State guide · DE
Closing costs in Delaware
On a median-priced Delaware home ($390,000), buyers typically bring $7,800–$19,500 to the closing table beyond the down payment — with Delaware's transfer tax and its attorney closing convention shaping where you land in that range.
Typical buyer costs
$7,800–$19,500
Transfer tax
4.00%
Closing style
attorney
What's inside the number: lender fees and any points (the part you can shop hardest), prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance, title search and title insurance, attorney fees, recording fees, and the transfer tax. Delaware runs attorney closings: attorney state: a licensed attorney must handle the closing.
Delaware's transfer tax alone is roughly $15,600 on a median home — customarily paid by split 50/50 between buyer and seller by custom. Details and local add-ons are on our Delaware transfer tax page.
The most effective ways to shrink the bill: shop three or more lenders and compare Section A of their Loan Estimates (see how to choose a lender), ask the seller for a closing credit as part of your offer, and shop the title agency where your state allows it. Line-item what to expect with the closing cost estimator.
Common questions
How much are closing costs in Delaware?
Buyers typically pay 2-5% of the purchase price — about $7,800 to $19,500 on a median-priced Delaware home ($390,000). The biggest swings come from lender fees and points, prepaid taxes and insurance, the transfer tax, and title costs.
Do I need an attorney to close on a home in Delaware?
Yes — Delaware is an attorney-closing state. Attorney state: a licensed attorney must handle the closing. Budget attorney fees (commonly several hundred to a couple thousand dollars) as part of your closing costs.
Who pays the transfer tax in Delaware?
Split 50/50 between buyer and seller by custom. The nation's heaviest: 2.5% state plus up to 1.5% local — 4% combined in most municipalities (first-time buyers get a 0.5% state reduction). Custom controls the default, but the purchase contract can move it — it's a negotiable line like everything else at the table.
Estimate your Delaware closing costs
A line-item estimate — lender fees, title and escrow, prepaids — so the number on closing day doesn't surprise you.
Open the closing cost estimatorRanges apply the typical national 2–5% of purchase price to Delaware's approximate median home value — a planning estimate, not a quote. Lender fees depend on your loan; your official Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure are the real numbers.