State guide · CA
Transfer tax in California
California charges roughly 0.11% when a home changes hands — about $869 on a median-priced home, customarily paid by seller in most counties, buyer in some — local custom.
Rate
0.11%
On a median home
$869
Customarily paid by
Seller
Documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 (0.11%) statewide — but many cities add their own (San Francisco and Los Angeles run multiples higher on large sales).
Transfer taxes are one line of the larger closing bill. For the full picture in California — title, escrow, attorney conventions, and typical buyer costs — see our California closing costs guide, or estimate your own bottom line with the seller net proceeds calculator.
How California compares
Common questions
Does California have a real estate transfer tax?
Yes. Documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 (0.11%) statewide — but many cities add their own (San Francisco and Los Angeles run multiples higher on large sales). On a median-priced California home (about $790,000), that's roughly $869.
Who pays the transfer tax in California?
Seller in most counties, buyer in some — local custom. Like every closing cost, this is custom rather than law — the purchase contract can assign it to either side, and in competitive negotiations it sometimes moves.
Selling in California? See what you'd keep
Sale price minus commissions, payoff, and taxes like this one — the number that actually lands in your account.
Open the net proceeds calculatorRates are representative combined state and typical local figures compiled from public sources and rounded for readability; graduated schedules, exemptions, and city add-ons can change your number. Confirm with your closing agent or county recorder. Median home values are approximate.