Hillsborough County, Florida Closing Costs: Complete Buyer and Seller Breakdown

I am Morgan Sloan, a Florida real estate broker, licensed since 2000. One of the most common questions I hear from both buyers and sellers in Hillsborough County is some version of “what will I actually pay at closing?” The answer depends on which side of the table you are sitting on, and in Hillsborough County specifically, there are cost factors that most generic closing cost guides do not cover, flood insurance on Hillsborough River corridor and Tampa Bay waterfront properties, CDD capital assessment payoffs in Riverview and other newer communities, and four-point inspections on older South Tampa housing stock.

This guide breaks down every line item you will see on a closing disclosure for a Hillsborough County transaction. I have separated buyer and seller costs, included worked examples based on a $405,000 price, the county-recorded single-family median for the 12 months to April 2026, and highlighted the Hillsborough-specific costs that catch people off guard. If you are relocating from out of state, Florida’s transfer tax structure may be different from what you are used to. No state income tax, but documentary stamp taxes and intangible tax apply at closing.

Buyer Closing Costs in Hillsborough County

Buyers in Hillsborough County should budget 2% to 4% of the purchase price in closing costs. On a $405,000 home with 20% down ($324,000 loan), here is what each line item looks like.

Cost Item	Typical Amount	Who Pays
Loan origination	0.5% to 1% of loan	Buyer
Appraisal	$500 to $700	Buyer
Home inspection	$350 to $550	Buyer
Four-point inspection	$100 to $200	Buyer
Wind mitigation inspection	$100 to $250	Buyer
Title search & exam	$150 to $250	Buyer
Lender’s title insurance	$25 when issued with the owner's policy, plus endorsements	Buyer
Doc stamp on mortgage	$0.35/$100 of loan	Buyer
Intangible tax	$0.20/$100 of loan	Buyer
Recording fees	$10 first page, $8.50 each added page (about $100 to $200 total)	Buyer
HOA estoppel (if applicable)	$100 to $350	Negotiable
Flood insurance (if required)	Get a quote for the address	Buyer
Homeowners insurance (1st yr)	Get quotes for the address	Buyer
Tax escrow (2 to 3 mo)	Varies	Buyer

Buyer Example: $405,000 Purchase, 20% Down

Seller Closing Costs in Hillsborough County

Sellers in Hillsborough County pay a different set of costs, anchored by the documentary stamp tax on the deed and, when the contract assigns it to the seller, the owner’s title insurance policy. Here is the seller-side breakdown.

Cost Item	Typical Amount	Who Pays
Doc stamp on deed	$0.70/$100 of sale price	Seller (standard contract)
Owner’s title insurance	Florida promulgated rate: $5.75 per $1,000 up to $100,000, then $5.00 per $1,000 up to $1 million	Set by contract
Title & closing service fee	$500 to $900	Seller
Recording fee (satisfaction)	$10 to $50	Seller
Real estate commission	Negotiable, set in the listing agreement	Seller
Prorated property taxes	Varies by close date	Seller
HOA estoppel letter	$100 to $350	Seller

Seller Example: $405,000 Sale

What Most Closing Cost Guides Miss About Hillsborough County

Flood Insurance

Flood insurance is an annual premium rather than a closing cost, but in Hillsborough County it is one of the most significant costs affecting loan qualification and the monthly payment. On Hillsborough River corridor properties, Tampa Bay waterfront homes in South Tampa and along Bayshore Boulevard, and low-lying areas near Apollo Beach and Gibsonton, the lender will require flood insurance when the property sits in a FEMA AE or VE flood zone, so check the zone for each address. Annual premiums commonly run $3,000 to $6,000 or more on waterfront properties. On the mainland, properties near the Hillsborough River or in low-lying areas may also carry flood zone designations. Get the flood zone designation and an insurance quote before making an offer, since the cost adds to your monthly housing payment and may affect your loan qualification.

CDD Capital Assessments

If the property you are buying is in a Community Development District (common in Riverview and other newer Hillsborough County subdivisions) the CDD assessment appears on the annual property tax bill. This is an ongoing annual expense of $1,000 to $4,000 or more. What matters at closing is whether there is an outstanding CDD capital assessment balance. Some CDD properties carry an outstanding capital assessment balance that must be paid off at closing or assumed by the buyer over time. The payoff amount can be large in newer communities. Always request the full CDD estoppel letter and understand the bond payoff schedule before you sign.

Four-Point Inspections

Many Florida insurers require a four-point inspection on older homes; Citizens requires one on homes more than 20 years old, and private carriers set their own age limits. The inspection covers the roof, electrical system, plumbing system, and HVAC system. A failed four-point (old roof, outdated wiring like Federal Pacific or Zinsco panels, aging galvanized plumbing, or a failing HVAC system) can make a property uninsurable until repairs are made. This directly affects buyer financing. South Tampa has a substantial amount of older housing stock where four-point inspections are standard. Know this before going under contract. If the four-point reveals issues, you are negotiating repair costs. The cost of the inspection is $100 to $200. The cost of the repairs it reveals can be thousands.

For more on the buying process, read the Hillsborough County buyer’s guide. For the selling side, read the Hillsborough County seller’s guide. And for an overview of the entire Tampa Bay market, visit the Hillsborough County real estate hub.