Who Pays Title Costs?

In California, whether the buyer, seller or both pay title insurance fees depends on the county where the property transaction takes place.

While a buyer and seller may negotiate a different arrangement in a purchase agreement, here is a general list of who is customarily responsible for the costs in each county.
 
  County Who Pays Title Costs
  Alameda Buyer Pays
  Alpine El Dorado (Seller Pays)
Calaveras (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
  Amador Buyer Pays
  Butte Chico & Oroville (Seller Pays)
Paradise (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
  Calaveras San Andreas (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
Bear Valley (Buyer Pays)
  Colusa 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Contra Costa Buyer Pays
  Del Norte Seller Pays
  El Dorado 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Fresno Seller Pays
  Glenn 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Humboldt Seller Pays
  Imperial Seller Pays
  Inyo Seller Pays
  Kern Seller Pays
  Kings Seller Pays
  Lake Buyer Pays
  Lassen 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Los Angeles Seller Pays
  Madera Seller Pays
  Marin Buyer Pays
  Mariposa 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Mendocino Buyer Pays
  Merced 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Modoc 1/2 Buyer/1/2 Seller
  Mono Seller Pays
  Monterey Salinas (Seller Pays)
Peninsula (Seller Pays)
  Napa Buyer Pays
  Nevada 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Orange Seller Pays
  Placer Seller Pays
  Plumas 1/2 Buyer/1/2 Seller
  Riverside Seller Pays
  Sacramento Seller Pays
  San Benito Seller Pays
  San Bernardino Seller Pays
  San Diego Seller Pays
  San Francisco Buyer Pays
  San Joaquin 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  San Luis Obispo Seller Pays
  San Mateo Buyer Pays
  Santa Barbara 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Santa Clara Seller Pays
  Santa Cruz 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Shasta 1/2 Buyer/1/2 Seller
  Sierra 1/2 Buyer/1/2 Seller
  Siskiyou 1/2 Buyer/1/2 Seller
  Solano Buyer Pays
  Sonoma Buyer Pays
  Stanislaus Modesto (Seller Pays)
Turlock (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
  Sutter Seller Pays
  Tehama 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Trinity 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Tulare Seller Pays
  Tuolumne 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Ventura Seller Pays
  Yolo Woodland (Seller Pays)
Davis (Buyer Pays)
  Yuba Seller Pays
  Note: Efforts have been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but keep in mind that state and local laws, customs and procedures are subject to change.