. Lenders are required to pull their own credit reports through approved channels for regulatory compliance. Free consumer credit reports (from annualcreditreport.com) cannot be used for mortgage underwriting.
The flood certification fee covers the cost of determining whether the property is in a FEMA-designated flood zone. If it is, the lender will require flood insurance. This fee appears in Section B of your Closing Disclosure.
Typical range: $10–$35 · Flag above $50 · Section B
A flood certification determines whether your property is in a FEMA flood zone. If it is, your lender will require flood insurance. The certification is a standard part of every mortgage closing.
The typical flood certification fee is $15 to $25. Some lenders add a 'life-of-loan monitoring' fee of $20 to $35. Total flood-related charges should not exceed $50 to $60.
If your property is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area and you have a federally backed mortgage, flood insurance is required by law. The cost varies significantly by zone, elevation, and coverage level.
The tax service fee pays a third-party company to monitor your property tax payments and alert the lender if you fall behind. This protects the lender's collateral. The fee appears in Section B of your Closing Disclosure.
Typical range: $50–$100 · Flag above $150 · Section B
The tax service fee pays a company to monitor whether you pay your property taxes on time. If you fall behind, the company alerts your lender. It's a one-time fee paid at closing.
It's borderline. The service is real but highly automated. A $50 to $75 fee is considered standard. Anything above $100 is worth questioning.
Standard tax service fees are $50 to $85. If your Closing Disclosure shows more than $100, ask the lender to justify the amount.
The wire transfer fee covers the cost of wiring funds at closing — typically from the title company to the seller, from the lender to the title company, or from you to the title company. This fee appears in Section H of your Closing Disclosure.
Typical range: $25–$75 · Flag above $100 · Section H
A domestic wire transfer costs the sender $10 to $30. A closing wire fee of $25 to $40 is reasonable. Anything above $50 includes excessive markup.
In some cases, yes. Ask if you can provide funds via cashier's check instead of wire transfer. Some title companies accept this and waive the wire fee.
Some closings involve multiple wire transfers — your funds in, the lender's funds in, and the seller's proceeds out. You should only be charged for wires involving your funds, not all wires in the transaction.
The document preparation fee covers the cost of preparing loan documents, closing documents, and other paperwork for the transaction. It may be charged by the lender, title company, or closing attorney. This fee appears in Section A or Section C of your Closing Disclosure.
Typical range: $75–$600 · Flag above $800 · Section A
Usually, yes — when charged by the lender. Preparing loan documents is part of origination, so a separate fee is duplicative. The CFPB has specifically called out document preparation fees as a common junk fee.
Yes. Ask the lender: 'What does this fee cover that isn't included in the origination charge?' Most lenders will remove it when challenged in writing.
If the fee is legitimate (charged by a closing attorney for preparing closing documents, not by the lender), $75 to $250 is reasonable. Lender-charged doc prep fees above $200 are excessive.
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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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