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Selling
When Selling a House, Who Pays Closing Costs in Maine?
By Tony Duong, Broker Associate
Landing Real Estate · License # BA923377
October 23, 2026 · 4 min read
Understand which closing costs belong to Maine sellers and buyers, what can be negotiated, and how to estimate the money you will receive at closing.
Both buyers and sellers can have closing costs. When selling a house in Maine, your responsibilities depend on the law, your signed agreements, and the charges associated with your property. A buyer can ask you to pay some of their costs, but that request is something to evaluate and negotiate—not a bill you automatically inherit.
Start with three separate cost buckets
A useful seller estimate separates your own transaction charges, any buyer costs you agree to cover, and debts being paid from the sale. Those categories affect your proceeds in different ways.
Your charges may include agreed brokerage compensation, closing or legal services, document-related fees, and your share of applicable transfer tax. Buyer charges may include loan fees, appraisal, prepaid insurance, and other financing expenses. Who ultimately pays particular items should be confirmed in the contract and settlement documents.
Mortgage and lien payoffs also reduce the cash you receive. They are repayment of debt rather than the same thing as a service fee. Ask for a payoff calculated through the proposed closing date instead of using the principal balance shown on an old mortgage statement.
How Maine’s transfer tax fits into the calculation
For a taxable transfer, Maine Revenue Services states that the base real estate transfer tax is $2.20 for each $500, or fractional part of $500, of property value. The tax is imposed half on the seller and half on the buyer.
For covered transfers on or after November 1, 2025, an additional $3.80 per $500, or fractional part, applies to the value above $1 million. Exemptions can affect the result, so have the closing professional calculate the tax for your actual transaction.
Simple illustration: A nonexempt $500,000 transfer has $2,200 in total base transfer tax, with $1,100 imposed on each side. That figure is only the transfer tax; it is not an estimate of either party’s total closing costs.
Should you agree to pay the buyer’s closing costs?
A seller credit can help a buyer manage upfront cash, but it reduces your proceeds. Consider the full offer rather than treating a credit as automatically good or bad. NAR’s seller-concession guide explains that concessions are negotiated and should be documented in the purchase agreement.
Ask whether the requested credit is permitted under the buyer’s loan program and how much can actually be used. Have the buyer’s lender and closing team confirm the treatment. Do not assume that a price increase automatically funds a credit or that an appraisal will support the revised price.
Compare the arithmetic: A $500,000 offer with a $10,000 seller credit leaves $490,000 before your other costs. A $495,000 offer without that credit leaves $495,000 before other costs. Financing, contingencies, repairs, and timing still need to be compared before choosing an offer.
Build a net-proceeds estimate you can update
Start with the proposed sale price. Subtract agreed credits, brokerage compensation, mortgage and lien payoffs, seller closing charges, applicable transfer tax, and adjustments or assessments that belong to you. Account separately for preparation and moving expenses you pay outside closing.
Property-tax prorations and other adjustments can change the final settlement. Ask which amounts are estimates, who will verify them, and when an updated statement will be available. If your next purchase depends on these funds, share that timing with your lender and closing team.
Cash received at closing is also different from taxable gain. A large mortgage payoff does not by itself reduce a capital gain. Keep a separate tax-planning conversation with your tax adviser rather than assuming that the proceeds estimate answers every tax question.
Your next steps before accepting an offer
Request a preliminary net sheet before listing and an updated version for each serious offer. Ask for a written explanation of unfamiliar charges. Confirm credits, repairs, and possession terms before signing, then revisit the figures as closing approaches.
A useful question is: “After the obligations in this offer and my current payoffs, approximately how much remains for my next move?” That keeps the conversation centered on your plan rather than the sale price alone.
Get the free guide before you build your sale budget
My Maine Home Seller’s Guide walks through selling costs, estimated proceeds, offer comparison, and the steps to closing. Get your free copy through the guide-request form on my seller page. Enter your name and email under “Home Seller’s Guide.”
I’m Tony Duong with Landing Real Estate. If you would like help organizing the numbers for a Southern Maine sale, contact me to discuss your property and timing.
Information reviewed October 23, 2026. Confirm current charges, tax treatment, exemptions, and contract terms with the relevant professionals.
FAQ
Does the seller have to pay all of the buyer’s closing costs?
No. A buyer can request a seller contribution, but the agreed amount and permitted use need to be documented and checked against the financing requirements. Review the effect on your net proceeds before accepting.
Is the mortgage payoff a closing cost?
It is a debt payoff that reduces the cash available from the sale. Keep it separate from service fees when estimating proceeds, and obtain a payoff valid through the expected closing date.
Can I estimate Maine closing costs using one fixed percentage?
A percentage can miss important differences in payoffs, negotiated credits, compensation, tax exemptions, property value, and other charges. A transaction-specific estimate is more useful.