Closing costs and transfer tax

Transfer tax is due when the deed records. The purchase contract sets who pays it. This table is the rate, not a custom about buyers or sellers. Other closing costs, including title and escrow, are quoted by the title company on that file.

Core towns

Town	Transfer tax	Source
Sausalito	Confirm Marin County's current documentary transfer tax, and any City of Sausalito tax, with the title company. This row does not print a city rate.	California Revenue and Taxation Code section 11911 lets a county levy $0.55 per $500 ($1.10 per $1,000). That is the authority, not a Marin bill.
Atherton	$1.10 per $1,000 ($0.55 per $500), San Mateo County documentary transfer tax.	San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder. The county collects an extra city tax for the City of San Mateo, which is not this town.
Menlo Park	$1.10 per $1,000 ($0.55 per $500), San Mateo County documentary transfer tax.	San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder. The county collects an extra city tax for the City of San Mateo, which is not this town.
Burlingame	$1.10 per $1,000 ($0.55 per $500), San Mateo County documentary transfer tax.	San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder. The county collects an extra city tax for the City of San Mateo, which is not this town.

San Francisco

San Francisco publishes one schedule. The higher rate applies based on the whole price. The per $1,000 column is the same schedule, doubled, so it can sit next to the Peninsula rate.

Price	As published	Per $1,000
More than $100 up to $250,000	$2.50 per $500	$5.00 per $1,000
More than $250,000 and under $1,000,000	$3.40 per $500	$6.80 per $1,000
$1,000,000 up to under $5,000,000	$3.75 per $500	$7.50 per $1,000
$5,000,000 up to under $10,000,000	$11.25 per $500	$22.50 per $1,000
$10,000,000 up to under $25,000,000	$27.50 per $500	$55.00 per $1,000
$25,000,000 and more	$30.00 per $500	$60.00 per $1,000

Source: SF.gov, Transfer tax. Checked November 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice. Ask the title company for the figure on a specific deed.