Refinance Closing Costs by State: 2026 Guide

Why Closing Costs Vary by State

Refinance closing costs are not uniform across the country. There are two distinct categories of cost drivers, and they behave very differently by state:

Lender and third-party fees — origination charges, appraisal, title insurance, and settlement fees. These are broadly similar nationwide and are the most negotiable. On a $350,000 loan, expect roughly $2,000–$3,500 in this category almost anywhere in the country.
Government taxes and mandatory professional fees — mortgage recording taxes, intangible taxes, transfer taxes, and mandatory attorney costs. These are set by state and local law and vary dramatically. They can be zero in a state like Missouri or exceed $10,000 in New York City.

One important distinction for refinances specifically: transfer taxes usually do not apply because a refinance does not change ownership of the property. However, mortgage recording taxes do apply in many states — these are taxes levied on the act of recording a new mortgage, regardless of whether it is a purchase or refinance.

Attorney-required states add another $500–$1,500 to every closing. About 21 states require a licensed attorney to supervise or conduct the settlement; in the remaining states, a title company or escrow officer handles closing.

          On a $350,000 loan, refinancing in New York can cost $8,000–$12,000 in government taxes alone. The same loan in Missouri costs $1,500–$2,500 total.
        

The Four State-Level Cost Drivers

Understanding which lever is responsible for high costs in your state helps you know what is fixed and what, if anything, can be reduced.

Driver	States Affected	Typical Cost	Notes
Mortgage Recording Tax	NY, FL (doc stamps), MD, DC, NH, VA, and others	0.2%–2.05% of loan	Applies to new and refinanced mortgages — the single biggest variable between states
Intangible Tax	FL, GA	0.2% of loan	Florida charges on the new mortgage amount; Georgia charges $1.50 per $500 of new note value
Mandatory Closing Attorney	CT, MA, ME, NY, NJ, GA, NC, SC, WV, and others	$500–$1,500	Settlement cannot be conducted by title company alone; attorney must supervise or sign off
High Recording Fees	Maryland, some CA counties	$200–$600	County-level variation is significant; some California counties charge per-page fees that add up quickly

50-State Refinance Closing Cost Ranges

All ranges assume a $350,000 loan and include typical lender fees, title, appraisal, and all applicable state and local government charges. They exclude prepaid items (homeowners insurance, escrow funding, prepaid interest) which are not true closing costs.

State	Typical Range	Key Notes
Alabama	$2,000–$3,500
Alaska	$2,500–$4,500	Remote appraisals and limited title competition add cost
Arizona	$2,000–$4,000
Arkansas	$2,000–$3,500
California	$3,000–$6,000	High loan amounts inflate dollar-denominated fees; county transfer taxes vary
Colorado	$2,500–$5,000
Connecticut	$3,000–$6,500	Attorney required; state conveyance tax; higher recording fees
Delaware	$2,500–$5,000	Mortgage recording tax applies
Florida	$3,000–$6,500	Doc stamps ($0.35/$100) + intangible tax (0.2% of loan)
Georgia	$2,000–$4,000	Attorney required; intangible tax ($1.50 per $500 of note)
Hawaii	$3,000–$6,500	Remote appraisals; high property values; conveyance tax
Idaho	$2,000–$3,500
Illinois	$2,500–$5,000	Transfer taxes in Chicago/Cook County can apply to refinances in some structures
Indiana	$1,500–$3,000	Low-cost state; no mortgage transfer tax, low government fees
Iowa	$1,500–$2,500	Low-cost state; minimal recording fees, no transfer tax
Kansas	$1,500–$2,500	Low-cost state
Kentucky	$2,000–$3,500
Louisiana	$2,500–$4,500	Notary required (unique civil law system); acts of mortgage must be notarized
Maine	$2,500–$4,500	Attorney state
Maryland	$2,500–$5,500	State + county recordation taxes (0.5%–1.5% combined); transfer tax on some
Massachusetts	$3,000–$6,500	Attorney state; higher third-party fees; title premiums elevated
Michigan	$2,000–$3,500
Minnesota	$2,000–$4,000
Mississippi	$2,000–$3,500
Missouri	$1,500–$3,000	Low-cost state; no transfer tax, competitive title market
Montana	$2,000–$3,500
Nebraska	$1,500–$3,000	Low-cost state; no real estate transfer tax
Nevada	$2,000–$4,000
New Hampshire	$2,500–$4,500	Mortgage transfer tax applies
New Jersey	$2,500–$5,500	Attorney required; recording fees on the higher end
New Mexico	$2,000–$3,500
New York	$5,000–$12,000+	Mortgage recording tax (0.5%–2.05%); NYC adds additional surcharge on larger loans; attorney required. CEMA available to reduce tax on same-lender refis.
North Carolina	$2,000–$4,000	Attorney state
North Dakota	$1,500–$2,500	Low-cost state
Ohio	$2,000–$3,500
Oklahoma	$2,000–$3,500
Oregon	$2,000–$4,000
Pennsylvania	$2,000–$4,500	Some county and municipality realty transfer taxes can apply
Rhode Island	$2,500–$4,500
South Carolina	$2,000–$4,000	Attorney state
South Dakota	$1,500–$2,500	Low-cost state; no state income tax
Tennessee	$2,000–$3,500
Texas	$3,000–$7,000	3% fee cap on home equity refis; strict home equity rules; no state income tax but lender fees can run high
Utah	$2,000–$4,000
Vermont	$2,500–$4,500
Virginia	$2,500–$5,000	Grantor's tax on new money advanced; recordation tax on deed of trust
Washington	$2,500–$5,000	Excise tax on the loan increase amount (on cash-out refis)
Washington D.C.	$3,500–$7,000	Recordation tax + deed of trust tax; both apply to refinances
West Virginia	$2,000–$4,000	Attorney state
Wisconsin	$2,000–$3,500
Wyoming	$1,500–$2,500	Low-cost state; no state income tax

New York: The Most Expensive State to Refinance

New York stands in a category of its own when it comes to refinance closing costs, primarily because of its mortgage recording tax (MRT) — one of the highest in the country.

Mortgage Recording Tax Rates

Outside New York City: 0.5% of the loan amount
New York City (five boroughs): 1.8% for loans under $500,000; 1.8% + 0.25% = 2.05% for loans of $500,000 or more (the additional 0.25% is the "additional MRT")

Example — $500,000 loan in New York City:
Mortgage Recording Tax: $500,000 × 2.05% = $10,250 in government tax alone — before any lender fee, title, or appraisal.

Add attorney fees ($1,500–$2,500), title search ($1,000–$2,000), lender's title insurance, and recording fees, and a $500,000 NYC refinance routinely totals $14,000–$17,000 in closing costs.

The CEMA: New York's Cost-Saving Option

A CEMA (Consolidation, Extension and Modification Agreement) is a New York-specific refinancing structure that lets a borrower avoid paying mortgage recording tax on the portion of the existing loan principal that was already taxed when it was originally recorded.

Rather than paying off the existing mortgage and recording an entirely new one, the CEMA consolidates and modifies the existing mortgage. The borrower only pays MRT on the new money advanced — typically just the difference between the old balance and the new loan amount (or zero on a straight rate-and-term refinance with the same lender).

Who it helps: The CEMA only works when refinancing with the same lender (or when the existing lender assigns the mortgage to the new lender, which adds time and cost). It adds $1,000–$1,500 in extra attorney fees and requires the original lender's cooperation, which can slow the process by 30–60 days.

Net savings: On a $600,000 loan with $580,000 remaining, the CEMA means MRT is paid only on $20,000 of new money instead of the full $600,000 — a saving of roughly $11,890 at NYC rates. Even after the extra attorney costs, the net saving can exceed $10,000.

          If you are refinancing a large loan in New York with your current lender, ask your attorney about a CEMA before closing. The savings are substantial on balances over $300,000 and pay back the extra legal cost many times over.
        

Florida, Texas, and Maryland: What to Expect

Florida

Florida imposes two separate state-level charges on a refinanced mortgage:

Documentary stamp tax on the mortgage: $0.35 per $100 of loan amount (0.35%)
Intangible personal property tax: $0.002 per dollar of the new mortgage (0.2%)

Example — $400,000 Florida refinance:
Doc stamps: $400,000 ÷ 100 × $0.35 = $1,400
Intangible tax: $400,000 × 0.002 = $800
State taxes total: $2,200 before any lender, title, or appraisal fees.

Florida does not require an attorney for standard residential refinances, which keeps professional service costs down. Title insurance rates are set by the state (regulated), providing some pricing consistency.

Texas

Texas has no state income tax and no mortgage recording tax. However, it has some of the most protective and restrictive home equity laws in the country — a legacy of the state constitution's homestead protections.

3% fee cap: On a home equity (cash-out) refinance, total lender and third-party fees are capped at 3% of the loan amount. This includes origination fees, title, appraisal, and settlement charges — a significant consumer protection.
80% LTV cap: Cash-out refinances are constitutionally limited to 80% loan-to-value. You cannot cash out beyond that threshold, period.
One refinance per year: Texas limits home equity refinances to once every 12 months.

The 3% cap keeps lender fees in check, but on a $400,000 loan that cap is $12,000 — and some lenders charge close to it. Rate-and-term refinances (no cash out) are not subject to the same restrictions and can be lower-cost.

Maryland

Maryland has a layered tax structure that makes it one of the higher-cost states for refinancing:

State recordation tax: Typically 0.1% (varies by county; some counties charge 0.5% on the full amount)
County recordation tax: Each county sets its own rate, ranging from 0.1% to 0.5%+
County transfer tax: Some counties impose an additional transfer tax even on refinances

Example — $350,000 refinance in Montgomery County, MD:
State recordation: ~$350 (0.1%)
County recordation: ~$875 (0.25%)
Additional county charges: ~$150
Government taxes subtotal: ~$1,375 — before lender fees, title, or appraisal.

The Lowest-Cost States to Refinance

A consistent group of states comes in with the lowest total refinance closing costs. They share a few characteristics: no mortgage recording taxes, competitive title and settlement markets, and modest government recording fees.

$1,500–$2,500 Iowa

$1,500–$2,500 Kansas

$1,500–$2,500 N. Dakota

$1,500–$2,500 S. Dakota

$1,500–$2,500 Wyoming

$1,500–$3,000 Indiana

$1,500–$3,000 Missouri

$1,500–$3,000 Nebraska

Even in the lowest-cost states, expect to pay $1,500–$3,000 on a standard refinance. This floor reflects costs that exist in every state: lender origination (even a minimal fee), appraisal ($400–$700), lender's title insurance ($500–$900), and county recording fees ($50–$200). These costs cannot be zeroed out; they can only be minimized through negotiation and competitive shopping.

The break-even period in these states is considerably shorter than in high-cost states. A borrower saving $200/month with $2,000 in total closing costs breaks even in 10 months — compared to 35+ months in New York for the same monthly saving.

How to Get an Accurate Quote for Your State

The most reliable way to know your exact closing costs is the Loan Estimate (LE) — a standardized 3-page disclosure that lenders are required by federal law (TRID) to provide within 3 business days of receiving your mortgage application.

Page 2 of the Loan Estimate breaks costs into labeled sections. Here is what to look at for state-specific charges:

Section A — Origination Charges: Lender fees. Negotiable. Compare across lenders.
Section B — Services You Cannot Shop For: Appraisal, credit report. Fixed by lender.
Section C — Services You Can Shop For: Title search, settlement/closing agent. Shoppable in most states. Use competing quotes.
Section E — Taxes and Other Government Fees: This is where state-specific charges appear — mortgage recording tax, transfer tax, county recording fees. These are fixed by law. Review this section carefully when comparing quotes from lenders in high-tax states.
Section F — Prepaids: Homeowners insurance prepayment, mortgage interest. Not negotiable; not true closing costs.
Section G — Initial Escrow Payment: Property tax and insurance escrow funding. Not negotiable.

When comparing Loan Estimates from multiple lenders, focus on Sections A, B, and C for negotiable differences. Section E should be identical across lenders in the same county — if it differs, ask why.

          Apply to at least three lenders within a 14-day window. Credit bureaus treat multiple mortgage inquiries within a short period as a single inquiry, so your credit score is not penalized for comparison shopping.
        

Estimate first: Itemized Refinance Cost Estimator →

State-Specific Refinance Guides

Each state guide covers local mortgage recording taxes, attorney-closing requirements, transfer taxes, and typical closing cost ranges for that market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state has the highest refinance closing costs?

New York consistently has the highest refinance closing costs due to its mortgage recording tax (up to 2.05% in New York City), mandatory attorney requirement, and high recording fees. On a $500,000 loan in NYC, government taxes alone can exceed $10,000. A CEMA (Consolidation, Extension and Modification Agreement) can reduce this significantly when refinancing with the same lender.

Which states have no transfer tax on refinances?

Most states do not impose a transfer tax on mortgage refinances because there is no change in ownership. However, states like New York, Florida, Maryland, and Washington D.C. impose a mortgage recording tax or equivalent tax on the new mortgage amount, regardless of whether it is a purchase or a refinance. The distinction matters: even if a state has a real estate transfer tax, it may exempt refinances; but if it has a mortgage recording tax, refinances are typically included.

Does Texas cap refinance closing costs?

Yes. Texas law caps total fees on a home equity refinance (cash-out) at 3% of the loan amount. This applies to most lender and third-party fees combined and is one of the most consumer-protective fee-cap rules in the country. However, appraisals and some government fees may fall outside the cap, and the cap itself only applies to home equity loans — not rate-and-term refinances on non-homestead properties.

What is a CEMA and how does it save money in New York?

A CEMA (Consolidation, Extension and Modification Agreement) is a New York-specific refinancing structure that allows a borrower to avoid paying mortgage recording tax on the portion of the loan that was previously taxed when originally recorded. Instead of discharging the old mortgage and recording a completely new one, the CEMA consolidates and modifies the existing mortgage — and MRT is only paid on new money advanced. It works when refinancing with the same lender and can save thousands of dollars on larger loans, though it adds legal complexity and costs $1,000–$1,500 extra in attorney fees. On a $600,000 loan in NYC, the net saving can exceed $10,000.

Sources & References

Editor's Note — July 2026: This article was reviewed for accuracy in July 2026. Formulas, program eligibility rules, and guidelines reflect current requirements. For the latest mortgage rates, see Freddie Mac's weekly PMMS survey. Borrowers who locked rates of 6.5%–8.0% in 2022–2023 may find the current environment (6.5%–7.0%) worth running numbers on — use the break-even calculator or the Decision Center.