Who pays what in Georgia
Georgia custom: seller pays transfer tax and often owner's title; buyer pays the intangibles recording tax on the mortgage, lender's title, and an attorney — Georgia requires a licensed attorney at closing.
Closing costs by county in Georgia
Rates and medians vary widely inside Georgia. County-level breakdowns: Fulton County (Atlanta) — 1.00% effective property tax, median $430,000; Gwinnett County (Lawrenceville / Duluth) — 1.05% effective property tax, median $400,000; Cobb County (Marietta) — 0.85% effective property tax, median $450,000.
Attorney state + intangibles tax
Georgia is an attorney-closing state: budget $750–$1,500 for the closing attorney (no escrow-company shortcut). The intangibles tax runs 0.3% of the loan — about $1,000 on a $333K mortgage — and is due at recording.
Negotiation levers in Georgia
Three moves that actually work: (1) get Loan Estimates from 3 lenders — origination and points vary by thousands; (2) ask for seller concessions (3% conventional under 10% down, 6% above, 6% FHA) credited at closing; (3) close at month-end to shrink prepaid interest from ~30 days to ~2. In Georgia, transfer-tax custom is negotiable too — everything is a contract term.
FAQ
How much are closing costs in Georgia?
Budget 2–4% of the purchase price for buyer closing costs in Georgia, plus your down payment. On the $370,000 median Georgia home that's roughly $9,250–$14,800. GA transfer tax ($1/$1,000) is seller-customary; buyers pay a modest intangibles tax of $1.50/$500 on the loan (0.3%).
Does the buyer pay transfer tax in Georgia?
No — Georgia transfer taxes are seller-customary (or don't exist). GA transfer tax ($1/$1,000) is seller-customary; buyers pay a modest intangibles tax of $1.50/$500 on the loan (0.3%).
Can I roll closing costs into the loan in Georgia?
Not directly, but you can trade a slightly higher rate for a lender credit that covers costs, or negotiate seller concessions. The break-even on a lender credit is typically 3–5 years — only worth it if you'll sell or refinance before then.
How much should I save to buy a house in Georgia?
Down payment + closing costs + 2–3 months of reserves. On the Georgia median $370,000 home with 10% down, that's roughly $48,100 before reserves — the calculator above gives your exact stack.
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