Buyer's Guide

New York City

Closing Costs

Typical Estimated Closing Costs

Buyer’s Attorney Consult your attorney
Bank Fees $750–$1,000
Application Fee $350–$650
Processing Fee $330–$500
Appraisal Fee $500–$2,000
Credit Report Fee $45–100+
Bank Attorney $650–$1,000
Insurance & Tax Escrow 2–6 months & 1 year’s prepaid insurance premium at closing
Recording Fees - Nassau & Suffolk

Appr. $1,200-$1,700
Deed Fee (Nassau) - $200 verification fee + $355 per block
Deed Fee (Suffolk) - $200 per lot per document
Verification Fee (Nassau) - $355 per instrument, per block
Verification Fee (Suffolk) - $200 per instrument, per lot
Mortgage Fee (Suffolk) - $300 per mortgage or mortgage-type document

Recording Fees - NYC & Westchester Appr. $250–$750
Fee Title Insurance Variable by transaction
Mortgage Title Insurance Variable by transaction
Municipal Searches $350–500
Reserve Fund & Working Capital
Fund Contribution
An amount equal to 1–2 months of common charges each
Condominium fees Varies from building to building, consult your agent

 

Transfer Tax

Property Type Mortgage Tax
New York City
Mortgage Tax
Nassau, Suffolk, Dutchess and
Orange Counties
Mortgage Tax
Yonkers
Residential Condo Unit up to
$499,999.99
1.8% of the loan amount $1.05% $1.8%
Residential Condo Unit
$500,000 and up
1.925% of the loan amount $1.05% $1.8%
Commercial Condo Unit up to
$499,999.99
2.05%² $1.05% $1.8%
Commercial Condo Unit
$500,000 and up
2.80% $1.05% $1.8%

 

Additional Expenses

Maintenance Adjustment
Short-term interest
Pro-rates for the month closing
Equal interest for the balance of the month in which you close

 

Typical Estimated Closing Costs

Buyer’s Attorney Consult your attorney
Bank Fees $550–$1,000
Application Fee $350–$650
Processing Fee $350–$500
Appraisal Fee $500–$2,000
Credit Report Fee $45–100+
Bank Attorney $650–$750
Lien Search $350–$450
UCC-1 Filing Fee $20 - $40 in all counties except for Nassau
UCC-1 Filing Fee (Nassau) $340 ($40 to file + $300 per block)

Mansion Tax is paid by the purchaser on transactions that are residential or mixed-use and the purchase price is $1M or above.

 

 

Transfer Tax

Property Type Unit Price NYC RPT NY State Transfer Tax
Residential Co-op Units up to $499,999.99 1% $2 per $500 of
conveyance price
$500,000 and up 1.425% $2 per $500 of
conveyance price
$3,000,000 and up
(NYC Only)
1.425% $2 per $500 of
conveyance price

 

Additional Expenses

Miscellaneous Co-op
Charges
Varies by building
Recognition Agreement Fee Approx $250
Flip Tax Please check with the building
Maintenance Adjustment Pro-rates for the month closing
Short-term interest Equal interest for the balance of the month in which you close

 

Typical Estimated Closing Costs

Buyer’s Attorney Consult your attorney
Bank Fees $750+
Application Fee $350+
Processing Fee $330+
Appraisal Fee $500–$2,000
Credit Report Fee $45–100+
Bank Attorney $750–$1,000
Insurance & Tax Escrow 2–6 months & prepaid insurance for 1 year at closing
Recording Fees - Nassau & Suffolk

Appr. $1,200-$1,700
Deed Fee (Nassau) - $200 verification fee + $355 per block
Deed Fee (Suffolk) - $200 per lot per document
Verification Fee (Nassau) - $355 per instrument, per block
Verification Fee (Suffolk) - $200 per instrument, per lot
Mortgage Fee (Suffolk) - $300 per mortgage or mortgage-type document

Recording Fees - NYC & Westchester Appr. $250–$750
Fee Title Insurance Variable by transaction depends on the purchase price
Mortgage Title Insurance Variable by transaction depends on loan amount
Property Survey $750-$1,500

 

Transfer Tax

Single Family Residence
$499,999.99 and below
1.8% of the loan amount 1.05% $1.8%
Single Family Residence at
$500,000 and up
1.925% of the loan amount 1.05% $1.8%
Commercial Properties and
Vacant Land $500,000.00
and under
2.05%² 1.05% $1.8%
Commercial Properties and
Vacant Land $500,000.01
and up
2.80% 1.05% $1.8%

Transfer/Tax

Property Type NYC RPT NY State
Transfer Tax
Mansion Tax
Paid By
Purchaser
City of Yonkers
Transfer Tax
City Of
Mount Vernon
Transfer Tax
Peconic Bay
Transfer Tax
1-2-3 Family Residential,
Co-op or Condo Unit at
$500,000 and under
1% $2 per $500 of
conveyance price
  1.5%
(over $25,000)
1% of purchase price
with $100,000
exemption
2%
See exemptions below.
Paid by purchaser
1-2-3 Family Residential,
Co-op or Condo Unit at
$500,000.01-$999,999.99
1.425% $2 per $500 of
conveyance price
  1.5%
(over $25,000)
1% of purchase price
with $100,000
exemption
1-2-3 Family Residential,
Co-op or Condo Unit at
$1,000,000 and up
1.425% $2 per $500 of
conveyance price
1% of purchase
price for properties
$1 million and up
1.5%
(over $25,000)
1% of purchase price
with $100,000
exemption
1-2-3 Family Residential,
Co-op or Condo Unit at
$3,000,000 and up
(NYC Only)
1.425% $3.25 per $500 of
conveyance price
(Varies based on
purchase price)
Mansion tax    
Payment Due Date 30 Days
after date
of transfer
15 Days after the date of
transfer
15 Days after date
of transfer
7 Days after date
of transfer
30 Days after date
of transfer
15 Days after the date of
transfer

Mansion Tax is paid by the purchaser on transactions that are residential or mixed-use and the purchase price is $1M or above.

Property Type NYC RPT NY State
Transfer Tax
City of Yonkers
Transfer Tax
City of Mount Vernon
Transfer Tax
Peconic Bay
Transfer Tax
Commercial Properties and
Vacant Land under $500,000
1.425% $2 per $500 of
conveyance price
1.5%
(over $25,000)
1% of purchase price
with $100,000
exemption
2%
See exemptions below.
Paid by purchaser
Commercial Properties and
Vacant Land at $500,000
1.425% $2 per $500 of
conveyance price
1.5%
(over $25,000)
1% of purchase price
with $100,000
exemption
Commercial Properties and
Vacant Land $2,000,000 and up
(NYC Only)
2.625% $2 per $500 of
conveyance price
1.5%
(over $25,000)
1% of purchase price
with $100,000
exemption
Commercial Properties and
Vacant Land $2,000,000 and up
(NYC Only)
2.625% $3.25 per $500 of
conveyance price
(Varies based on
purchase price)
   
Payment Due Date 15 Days
after date of
transfer
15 Days after the date of
transfer
7 Days after date
of transfer
30 Days after the date of
transfer
15 Days after the date of
transfer

New York State Mansion Tax

Mansion Tax (1% of purchase price) is paid by the purchaser on transactions that are 100% residential and the purchase price is $1M or more. In the five boroughs of New York City, the rate increases based on the sales price as follows: Note: mansion tax also applies to mixed-use. If a property is $1,000,000 and includes a store & 2 residential units, mansion tax would be due on the % of the consideration corresponding to the residential units.

 

Property Price Mansion Tax Rate
$1,000,000 - $1,999,999 1.00%
$2,000,000 - $2,999,999 1.25%
$3,000,000 - $4,999,999 2.25%
$5,000,000 - $9,999,999 2.25%
$10,000,000 - $14,999,999 3.25%
$15,000,000 - $19,999,999 3.50%
$20,000,000 - $24,999,999 3.75%
$25,000,000 or more 3.90%
 

Download Our Closing Costs Guide

Sending...
Successfully sent!
eBook Image

A Step-by-Step First Time Buyer's Guide

Buying a home is one of the most exciting milestones of your life. To prepare yourself for this moment, you need to know what to expect during the process. This step-by-step first time buyer’s guide created by your agent will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey as much as possible.

main

Step 1: Research

Do you already know where you want to buy? If you want a condo, townhome, or single-family home? Which features do you like and dislike? What’s available on the market now? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to start researching. In addition to looking for homes that interest you, also take note of any changes in asking prices. This could give you valuable insight into housing trends in specific neighborhoods and help you when the time comes to make an offer.

main

Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

Notice I said to decide on your budget—not determine how much the mortgage company will give you. In many cases, a mortgage company will pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why you need to determine the monthly payment you feel comfortable with before talking to a lender. This likely includes doing a full household budget and taking into consideration what changes other than a mortgage payment will occur once you move into your new home. If you’ve lived in an apartment or with roommates, you may overlook new expenses like garbage, water, or HOA fees that could easily blow your budget.

main

Step 3: Get Prequalified

Just because you think you can afford a certain payment every month doesn’t mean the mortgage company will agree. Just as they may approve you for too large of an amount, they may also approve you for a lesser amount or deny you a mortgage altogether. Lack of time at a job, insufficient credit, past bankruptcies, or other financial issues can cause major problems when trying to secure a mortgage. Before you get your heart set on a home, talk to a mortgage professional to find out what amount you can qualify for. This will also be an advantage when you make an offer on a home, as some sellers won’t entertain offers from those who aren’t already prequalified for a loan.

main

Step 4: Choose a Real Estate Agent

Can you shop for, look at, and ultimately make an offer on a home without a real estate agent? Technically yes, but why would you when it costs you nothing for an agent like me to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will I help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but I also have a knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where my expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let me show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.

My goal is to provide you with the most personalized service that is designed to help you buy your dream home

Schedule a Consultation
main

Step 5: Find the Right Home

This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). I will arrange showings of homes you’re interested in that are within your price range. Take notes about what you like and don’t like, and make sure to pay attention to details. Turn light switches on and off, open and close doors, and run the faucets in various rooms. Don’t limit your inspection to the home itself. Make sure to take time to explore the neighborhood and keep an eye on traffic at certain times of the day, the parking situation, and how close it is to necessities like schools and grocery stores.

main

Step 6: Make an Offer

Once you have selected the perfect home, work with your agent to craft a fair offer based on the value of comparable homes on the market. Depending on what the home is listed at and whether the current environment is a buyer’s or seller’s market, your offer may be below, at, or even above the asking price. I will be able to help you negotiate if you receive a counteroffer and reach an agreement. At this point, the house will go into escrow.

main

Step 7: Have the Home Inspected

In most cases, your offer will be contingent on having the home inspected to ensure there is no major structural damage or large repairs needed. I can help you arrange this, and you can schedule it within days of making an offer. If there are no major issues, the process goes to step eight. If there is, you can renegotiate your offer based on what needs to be fixed, or you can withdraw it.

main

Step 8: Select Your Loan

Now is the time to go back to the mortgage lender who pre-approved or pre-qualified you and choose your mortgage. You will be presented with various options based on your unique financial situation, including fixed-rate, variable-rate, 15-year, 30-year, or special programs such as VA loans or FHA loans. Work with your mortgage lender to select the option you feel the most comfortable with.

main

Step 9: Get a Home Appraisal

Your lender will have your new home appraised so they have their independent value of it. The appraisal is to ensure that all parties involved are paying a fair price for the house.

main

Step 10: Finish Paperwork

No one looks forward to all the paperwork involved in buying a home, but it’s a necessary part of the process. Fortunately, everything will be arranged by your lender and title company and, when you’re finished, you’ll know you are the legal owner of your new home.

Congratulations!

After signing the final paperwork to complete the purchase, you are now the owner of a new house. It may take a few days for your loan to be funded once the paperwork has been returned to the lender, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams.

Work With Scott

Scott is highly attentive and informative when helping buyers and renters find their perfect home; plus he enjoys a reputation as a proven listing broker with a great success rate of closing for sellers. Putting your needs first is Scott’s main mission. So is protecting your best interests and helping you achieve the maximum value in a property.

Follow Scott on Instagram