Which Closing Costs
Must Sellers Pay?

Question: Which closing costs are sellers responsible for, and what percentage of the closing costs can a seller ask the buyer to pay?

Julie: The closing costs the sellers pay vary depending on the county and state in which they live. Generally, sellers will pay for at least a portion of the title insurance and escrow charges, sometimes all of them. There may also be attorney's fees, some document fees and, of course, the real-estate commission.

In a hot market, sellers will infrequently demand that buyers pay a portion of the sellers' closing costs. Sellers can ask for any amount; it's all a matter of negotiation.

Mr. Irwin has more than 25 years' experience as a Los Angeles-area real-estate broker. He is the author of more than two dozen books about real estate and is recognized as one of the most knowledgeable writers in the real-estate field. Mr. Irwin's most recent book is "Power Tips for Buying a Home for Less," (McGraw-Hill, 2000).

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Julie, Los Angeles

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