Mississippi Closing Costs for Buyers: How Much You'll Pay
In Mississippi, Mississippi has no real estate transfer tax, and an owner's title policy runs about $898 plus $50 for the lender's policy. An attorney handles the closing here. Figures below come from Mississippi statutes, the state's revenue and insurance regulators and filed title rate cards, read on September 11, 2026.
Transfer tax in Mississippi: none
Mississippi does not charge a tax on the transfer of real estate, which is the main reason its closing costs sit below the national picture. No state or local real estate transfer tax in Mississippi. Mississippi taxes only mineral/royalty conveyances (a documentary stamp on mineral deeds/leases, Miss. Code Ann. 27-31-79), not conveyances of the surface/residential estate. Source
You still pay recording fees: $26 to record the deed and $26 for the mortgage at the Statewide statutory fee (Miss. Code Ann. 25-7-9), as collected by the Hinds County Chancery Clerk (Mississippi's largest county / Jackson). Fee schedule
How much is title insurance in Mississippi?
On a $265,200 home in Mississippi, an owner's title policy costs about $898 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. Mississippi uses a filed uniform rate: insurers file one rate schedule with the state, so premiums are the same from company to company and shopping only affects settlement fees. Premiums computed from First National Title Insurance Company (FNTI) Mississippi Title Insurance Rates and Rules Manual, effective November 11, 2022 (filed rate manual applicable statewide).
Mississippi is a filed-uniform-rate state; underwriters file per-thousand rate manuals with the Mississippi Insurance Department and agents may not deviate.
Mississippi-specific buyer costs on a $265,200 home
These are the line items set by Mississippi law or filed rates. Lender fees, appraisal, escrow and prepaid taxes and insurance come on top and depend on your loan.
| Owner's title policy | $898 |
|---|---|
| Lender's title policy | $50 |
| Deed recording | $26 |
| Mortgage recording | $26 |
| State-set items, total | $1,000 |
Do you need a closing attorney in Mississippi?
Yes. Mississippi is an attorney state for the title-related legal work: an attorney must prepare (or supervise preparation of) every legal document not prepared by a party to the transaction, including the warranty deed, promissory note, and deed of trust, and only an attorney may render an opinion of title. Non-attorneys (title/escrow companies) may conduct the closing/settlement itself but may not give legal advice. Source
Other Mississippi specifics
- $1.00 county archive fee. Hinds County is one of the Mississippi counties that collects an additional $1.00 archive fee per recorded instrument (deed and deed of trust each), on top of the $26.00 base recording fee. Source
- Non-resident seller withholding. Mississippi requires 5% withholding of net proceeds when the seller is a non-resident of Mississippi; this is a seller-side cost but can affect closing logistics for the buyer's closing agent. Source
How much are closing costs in Mississippi?
For a buyer, closing costs usually run 2% to 5% of the purchase price. On Mississippi's median-priced home (about $265,200), that is roughly $5,304 to $13,260, 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 Mississippi transfer tax, plus prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Why Mississippi 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much is title insurance in Mississippi?
About $898 for an owner's policy on a $265,200 home, plus about $50 for the lender's policy when both are issued together. Rates are filed uniformly, so the premium is the same across insurers.
Who pays closing costs in Mississippi?
There is no transfer tax in Mississippi. 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.
Do you need an attorney to close on a house in Mississippi?
Yes. Mississippi is an attorney state for the title-related legal work: an attorney must prepare (or supervise preparation of) every legal document not prepared by a party to the transaction, including the warranty deed, promissory note, and deed of trust, and only an attorney may render an opinion of title. Non-attorneys (title/escrow companies) may conduct the closing/settlement itself but may not give legal advice.
How much are closing costs in Mississippi?
Buyer closing costs in Mississippi typically run 2% to 5% of the purchase price. On Mississippi's median-priced home (about $265,200) that is roughly $5,304 to $13,260, on top of your down payment.
What do closing costs include in Mississippi?
Lender or origination fees, an appraisal, title insurance, escrow and settlement fees, recording fees and any Mississippi transfer tax, plus prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Can a buyer rebate offset closing costs in Mississippi?
Mississippi does not permit buyer commission rebates, so you cannot use one to offset closing costs here. Comparing lenders and shopping title and settlement services is the main way to save.
Sources
- Mississippi transfer tax statute
- First National Title Insurance Company (FNTI) Mississippi Title Insurance Rates and Rules Manual, effective November 11, 2022 (filed rate manual applicable statewide)
- Statewide statutory fee (Miss. Code Ann. 25-7-9), as collected by the Hinds County Chancery Clerk (Mississippi's largest county / Jackson) recording fees
- Land Title Association of Mississippi - Recording Fees and Requirements
- The Mississippi Bar - Formal Ethics Opinion 248 (closing attorney as scrivener)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: buyer closing costs are typically 2% to 5% of the purchase price
Mississippi figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
Mississippi title insurance at every purchase price, with a calculator →
Mississippi 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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