Rhode Island closing cost calculator
Enter a sale price to display each line for both buyer and seller.
Based on a conventional loan, the estimate includes lender fees plus a lender's policy and prepaids, using sources cited on this page. Until you enter your own figure, the down payment is 20%. Commission appears only once you enter it.
- Conveyance tax on real estate
- 1.5% top rate with a separate rate for every band
- Who pays this
- SellerThe grantor (seller) is responsible unless the parties agree on other terms. Only the residential price above the threshold owes the extra $3.75 per $500; that threshold is CPI-adjusted and may now sit above $800,000.
- Deed recording
- $84 on the statewide recording fee schedule that the City of Providence hosts, a 2017 file, so check today's fees with the town clerk
A typical Rhode Island home bought with 20% down adds about $9,527 in closing costs beyond your down payment; this closing cost calculator gives you your own figure. Add your price and down payment to the calculator now; its itemized estimate will show the cash you need to have ready on closing day.
How does Rhode Island differ?
- Conveyance tax on real estate: 0.75% applies up to $800,000 and 1.5% applies above $800,000, which the seller customarily pays. The grantor (seller) is responsible unless the parties agree on other terms. Only the residential price above the threshold owes the extra $3.75 per $500; that threshold is CPI-adjusted and may now sit above $800,000. webserver.rilegislature.gov
- A city or town collects the conveyance tax where the deed is recorded, then keeps the balance once fixed shares have been paid to state programs. webserver.rilegislature.gov
- No conveyance tax applies when a deed only secures a debt, or when the deed comes from the United States, Rhode Island or one of its political subdivisions. tax.ri.gov
- A lower tax of $1.40 applies for every $500 of the amount paid on mobile or manufactured homes. Modular homes located outside a mobile home park aren't covered by this rate. tax.ri.gov
- For individuals, estates, partnerships or trusts, buyers must withhold 6% of the total payment from nonresident sellers; corporations require 9%. Until you remit it, this amount stays a lien. tax.ri.gov
- Beginning in 2026, inflation adjustments apply to the $800,000 residential limit for this extra tax, so today's figure may be higher. webserver.rilegislature.gov
- Traditionally, this tax stays in escrow with closing attorneys; when the deed is recorded, they give it to the city or town. tax.ri.gov
- Deed recording costs $84, and mortgage recording costs $64. These amounts come from a Statewide fee schedule on the City of Providence site (2017 file; ask your town clerk to confirm current fees). providenceri.gov
Costs to close on a $509,000 Rhode Island home
A typical Rhode Island home had a value of $508,507 in September 2026. The Zillow Home Value Index is our basis for a rounded $509,000 price that includes a down payment of $101,800 and a mortgage of $407,200. The day you collect the keys, you pay closing costs; your down payment does not include those fees. Add your down payment to those fees to find the cash to close, which is the amount you bring.
The owner's title policy figure is a national estimate, not a Rhode Island rate, since we lack a Rhode Island rate table for that policy; your title company might quote a different amount. We base our recording charges on a statewide schedule from 2017. Treat them as estimates and ask the town clerk what amounts apply now.
Across home types, typical Rhode Island prices start at $381,863 for the lower-priced third and reach $835,015 for the upper-priced third. With 20% down on these homes, buyer fees run from $6,729 to $14,873. Add your price and down payment to the calculator for your own figure.
| Line | Paid by | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origination charge | Buyer | $4,072 | 1% of $407,200 |
| Appraisal | Buyer | $359 | |
| Credit report | Buyer | $30 | |
| Owner's title policy | Buyer | $2,138 | 0.42% of $509,000 |
| Recording, deed | Buyer | $84 | county estimate |
| Recording, mortgage | Buyer | $64 | county estimate |
| Homeowners insurance, 12 months | Buyer | $1,569 | |
| Prepaid interest, 15 days | Buyer | $1,212 | 7.24% on $407,200 |
| Conveyance tax on real estate | Seller | $3,818 |
Rhode Island closing costs for different home types
For Rhode Island, typical values start at $381,863 in the lower-priced third of homes and reach $835,015 in the higher-priced third (September 2026). With a 20% down payment and no commission in the calculation, the buyer's cost lines range from $6,729 to $14,873:
| Home | Typical value | Buyer closing costs | Cash to close, 20% down | Seller costs before commission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower-priced third of homes | $381,863 | $7,674 | $84,046 | $2,864 |
| 1 bedroom | $317,076 | $6,729 | $70,144 | $2,378 |
| 2 bedrooms | $418,230 | $8,204 | $91,850 | $3,137 |
| Condo or co-op | $402,851 | $7,980 | $88,550 | $3,021 |
| 3 bedrooms | $509,863 | $9,540 | $111,513 | $3,824 |
| Single-family house | $519,906 | $9,686 | $113,668 | $3,899 |
| 4 bedrooms | $697,209 | $12,271 | $151,713 | $5,229 |
| 5 or more bedrooms | $875,630 | $14,873 | $189,999 | $7,134 |
| Higher-priced third of homes | $835,015 | $14,281 | $181,284 | $6,525 |
Closing costs in Rhode Island: who pays
Conveyance tax usually falls to the seller, so before commission, the seller's charges total $3,818 for the $509,000 home. Lender charges fall to the buyer, along with the credit report, appraisal, owner's title policy, two recording fees, prepaid interest and twelve months of homeowners insurance. These fees don't include commission.
An average 2.42% of the price went to buyer's agents nationwide, yet commission appears in the calculator only after you enter a rate because your agreement determines it. Type in a rate for the full picture of a sale.
| Line | Customary payer | Rate or amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conveyance tax on real estate | Seller | At 0.75% up to $800,000, then 1.5% above $800,000 | webserver.rilegislature.gov |
| Recording the deed | Buyer | $84 | providenceri.gov |
| Recording the mortgage | Buyer | $64 | providenceri.gov |
| Origination charge | Buyer | At 1% of the loan amount | bankrate.com |
| Appraisal | Buyer | $359 | angi.com |
| Buyer's agent commission | Set in the buyer agreement | 2.42% average | redfin.com |
Rhode Island transfer tax
Conveyance tax on real estate
Each band has its own tax rate.
Rhode Island transfer tax
Rhode Island calls its transfer tax the real estate conveyance tax. When the deed is recorded, this tax is normally paid by the seller, unless buyer and seller decide otherwise. According to the tiered rates, 0.75% applies up to the residential threshold, while 1.5% applies to the portion above it.
The tax comes to $3,000 on a $400,000 sale; for the $509,000 example home, it is $3,818. That $400,000 figure ranks 10th from the top. Our count covers 36 states and DC, all of which levy a transfer tax. Inflation adjustments for the $800,000 threshold started in 2026, so the current amount may be higher.
The local city or town gathers the tax where the deed is recorded. It keeps what remains after fixed shares reach state programs. Traditionally, closing attorneys hold the money in escrow. This separate account keeps it there until a bill falls due. At the time the deed is recorded, they pay the town.
Certain deeds carry no tax at all. No conveyance tax applies to a deed given solely to secure a debt. The same exemption covers deeds from the United States, Rhode Island and any Rhode Island city or town. A lighter $1.40 rate applies for each $500 of the price to mobile and manufactured homes; modular homes outside a mobile home park aren't eligible.
Buying from a seller who lives in another state
When a seller lives outside Rhode Island, part of the payment is withheld by the buyer and sent to the state. When the seller is an individual, estate, partnership or trust, the required withholding equals 6% of the total payment A corporate seller has a 9% withholding amount.
The home remains subject to a lien until the withheld money reaches the state. Ask your closing attorney to confirm the handling if you buy from a seller who lives out of state.
Property tax once you settle in
Your closing bill comes once, while property tax continues. An owner-occupied Rhode Island home has a median annual bill of $4,900, according to the 2024 American Community Survey. That's about 1.21% of the median home value.
This is a statewide midpoint; the rate in your town determines your bill. Use the calculator to enter your price; it will show the closing costs and the cash to close you must have ready.
Closing costs for nearby states
At 20% down, a $400,000 home has estimated Rhode Island buyer closing costs of $7,938. This amount is $88 higher than the $7,850 median seen in the 50 states and DC.
Seller costs in this state run noticeably higher. With a $400,000 price, costs for sellers total $3,000 before commission and payoff in this state; the median state is $440. The conveyance tax accounts for the $2,560 gap, and it makes up the entire $3,000.
| State | Buyer closing costs at $509,000 | Transfer tax | Cash to close, 20% down |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $9,519 | $3,818 | $111,319 |
| Massachusetts | $9,739 | $2,321 | $111,539 |