10 states with the highest mortgage closing costs

The housing markets with the highest-priced homes don't always have the highest closing costs due to differences in local tax policy, but there can be some correlation. The national average for mortgage closing costs is $4,876, but some per-loan totals tracked at the state or local level can exceed five figures.

Expenses like title, appraisal, recording fees, inspection services, land surveys, and, in some cases, transfer taxes, can really add up in certain areas.

"For example, five counties in New York — Kings, Queens, Bronx, Richmond and Suffolk — had the highest closing costs, going well above the national and state average, due to having some of the highest transfer taxes in the country," ClosingCorp CEO Bob Jennings said in the vendor's inaugural national closing cost snapshot report.

Even though disclosure regulations implemented in 2015 has raised the profile of closing costs and ensured borrowers are better informed during the origination process, they still can take first time home buyers by surprise when consumers start shopping for loans and learn about the costs, Jennings noted.

"Many homebuyers are still surprised closing costs are even required," he said.

Here's a look at the 10 states, plus Washington, D.C., where average closing costs are the highest. The data, from ClosingCorp, was calculated by running preconfigured loan scenarios against verified rates and fees data that it maintains for service providers and tax authorities. The scenarios are based on live transactions from the second and third quarters of this year.

The various mortgage scenarios are based on loan type, loan purpose and loan amounts. The company assumed 80% loan-to-value ratio and applied the median sales price at the local level to the fee calculation formulas from its data to derive its fee estimates.

See also: 10 states with the lowest mortgage closing costs

Average total closing costs: $5,528
Average purchase price: $656,346