Closing Costs in Kennesaw and Marietta: What Buyers and Sellers Each Pay
What do buyers and sellers pay at closing in Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia?
Buyers in Kennesaw and Marietta typically pay 2%–4% of the purchase price in closing costs — around $8,000–$15,000 on a $375,000 home — covering loan fees, the Georgia intangibles tax, title insurance, and prepaid expenses. Sellers pay 1%–3% of the sale price outside of agent commission, including Georgia's Real Estate Transfer Tax, owner's title insurance, and attorney fees, typically totaling $2,000–$4,500 before negotiated concessions or buyer agent compensation.
- Buyers in Kennesaw and Marietta should budget 2%–4% of the purchase price — roughly $8,000–$15,000 on a $375,000 home
- Georgia's intangibles tax costs buyers ~$1,050 on a $350,000 loan — a fee many first-time buyers don't see coming
- Sellers pay the Real Estate Transfer Tax (~$375 on a $375K sale), owner's title insurance, and attorney fees before commission
- Georgia is an attorney-closing state — every transaction requires a licensed closing attorney; budget $750–$1,250
- What you actually pay depends on your loan type, price, and what you negotiate — the only way to know your exact number is to run it with a local agent
Closing costs are the line items nobody talks about until you're sitting at the table. By then, the numbers shouldn't surprise you.
Whether you're buying or selling in Kennesaw or Marietta, Georgia has a specific set of fees that show up at every closing — some required by state law, some dictated by your lender, and some that are fully negotiable. Here's exactly what to expect, line by line.
Georgia Closings: What Makes Them Different from Other States
Before getting into the line items, there are three things about Georgia real estate transactions that affect your closing costs regardless of which side of the table you're on.
Georgia is an attorney-closing state. A licensed real estate attorney must oversee and certify every residential closing. You don't choose a title company — you choose a closing attorney. Budget $750–$1,250 for attorney fees, which are typically split between buyer and seller or paid by one side depending on what's negotiated in the contract.
Georgia charges a Real Estate Transfer Tax. The state levies $1.00 for the first $1,000 of the sale price, then $0.10 for each additional $100. On a $375,000 sale, that's approximately $375 — paid by the seller by default, though it's negotiable in the GAR contract.
Georgia charges a mortgage intangibles tax. This one catches buyers off guard. When you take out a new mortgage in Georgia, the state charges $1.50 for every $500 of the loan amount. On a $350,000 loan, that's $1,050 — paid by the buyer at closing and not rollable into the mortgage. Out-of-state buyers relocating to Cobb County are often surprised by this line item; it doesn't exist in most states.
Buyer Closing Costs in Kennesaw: A Line-by-Line Breakdown
On a $375,000 purchase with a $340,000 loan, a Kennesaw buyer can expect to pay roughly $9,500–$14,500 in total closing costs, depending on lender fees and prepaid amounts. Here's where that money goes.
Lender Fees
- Loan origination fee: 0.5%–1% of the loan amount = $1,700–$3,400
- Discount points (optional): Each point costs 1% of the loan to buy down your interest rate
- Underwriting fee: $400–$800 (varies by lender)
- Credit report fee: $25–$50
Title and Attorney Fees
- Closing attorney fee (buyer's share): $400–$700
- Lender's title insurance: ~$800–$1,200 (required when financing)
- Title search: ~$200–$400
Government and State Fees
- Georgia intangibles tax: $1,050 on a $350,000 loan — non-negotiable, state-mandated
- Recording fees: ~$25–$50
Third-Party Services
- Appraisal: $400–$600 (ordered by your lender, paid at or before closing)
- Home inspection: $350–$550 (paid outside of closing during the due diligence period — see how the Georgia due diligence period works in Kennesaw for timing details)
- Survey (if required): $400–$700
Prepaid Items
These aren't fees — they're funds collected upfront to seed your escrow account and cover costs that accrue from your closing date forward.
- Homeowner's insurance: First year's premium paid at closing (~$1,400–$2,200 in Cobb County, depending on home size and coverage)
- Property tax escrow: 2–6 months of estimated annual taxes deposited at closing (for a full breakdown, see the 2026 Kennesaw property tax and insurance guide)
- Prepaid interest: Interest from your closing date to the last day of the month
| Cost Category | Estimated Range |
|---|---|
| Lender fees | $2,100–$4,250 |
| Title & attorney | $1,400–$2,300 |
| Georgia intangibles tax | ~$1,050 |
| Third-party services | $750–$1,300 |
| Prepaid items (taxes, insurance, interest) | $3,500–$5,500 |
| Estimated total | $8,800–$14,400 |
The biggest variable is prepaid items. Close early in the month and you prepay more days of interest; close late and you pay fewer. Your lender is required to deliver a Loan Estimate within three business days of your application — that document will show your full projected breakdown.
Seller Closing Costs in Kennesaw and Marietta: What Comes Off Your Proceeds
Selling means costs come off the top before you see your net. Outside of agent commission — which is negotiated separately — here's what sellers in Kennesaw and Marietta typically pay at closing.
Required Seller Costs
- Real Estate Transfer Tax: ~$375 on a $375,000 sale (seller's default responsibility under Georgia law)
- Owner's title insurance: ~0.28%–0.35% of sale price = $1,050–$1,310 on a $375,000 sale (protects the buyer from title defects — sellers almost always pay this in Georgia)
- Closing attorney fee (seller's share): $400–$600
- Payoff of existing mortgage: Your outstanding loan balance plus any accrued interest through the payoff date
- Recording fees: ~$25
- HOA dues: Any outstanding or prorated HOA dues due at closing
Optional but Common Seller Costs
- Seller concessions: If you agreed in the contract to cover any buyer closing costs, that amount comes off your proceeds
- Home warranty: $400–$700 if offered to the buyer as an incentive
- Repairs or credits: Any agreed-upon repair credits from the inspection or Amendment to Address Concerns
| Cost Item | Estimated Amount (on $375,000 sale) |
|---|---|
| Real Estate Transfer Tax | ~$375 |
| Owner's title insurance | $1,050–$1,310 |
| Attorney fee (seller's share) | $400–$600 |
| Recording fees | ~$25 |
| Estimated total (excl. commission) | $1,850–$2,310 |
To understand exactly how these costs reduce your take-home, the net proceeds guide for Kennesaw sellers walks through the full calculation with a realistic example.
A Note on Commission
Real estate commission is negotiated between you and your listing agent and is separate from the costs above. Since August 2024, buyer agent compensation is no longer embedded in MLS listings — it's disclosed and negotiated as part of each transaction. Your listing agent will walk you through how this is structured before you sign anything.
Can Buyers and Sellers Negotiate Closing Costs in Georgia?
Yes — and the answer matters more than most people realize going into a transaction.
In a buyer's market, sellers frequently offer concessions to cover some or all of the buyer's closing costs. In a competitive offer situation, buyers may waive concession requests to strengthen their bid. The GAR contract allows both parties to negotiate who pays what, including the attorney fee, transfer tax, and title insurance.
- Seller concessions: The seller agrees to contribute $5,000–$10,000 toward the buyer's closing costs, reducing cash-to-close. This is especially common with new construction and longer days-on-market homes.
- Transfer tax flip: In negotiated situations, a buyer may agree to pay the seller's transfer tax in exchange for a lower purchase price or other concession.
- Attorney fee allocation: The contract can specify how the closing attorney's fee is divided — 50/50 is common but not required.
Every situation is different, and the only way to know your real number is to run it with someone who knows this market. If you're also weighing new construction, the new construction vs. resale comparison for Kennesaw and Acworth includes closing cost differences worth knowing before you decide.
For buyers and sellers in Acworth and the broader West Cobb corridor, market dynamics can look different from Kennesaw proper — which affects how much room there is to negotiate. Explore all West Cobb communities at masoudpour.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays closing costs in Georgia — the buyer or the seller?
Both parties pay closing costs in Georgia, but the breakdown differs. Sellers typically pay the Real Estate Transfer Tax, owner's title insurance, and their share of the attorney fee. Buyers pay lender fees, the intangibles tax, lender's title insurance, and prepaid expenses. Some costs are negotiable in the GAR contract. For resources by market, visit the Kennesaw and Marietta community pages.
How much is Georgia's intangibles tax on a mortgage?
Georgia charges $1.50 per $500 of the mortgage loan amount — approximately 0.3% of your loan. On a $350,000 mortgage, that's $1,050 paid by the buyer at closing. It cannot be rolled into the loan. A full breakdown of how this fits your overall costs is in the 2026 property tax and insurance guide for Kennesaw.
Can seller concessions cover a buyer's closing costs in Georgia?
Yes. Sellers can contribute a negotiated amount toward a buyer's closing costs, structured in the GAR contract as a dollar amount or percentage. Concession limits vary by loan type: FHA allows up to 6% of the purchase price, conventional loans allow 3%–9% depending on down payment. See the net proceeds guide for Kennesaw sellers for how concessions affect your bottom line.
Do I need a real estate attorney to close in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia law requires a licensed real estate attorney to oversee every residential closing — not a title company, an attorney. The attorney handles the title search, prepares documents, holds funds in escrow, and records the deed. Budget $750–$1,250 in attorney fees, typically split between buyer and seller. Learn more at masoudpour.com.
Closing costs don't have to be a surprise — but they do need to be planned for. Whether you're buying in Kennesaw or selling in Marietta, knowing the exact line items before you're at the table makes every step easier.
I'm Robert Masoudpour, and I walk every client through a closing cost estimate before we go under contract. Schedule a 15-minute consultation and we'll run the numbers on your specific situation.
