Who Pays What in Northern California Real Estate Transactions

Section 4 of the standard California Association of Realtor contract for the purchase of residential property is called "Allocation of Costs." It deals with whether the buyer or the seller pay for termite inspection, home inspection, smoke detector installation etc. The most costly items which seller and buyer negotiate are

-- Recording fees

-- Title insurance

-- Escrow Fees

-- County and City transfer tax.

Anything can be negotiated and becomes binding on the parties who sign the contract; however, there are certain customs which differ from county to county as to who pays what.

The following list gives an overview about counties in and close to the Bay Area and the customary allocation of certain costs.

When your Real Estate Agent writes your purchase contract, make sure he marked the right check boxes.

In a buyer's market, buyers need not stick to customs but can ask for more. Many sellers cannot pay the higher interest rates and are happy to get out of a property, even if it means that they pay costs they would not have paid two years ago.

Alameda
Recording Fees: Buyer
Title Insurance: Buyer
Escrow Fees: Buyer
County Transfer Tax: Seller
City Transfer Tax: Split

Contra Costa
Recording Fees: Buyer
Title Insurance: Buyer
Escrow Fees: Buyer
County Transfer Tax: Seller
City Transfer Tax: Negotiable

Marin
Recording Fees: Buyer
Title Insurance: Buyer
Escrow Fees: Buyer
County Transfer Tax: Seller
City Transfer Tax: Seller

Napa
Recording Fees: Buyer
Title Insurance: Buyer
Escrow Fees: Buyer
County Transfer Tax: Seller
City Transfer Tax:

Sacramento
Recording Fees: Buyer
Title Insurance: Seller
Escrow Fees: Seller or Split
County Transfer Tax: Seller
City Transfer Tax: Split

San Francisco
Recording Fees: Buyer
Title Insurance: Buyer
Escrow Fees: Buyer
County Transfer Tax: Seller
City Transfer Tax:

San Mateo
Recording Fees: Buyer
Title Insurance: Buyer
Escrow Fees: Buyer
County Transfer Tax: Seller
City Transfer Tax: Seller or Split

Santa Clara
Recording Fees: Buyer
Title Insurance: Seller
Escrow Fees: Seller
County Transfer Tax: Seller
City Transfer Tax: Seller or Split

Solano
Recording Fees: Buyer
Title Insurance: Buyer
Escrow Fees: Buyer
County Transfer Tax: Seller
City Transfer Tax: Seller

Sonoma
Recording Fees: Buyer
Title Insurance: Buyer
Escrow Fees: Buyer
County Transfer Tax: Seller
City Transfer Tax: Seller

Yolo
Recording Fees: Seller
Title Insurance: Seller
Escrow Fees: Seller
County Transfer Tax: Seller
City Transfer Tax: Seller