Arkansas Closing Costs for Buyers: How Much You'll Pay
In Arkansas, the state transfer tax is 0.33% (about $892 on a $270,300 home), and an owner's title policy runs about $750 plus $50 for the lender's policy. Figures below come from Arkansas statutes, the state's revenue and insurance regulators and filed title rate cards, read on September 11, 2026.
Transfer tax in Arkansas
| Jurisdiction | Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas (state) | Real Property Transfer Tax: $1.10 per $1,000 (or fractional part) of consideration under Ark. | source |
More on Arkansas (state)
Real Property Transfer Tax: $1.10 per $1,000 (or fractional part) of consideration under Ark. Code Ann. 26-60-105(a), plus an additional $2.20 per $1,000 (or fractional part) under 26-60-105(b), for a combined $3.30 per $1,000 (0.33%). The additional $2.20 tax is explicitly stated by statute to be paid by the purchaser.
No separate county/city add-on; the $3.30 per $1,000 combined rate is uniform statewide, collected via documentary stamps affixed to the deed at the circuit clerk's office before recording.
Who pays: By statute, the additional $2.20-per-$1,000 tax (Ark. Code Ann. 26-60-105(b)) is expressly paid by the purchaser. The base $1.10-per-$1,000 tax (26-60-105(a)) does not name a payer in the statute; local custom widely has the seller pay this portion, but no official Arkansas source stating that custom was located in this session, so it is not asserted as verified here. Source
Worked example: On a $270,300 home: 270,300 / 1,000 = 270.3, rounded up to 271 thousand-dollar units. 271 x $1.10 = $298.10 (base tax) + 271 x $2.20 = $596.20 (additional tax, statutorily paid by the buyer) = $894.30 total.
How much is title insurance in Arkansas?
On a $270,300 home in Arkansas, an owner's title policy costs about $750 and the lender's policy about $50 when both are issued together (the simultaneous-issue discount). The buyer customarily pays for the owner's policy and the lender's policy. Arkansas is a filed-competitive state: each title insurer files its own rates, so premiums differ by company and it pays to get two quotes. Premiums computed from First American Title Fee Calculator (filed rates), Pulaski County, Arkansas, read September 11, 2026.
Who pays the owner's policy: buyer (First American's calculator default allocation for Pulaski County; negotiable by contract) Source
Owner's policy on the full $270,300 price and the lender's policy on an 80% loan ($216,240), quoted together so the simultaneous-issue rate applies; First American filed rates for Pulaski County.
Arkansas-specific buyer costs on a $270,300 home
These are the line items set by Arkansas law or filed rates. Lender fees, appraisal, escrow and prepaid taxes and insurance come on top and depend on your loan.
| Transfer or recordation tax (buyer share) | $596 |
|---|---|
| Owner's title policy | $750 |
| Lender's title policy | $50 |
| Deed recording | $15 |
| Mortgage recording | $15 |
| State-set items, total | $1,426 |
Recording fees
Recording the deed costs $15 and the mortgage $15 at the Pulaski County Circuit/County Clerk (Little Rock), Arkansas's largest county. Fee schedule
Other Arkansas specifics
- Per-page recording surcharge. Beyond the $15 first-page fee, Pulaski County (and Arkansas circuit clerks generally, per the state's uniform recording-fee statute) charge $5.00 for each additional page of the same instrument. Source
- Photo ID requirement to file a deed. Under Arkansas Act 752 of 2025, effective August 5, 2025, any individual filing a deed in person must present a photo ID (certain licensed professionals and government representatives are exempt). Source
How much are closing costs in Arkansas?
For a buyer, closing costs usually run 2% to 5% of the purchase price. On Arkansas's median-priced home (about $270,300), that is roughly $5,406 to $13,515, and it is separate from your down payment. The exact figure depends on your lender, your loan, and local taxes.
What closing costs include
Closing costs are a bundle of one-time fees due at settlement: lender or origination fees, an appraisal, title insurance, escrow and settlement fees, recording fees and any Arkansas transfer tax, plus prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Why Arkansas closing costs vary
The single biggest reason closing costs differ from state to state is transfer taxes, which states and sometimes counties and cities charge on the sale. Title insurance customs and whether an attorney is required at settlement also matter.
How a rebate offsets Arkansas closing costs
Buyer commission rebates are legal in Arkansas. Because a rebate can be paid as a credit at closing, it can erase a meaningful share of these costs. On a $270,300 home, a 2% rebate is about $5,406, often enough to cover much of the closing bill.
Frequently asked questions
How much is title insurance in Arkansas?
About $750 for an owner's policy on a $270,300 home, plus about $50 for the lender's policy when both are issued together. Rates vary by insurer, so get two quotes.
Who pays closing costs in Arkansas?
Transfer tax: By statute, the additional $2.20-per-$1,000 tax (Ark. Code Ann. 26-60-105(b)) is expressly paid by the purchaser. The base $1.10-per-$1,000 tax (26-60-105(a)) does not name a payer in the statute; local custom widely has the seller pay this portion, but no official Arkansas source stating that custom was located in this session, so it is not asserted as verified here. The buyer customarily pays for the owner's policy and the lender's policy, plus lender fees, appraisal and prepaid taxes and insurance. Sellers often cover part of the buyer's costs through a negotiated concession.
How much is the transfer tax in Arkansas?
Real Property Transfer Tax: $1.10 per $1,000 (or fractional part) of consideration under Ark. Code Ann. 26-60-105(a), plus an additional $2.20 per $1,000 (or fractional part) under 26-60-105(b), for a combined $3.30 per $1,000 (0.33%). The additional $2.20 tax is explicitly stated by statute to be paid by the purchaser.. On a $270,300 home that is about $894, of which the buyer's customary share is about $596.
How much are closing costs in Arkansas?
Buyer closing costs in Arkansas typically run 2% to 5% of the purchase price. On Arkansas's median-priced home (about $270,300) that is roughly $5,406 to $13,515, on top of your down payment.
What do closing costs include in Arkansas?
Lender or origination fees, an appraisal, title insurance, escrow and settlement fees, recording fees and any Arkansas transfer tax, plus prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Can a buyer rebate offset closing costs in Arkansas?
Often yes. In Arkansas, buyer commission rebates are legal, and a rebate can be applied as a credit toward your closing costs at the settlement table.
Sources
- Arkansas transfer tax statute
- First American Title Fee Calculator (filed rates), Pulaski County, Arkansas, read September 11, 2026
- Pulaski County Circuit/County Clerk (Little Rock), Arkansas's largest county recording fees
- Photo ID requirement to file a deed
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: buyer closing costs are typically 2% to 5% of the purchase price
Arkansas figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
Arkansas title insurance at every purchase price, with a calculator →
Arkansas transfer tax at every purchase price, who pays and local surcharges →
Read the full buyer closing-costs guide →
Figures are typical 2026 ranges and vary by lender, loan, and location. This is general information, not financial advice; confirm your numbers with your lender and closing agent.
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