Median Total Costs
$8,007
+19.9% vs national ($6,680)
↑ $64 vs prior year
Median Rate
6.380%
−1.7% vs national (6.490%)
Median Origination
$2,620
Purchase Originations
101,992
Denial Rate
9.7%
vs national avg (9.0%)
Georgia uses a non-judicial foreclosure process, meaning lenders can foreclose without going through the courts, typically through a power-of-sale clause in the security deed. Georgia uses security deeds rather than traditional mortgages or deeds of trust — the lender actually holds title until the loan is paid off, which is a meaningful structural distinction from most states. Georgia is an attorney closing state: a licensed Georgia attorney must conduct the closing and issue the title opinion, which adds to closing costs compared to title-only states. Transfer taxes in Georgia include a state transfer tax (typically $1 per $1,000 of purchase price) and an intangible recording tax on the loan amount (approximately $1.50 per $500 of loan principal); the buyer customarily pays both. Title insurance rates are regulated on a file-and-use basis. Georgia does not have a separate state-level consumer financial protection bureau beyond federal CFPB oversight. State law limits prepayment penalties on certain residential loans, but terms vary by loan type.
Conventional loans dominate Georgia's purchase market, accounting for 57.8% of 2024 originations (60,585 loans) at a median rate of 6.625%. FHA lending is the second-largest segment at 26.6% (27,910 loans), reflecting Georgia's mix of first-time buyers and borrowers with smaller down payments in a market where median loan amounts run high. VA loans represent 14.6% of volume (15,264 loans), supported by a substantial active-duty and veteran population tied to major installations including Fort Moore, Moody Air Force Base, and Robins Air Force Base. USDA loans make up just 1.0% (1,078 loans), limited by Georgia's predominantly suburban and urban purchase activity.
Ameris Bank
Ameris Bank is headquartered in Atlanta and operates branches across Georgia, making it one of the most geographically embedded depositories in the state. Its HMDA 2024 median total closing costs of $8,057 place it mid-range among high-volume Georgia lenders.
Mortgage Research Center, LLC
Operating as Veterans United Home Loans, Mortgage Research Center focuses heavily on VA lending, which aligns with Georgia's sizable military population at installations such as Fort Moore and Moody Air Force Base. Its HMDA 2024 median total closing costs of $5,041 were the lowest among the top five Georgia lenders by volume.
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
Fairway maintains a notable retail presence in Georgia through local branch offices and loan officers, offering conventional, FHA, and VA products. Its HMDA 2024 median total closing costs of $7,585 came in below the Georgia state median of $7,943.
| Loan type | Volume | Median Rate | Median Total Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| conventional | 56,039 | 6.500% | $6,349 |
| fha | 29,300 | 6.250% | $11,816 |
| va | 15,496 | 6.249% | $6,287 |
| usda | 1,157 | 6.250% | $8,103 |
Ranked by median total loan costs among lenders with 50+ purchase originations in Georgia.
| Rank | Lender | Median Total Costs ↑ | Median Rate ↕ | Median Origination ↕ | Volume ↕ | vs. Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | 6.688% | $0 | 50 | −$8,007 | |
| 2 | $650 | 7.750% | $0 | 323 | −$7,357 | |
| 3 | $1,052 | 6.188% | $65 | 74 | −$6,955 | |
| 4 | $2,156 | 5.375% | $0 | 778 | −$5,851 | |
| 5 | $3,238 | 6.125% | $925 | 335 | −$4,769 | |
| 6 | $3,534 | 7.940% | $2,904 | 53 | −$4,473 | |
| 7 | $3,547 | 5.750% | $950 | 203 | −$4,460 | |
| 8 | $4,017 | 6.250% | $345 | 171 | −$3,990 | |
| 9 | $4,122 | 5.125% | $101 | 369 | −$3,885 | |
| 10 | $4,326 | 6.125% | $250 | 159 | −$3,681 | |
| 11 | $4,328 | 6.125% | $0 | 1,412 | −$3,679 | |
| 12 | $4,343 | 6.375% | $0 | 3,422 | −$3,664 | |
| 13 | $4,526 | 6.000% | $1,450 | 114 | −$3,481 | |
| 14 | $4,625 | 6.375% | $1,490 | 1,213 | −$3,382 | |
| 15 | $4,681 | 6.375% | $0 | 334 | −$3,326 | |
| 16 | $4,721 | 6.750% | $1,927 | 57 | −$3,286 | |
| 17 | $4,810 | 6.000% | $1,585 | 819 | −$3,197 | |
| 18 | $4,909 | 6.625% | $1,299 | 236 | −$3,098 | |
| 19 | $4,920 | 5.933% | $1,300 | 64 | −$3,087 | |
| 20 | $4,993 | 5.933% | $1,739 | 52 | −$3,014 | |
| 21 | $5,050 | 6.500% | $1,258 | 446 | −$2,957 | |
| 22 | $5,065 | 6.624% | $1,117 | 170 | −$2,942 | |
| 23 | $5,207 | 6.120% | $1,494 | 132 | −$2,800 | |
| 24 | $5,221 | 6.250% | $2,187 | 702 | −$2,786 | |
| 25 | $5,272 | 5.900% | $815 | 183 | −$2,735 |
Includes lenders with 50+ purchase originations in Georgia. Source: HMDA 2025. Sorted by median total loan costs.
Georgia's total closing costs are elevated relative to the national median, largely because state law requires a licensed attorney to conduct closings — attorney fees and title work together represent a significant share of the total cost stack. The intangible recording tax on the loan amount is an unavoidable state-specific charge that grows with loan size and catches many first-time buyers off guard. FHA borrowers face the steepest cost burden, with a median of $11,968 in total closing costs versus $6,375 for conventional borrowers, driven in part by upfront mortgage insurance premiums. Line items most worth shopping include lender origination fees, title insurance premiums, and settlement/attorney fees. Transfer taxes and recording fees are fixed by rate and loan amount and cannot be negotiated.
Got a Georgia Closing Disclosure or Loan Estimate?
HMDA medians tell you what Georgia lenders usually charge. Upload your paperwork to see exactly how your quote compares — and get a ready-to-send negotiation email.
See user-reported fees for lenders serving Georgia →
Grades A–F from verified closing disclosure and loan estimate uploads — not industry medians.
Fulton County
9,795 originations
Gwinnett County
8,298 originations
Cobb County
7,256 originations
DeKalb County
6,118 originations
Cherokee County
3,372 originations
Chatham County
3,246 originations
Forsyth County
3,201 originations
Henry County
3,159 originations
Paulding County
2,467 originations
Houston County
2,194 originations
Columbia County
2,183 originations
Hall County
2,181 originations
Coweta County
1,885 originations
Clayton County
1,845 originations
Jackson County
1,611 originations
Barrow County
1,525 originations
Douglas County
1,522 originations
Richmond County
1,471 originations
Bartow County
1,449 originations
Muscogee County
1,442 originations
Carroll County
1,429 originations
Newton County
1,206 originations
Fayette County
1,197 originations
Walton County
1,194 originations
Lowndes County
1,150 originations
Bibb County
1,123 originations
Rockdale County
1,046 originations
Liberty County
1,012 originations
Camden County
992 originations
Effingham County
987 originations
Bryan County
892 originations
Floyd County
837 originations
Glynn County
825 originations
Catoosa County
744 originations
Spalding County
740 originations
Whitfield County
730 originations
Troup County
716 originations
Walker County
693 originations
Bulloch County
621 originations
Dawson County
606 originations
Clarke County
604 originations
Gordon County
581 originations
Long County
536 originations
Habersham County
483 originations
Pickens County
450 originations
Harris County
405 originations
Oconee County
397 originations
Haralson County
359 originations
Dougherty County
352 originations
Lee County
349 originations
Polk County
346 originations
Lumpkin County
339 originations
Gilmer County
310 originations
Laurens County
310 originations
Murray County
309 originations
Monroe County
303 originations
White County
293 originations
Stephens County
292 originations
Wayne County
275 originations
Madison County
274 originations
Union County
271 originations
Putnam County
265 originations
Thomas County
263 originations
Butts County
250 originations
Peach County
243 originations
Jones County
242 originations
Lamar County
233 originations
Jasper County
226 originations
Hart County
225 originations
Banks County
219 originations
Ware County
216 originations
Franklin County
208 originations
Greene County
207 originations
Pike County
205 originations
Morgan County
204 originations
Tift County
202 originations
Meriwether County
202 originations
Fannin County
196 originations
Baldwin County
189 originations
Pierce County
187 originations
Upson County
187 originations
Colquitt County
185 originations
McDuffie County
164 originations
McIntosh County
152 originations
Brantley County
142 originations
Decatur County
142 originations
Tattnall County
136 originations
Oglethorpe County
132 originations
Berrien County
129 originations
Chattooga County
125 originations
Coffee County
124 originations
Heard County
117 originations
Elbert County
115 originations
Sumter County
113 originations
Towns County
112 originations
Burke County
112 originations
Lanier County
111 originations
Grady County
109 originations
Dade County
108 originations
Rabun County
106 originations
See Georgia closing cost details, fee benchmarks, and county comparisons → Georgia Closing Costs Guide
Found your lender? Make sure their quote is fair.
HMDA data shows industry-wide medians. Your actual quote may differ. Upload your Closing Disclosure or Loan Estimate to see exactly where your fees stand — and get a ready-to-send negotiation email.
Data source: HMDA Modified Loan Application Register 2025, published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Statistics reflect originated first-lien purchase mortgages on owner-occupied principal residences. Medians exclude loans with exempt or unreported fee disclosures. Learn more at ffiec.cfpb.gov.