Know exactly what you'll walk away with in Georgia.

Seller guide

Understanding Closing Costs & Net Proceeds in Georgia

Georgia is one of the friendlier states to sell in — the state transfer tax is a small flat rate, and the biggest quirk to plan for is that a licensed Georgia attorney (not an escrow company) has to run the closing. Title-insurance and property-tax customs also differ from many other states.

Key local custom breakdown

• Transfer tax: Georgia charges $1.00 per $1,000 of sale price — a flat 0.10% — customarily paid by the seller. On a $400,000 sale that's only about $400 out of your proceeds.
• Attorney closing: Georgia requires a licensed attorney to conduct the closing rather than an escrow company. Attorney fees typically run a few hundred to around a thousand dollars.
• Title & property taxes: The buyer customarily pays for owner's title insurance in Georgia. Property taxes are paid in arrears, so the seller usually credits the buyer at closing for the portion of the year already lived in.

How the Georgia transfer tax is calculated

Transfer Tax = Sale Price × 0.001  ($1.00 per $1,000)

Frequently asked questions (Georgia real estate)

What is the Georgia real estate transfer tax and who pays it?

Georgia charges a real estate transfer tax of $1.00 per $1,000 of sale price — a flat 0.10% — collected when the deed is recorded. By long-standing custom the seller pays this tax at closing, so on a $400,000 home the transfer tax is about $400.

What is Georgia's intangibles tax on a new mortgage?

Georgia levies an intangible recording tax of $1.50 per $500 of the loan amount (0.30%) whenever a new mortgage or deed to secure debt is recorded. This tax is paid by the borrower, not the seller, so on a $320,000 loan the buyer would owe roughly $960 at closing. The tax is capped at $25,000 per note.

Does Georgia use escrow companies or attorneys to close a home sale?

Georgia is an attorney-closing state — a licensed Georgia attorney must conduct the real estate closing, not an escrow or settlement company as in many western states. The closing attorney handles the deed, disbursement of funds, and title work, and typically charges a few hundred to around a thousand dollars.

Agents: turn this estimate into a client-ready seller proceeds report with your name and brokerage on it.