North Dakota Closing Costs for Buyers: How Much You'll Pay
In North Dakota, North Dakota has no real estate transfer tax, and an owner's title policy runs about $928 plus $100 for the lender's policy. Figures below come from North Dakota statutes, the state's revenue and insurance regulators and filed title rate cards, read on September 11, 2026.
Transfer tax in North Dakota: none
North Dakota does not charge a tax on the transfer of real estate, which is the main reason its closing costs sit below the national picture. North Dakota imposes no real estate transfer tax and no deed tax on conveyances of real property. The ND Office of State Tax Commissioner's official list of state tax types (Income Tax, Property Tax, Sales and Use Tax, and Excise/Special/Other Taxes, Alcohol, Cigarette/Tobacco, Coal, Motor Fuel, Oil & Gas Severance, Prepaid Wireless 911, and other Special Taxes) contains no real estate transfer or deed tax category. Source
You still pay recording fees: $20 to record the deed and $20 for the mortgage at the Uniform statewide statutory fee (N.D.C.C. § 11-18-05), applies in every ND county recorder's office including Cass County (Fargo), the state's most populous county. Fee schedule
How much is title insurance in North Dakota?
On a $310,500 home in North Dakota, an owner's title policy costs about $928 and the lender's policy about $100 when both are issued together (the simultaneous-issue discount). The buyer customarily pays for the owner's policy and the lender's policy. North Dakota 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), Cass County, North Dakota, read September 11, 2026.
Who pays the owner's policy: buyer (First American's calculator default allocation for Cass County; negotiable by contract) Source
Owner's policy on the full $310,500 price and the lender's policy on an 80% loan ($248,400), quoted together so the simultaneous-issue rate applies; First American filed rates for Cass County.
North Dakota-specific buyer costs on a $310,500 home
These are the line items set by North Dakota 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 | $928 |
|---|---|
| Lender's title policy | $100 |
| Deed recording | $20 |
| Mortgage recording | $20 |
| State-set items, total | $1,068 |
How much are closing costs in North Dakota?
For a buyer, closing costs usually run 2% to 5% of the purchase price. On North Dakota's median-priced home (about $310,500), that is roughly $6,210 to $15,525, 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 North Dakota transfer tax, plus prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Why North Dakota 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 North Dakota closing costs
Buyer commission rebates are legal in North Dakota. Because a rebate can be paid as a credit at closing, it can erase a meaningful share of these costs. On a $310,500 home, a 2% rebate is about $6,210, often enough to cover much of the closing bill.
Frequently asked questions
How much is title insurance in North Dakota?
About $928 for an owner's policy on a $310,500 home, plus about $100 for the lender's policy when both are issued together. Rates vary by insurer, so get two quotes.
Who pays closing costs in North Dakota?
There is no transfer tax in North Dakota. 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 are closing costs in North Dakota?
Buyer closing costs in North Dakota typically run 2% to 5% of the purchase price. On North Dakota's median-priced home (about $310,500) that is roughly $6,210 to $15,525, on top of your down payment.
What do closing costs include in North Dakota?
Lender or origination fees, an appraisal, title insurance, escrow and settlement fees, recording fees and any North Dakota transfer tax, plus prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Can a buyer rebate offset closing costs in North Dakota?
Often yes. In North Dakota, buyer commission rebates are legal, and a rebate can be applied as a credit toward your closing costs at the settlement table.
Sources
- North Dakota transfer tax statute
- First American Title Fee Calculator (filed rates), Cass County, North Dakota, read September 11, 2026
- Uniform statewide statutory fee (N.D.C.C. § 11-18-05), applies in every ND county recorder's office including Cass County (Fargo), the state's most populous county recording fees
- ND Insurance & Securities Department, Policy, Form and Rate Filing (title insurance rate framework)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: buyer closing costs are typically 2% to 5% of the purchase price
North Dakota figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
North Dakota title insurance at every purchase price, with a calculator →
North Dakota 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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