Thinking about buying in Fort Mitchell while comparing options across the river in Cincinnati? One of the quickest ways to avoid surprises at closing is to understand transfer taxes and recording fees in Kentucky vs. Ohio. These charges are small compared to your purchase price, but they can change your cash to close and who pays what.
In this guide, you’ll learn the key fees that can show up when a home changes hands, how they are usually calculated, where they appear on your Closing Disclosure, and how practices can differ between Kentucky and Ohio. You’ll also see simple examples to help you budget. Let’s dive in.
What counts as transfer costs
When real estate changes hands, a few government charges may apply:
- Transfer or conveyance taxes. A tax or fee charged when title transfers. These can be state, county, or sometimes municipal. Payment responsibility is often negotiable or based on local custom.
- Recording fees. Charged by the county office that records your deed and mortgage. Fees often include a base charge plus a per-page amount and separate charges for each document recorded.
- Mortgage-related taxes or fees. Some states charge intangible or mortgage taxes tied to your loan’s principal. These are separate from deed transfer taxes and are usually paid by the borrower.
- Local add-ons. Municipal certifications, tax stamps, or small administrative charges may appear at closing.
Your title company will place these items under “Taxes and Other Government Fees” on your Closing Disclosure.
Kentucky: Fort Mitchell basics
If you are buying in Fort Mitchell, your property records are filed in Kenton County. The county clerk’s office handles deed and mortgage recording. Transfer taxes, if any, can exist at the state or local level, so you should verify what applies before you finalize your contract.
What to confirm for a Fort Mitchell purchase:
- Whether a Kentucky state transfer tax applies to your purchase and how it is calculated.
- Whether Kenton County or the City of Fort Mitchell imposes any local transfer fee or stamp.
- The current recording fee schedule for deeds, mortgages, releases, and certified copies.
- Whether Kentucky assesses any mortgage or intangible tax tied to your loan amount.
Local practice on who pays can vary by contract and custom. Always ask your title company to estimate these items early and put payment responsibilities in writing.
Ohio: Hamilton County basics
If you compare a purchase in Cincinnati or elsewhere in Hamilton County, the county recorder handles deed and mortgage recording, and conveyance or transfer fees can apply at the state and county level. Municipal add-ons are possible in some areas.
What to confirm for an Ohio purchase:
- Whether Ohio charges a state conveyance tax and whether the county adds its own conveyance fee.
- The county recorder’s current recording fees for deeds, mortgages, releases, and copies.
- Any city-level fees that may apply to your property.
As in Kentucky, who pays the transfer or conveyance fee is usually set by local custom and your contract terms. Confirm expectations with your title company before you write the offer.
Who usually pays these fees
Payment is negotiable unless a statute assigns it to a specific party. In many markets, sellers pay the deed transfer tax while buyers cover deed and mortgage recording fees, but customs differ from county to county. The safest approach is to:
- Ask your agent and title company what is customary for your specific county and price range.
- Write the responsibility for transfer taxes and recording fees into your purchase contract.
- Review your Closing Disclosure to ensure the charges are allocated as agreed.
Where costs appear on disclosures
On your Closing Disclosure, look under Closing Costs, then Other Costs, then Taxes and Other Government Fees. You should see entries labeled along these lines:
- Transfer taxes or conveyance fee. This shows any state, county, or municipal transfer charge connected to the deed.
- Recording fees. Separate lines commonly appear for the deed and the mortgage. These are county clerk or recorder charges.
The Summaries of Transactions section will display whether these amounts are debits to the buyer or the seller. If a single combined entry appears, ask your title team for an itemized breakdown.
How costs are calculated
Here are the common formulas you will see. Your title company uses the current county and state schedules to compute the exact amounts.
- Transfer tax or conveyance fee (percentage-based): Sale price × transfer-tax rate.
- Conveyance fee (charged per a fixed amount of value): Sale price divided by the unit amount multiplied by the fee per unit. Example: Sale price ÷ $1,000 × fee per $1,000.
- Recording fee: Base fee plus any per-page fees and charges for each additional recorded document.
- Mortgage intangible or recordation tax: Mortgage principal × applicable rate.
Example cost calculations
The numbers below are educational examples using hypothetical rates. They are not current rates. Always verify with the Kenton County Clerk for Fort Mitchell purchases and the Hamilton County Recorder for Ohio purchases, along with your title company.
- Example assumptions: Purchase price 350,000 dollars. New mortgage 280,000 dollars.
Scenario A — Kentucky example using hypothetical rates:
- Hypothetical deed transfer tax at 0.2 percent: 350,000 × 0.002 = 700 dollars.
- Hypothetical deed recording fee: 60 dollars.
- Hypothetical mortgage recording fee: 30 dollars.
- Estimated total government and recording charges: 790 dollars.
Scenario B — Ohio example using hypothetical rates:
- Hypothetical conveyance fee at 0.1 percent: 350,000 × 0.001 = 350 dollars.
- Hypothetical deed recording fee: 70 dollars.
- Hypothetical mortgage recording fee: 50 dollars.
- Estimated total government and recording charges: 470 dollars.
These illustrations show how a percentage-based fee plus recording charges can add up. Your actual totals will depend on the current rate schedules, the number of pages in your documents, and where the property sits.
Quick buyer checklist
Use this checklist to avoid last-minute surprises:
- Before you offer. Ask your title company or listing agent for an estimate of transfer taxes and recording fees for the exact county and city.
- In your contract. Specify who pays any transfer or conveyance taxes and who pays to record the deed and mortgage.
- During loan processing. Request an updated estimate that includes state or county mortgage taxes or intangible taxes if applicable.
- Before closing. Review your Closing Disclosure for the “Transfer taxes” and “Recording fees” lines and confirm the buyer or seller column matches your contract.
- Final verification. If the numbers look off, ask your title team to itemize and confirm with the county clerk or recorder.
Local offices to contact
When you are shopping in Fort Mitchell or comparing to Cincinnati, verify details with:
- Kenton County Clerk for recording fees and any transfer tax rules in Kenton County.
- Kenton County Property Valuation Administrator or county attorney for questions on local property transfer policies.
- Kentucky Department of Revenue for state-level transfer or mortgage tax rules.
- Hamilton County Recorder for Ohio recording fee schedules.
- Ohio Department of Taxation for state-level conveyance or transfer tax guidance.
- Your title company and real estate attorney for local custom on who pays what and for precise closing estimates.
Planning your budget with confidence
A clear picture of transfer taxes and recording fees helps you set a realistic budget, write a stronger offer, and avoid last-minute changes to your cash to close. Whether you are buying in Fort Mitchell or weighing Hamilton County options, the best move is to confirm the current rate schedules early and put payment responsibilities in your offer.
If you want a customized estimate for a specific property, reach out and we will coordinate with your title team to pin down the numbers and your expected cash to close.
This article provides general information only and is not legal, tax, or settlement advice. Transfer-tax and recording-fee schedules change. Verify current rates and who is responsible for each charge with the Kenton County Clerk (for Fort Mitchell property), the relevant Ohio county recorder (if comparing Ohio purchases), and your title company, lender, or real estate attorney before closing.
Ready to compare homes and closing costs on both sides of the river? Contact the K2 Home Team for local guidance and a personalized estimate.
FAQs
What is a real estate transfer tax?
- It is a government charge that applies when a property’s title transfers to a new owner. It can be set by a state, county, or municipality and is often calculated as a percentage of the sale price or a fee per set dollar amount.
For a Fort Mitchell purchase, who typically pays transfer tax?
- Responsibility depends on local custom and your contract. Many markets place deed transfer taxes on the seller and recording fees on the buyer, but you should confirm with your title company and write it into the offer.
How do Kentucky and Ohio recording fees differ in practice?
- Both states collect county recording fees for deeds and mortgages, usually a base charge plus per-page amounts. The exact schedule and any add-ons vary by county, so you should confirm with the Kenton County Clerk or Hamilton County Recorder.
Where will I see these costs on my Closing Disclosure?
- Look under Closing Costs, then Other Costs, then Taxes and Other Government Fees. You should see separate lines for transfer or conveyance fees and for recording the deed and mortgage, with buyer or seller responsibility shown in the summaries.
Do out-of-state buyers pay more in KY or OH?
- Residency usually does not affect transfer taxes or recording fees. Charges are based on the property’s location and the applicable rate schedules, though other state-specific reporting rules can apply, so confirm with your title company.
Can I negotiate who pays transfer and recording fees?
- Yes. Unless a statute assigns payment to a specific party, the allocation is negotiable. Protect yourself by stating who pays each item in the contract and confirming on the Closing Disclosure.
How much could these fees add on a 350,000 dollar home?
- Using hypothetical examples, government and recording charges might range from a few hundred to around a thousand dollars or more depending on the percentage-based fee and recording schedule. Your title company will provide exact figures for your property.
