How Much Does Real Estate Lawyer Cost?
Updated for 2026 — national average costs with state-by-state breakdowns
Low End
$500
Average
$1,500
High End
$3,000
per transaction
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What Does Real Estate Lawyer Include?
Real estate attorneys handle property transactions, title searches, contract reviews, and closing documents. Some states require an attorney at closing while others make it optional.
The national average cost for real estate lawyer is $1,500 per transaction. Most homeowners pay between $500 and $3,000, though costs can vary significantly based on your location, the scope of work, and other factors outlined below.
What Affects the Price?
Service
Closing only: $500-$1,500. Full representation (buy/sell): $1,000-$3,000. Commercial transaction: $2,000-$5,000+
Billing
Flat fee (residential closing): $500-$1,500. Hourly: $200-$400/hr. Title search (additional): $200-$400
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Key Cost Factors
- ✓Transaction type
- ✓State requirements
- ✓Property value
- ✓Complexity
- ✓Hourly vs flat fee
💡 Tips to Save Money
- 1.Some states don't require an attorney for simple residential closings
- 2.Flat fees for closings are typically cheaper than hourly billing
- 3.Ask if the fee includes title search or if that's separate
- 4.For simple contract reviews, some attorneys charge reduced flat fees ($200-$500)
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📈 Real Estate Lawyer Cost Trends (2020–2024)
Prices have increased +17.7% over the last 5 years
$1,274
2020
$1,327
2021
$1,413
2022
$1,453
2023
$1,500
2024
| Year | National Avg | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $1,274 | — |
| 2021 | $1,327 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $1,413 | +6.5% |
| 2023 | $1,453 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $1,500 | +3.2% |
Based on national averages adjusted for annual inflation. Actual costs vary by location and project scope.
Real Estate Lawyer Cost by State
Costs vary significantly by state due to labor rates, cost of living, and local market conditions. Click any state for a detailed breakdown.
| State | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $410 | $1,230 | $2,460 |
| Alaska | $640 | $1,920 | $3,840 |
| Arizona | $475 | $1,425 | $2,850 |
| Arkansas | $400 | $1,200 | $2,400 |
| California | $675 | $2,025 | $4,050 |
| Colorado | $540 | $1,620 | $3,240 |
| Connecticut | $610 | $1,830 | $3,660 |
| Delaware | $525 | $1,575 | $3,150 |
| Florida | $490 | $1,470 | $2,940 |
| Georgia | $450 | $1,350 | $2,700 |
| Hawaii | $710 | $2,130 | $4,260 |
| Idaho | $460 | $1,380 | $2,760 |
| Illinois | $525 | $1,575 | $3,150 |
| Indiana | $440 | $1,320 | $2,640 |
| Iowa | $430 | $1,290 | $2,580 |
| Kansas | $425 | $1,275 | $2,550 |
| Kentucky | $420 | $1,260 | $2,520 |
| Louisiana | $435 | $1,305 | $2,610 |
| Maine | $510 | $1,530 | $3,060 |
| Maryland | $575 | $1,725 | $3,450 |
| Massachusetts | $650 | $1,950 | $3,900 |
| Michigan | $460 | $1,380 | $2,760 |
| Minnesota | $510 | $1,530 | $3,060 |
| Mississippi | $390 | $1,170 | $2,340 |
| Missouri | $435 | $1,305 | $2,610 |
| Montana | $475 | $1,425 | $2,850 |
| Nebraska | $440 | $1,320 | $2,640 |
| Nevada | $510 | $1,530 | $3,060 |
| New Hampshire | $560 | $1,680 | $3,360 |
| New Jersey | $625 | $1,875 | $3,750 |
| New Mexico | $450 | $1,350 | $2,700 |
| New York | $660 | $1,980 | $3,960 |
| North Carolina | $450 | $1,350 | $2,700 |
| North Dakota | $450 | $1,350 | $2,700 |
| Ohio | $450 | $1,350 | $2,700 |
| Oklahoma | $415 | $1,245 | $2,490 |
| Oregon | $550 | $1,650 | $3,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $510 | $1,530 | $3,060 |
| Rhode Island | $575 | $1,725 | $3,450 |
| South Carolina | $435 | $1,305 | $2,610 |
| South Dakota | $425 | $1,275 | $2,550 |
| Tennessee | $430 | $1,290 | $2,580 |
| Texas | $465 | $1,395 | $2,790 |
| Utah | $475 | $1,425 | $2,850 |
| Vermont | $540 | $1,620 | $3,240 |
| Virginia | $525 | $1,575 | $3,150 |
| Washington | $575 | $1,725 | $3,450 |
| West Virginia | $400 | $1,200 | $2,400 |
| Wisconsin | $470 | $1,410 | $2,820 |
| Wyoming | $460 | $1,380 | $2,760 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a real estate lawyer to buy a house?
It depends on your state. About 15 states require an attorney at closing. Even where optional, an attorney is recommended for complex deals, FSBO purchases, or if issues arise during title search.
🏙️ Real Estate Lawyer Cost by City
Compare real estate lawyer costs in the most popular US cities:
New York City
NY
$2,175
Los Angeles
CA
$2,070
Chicago
IL
$1,725
Houston
TX
$1,425
Phoenix
AZ
$1,470
Philadelphia
PA
$1,680
San Antonio
TX
$1,320
San Diego
CA
$1,980
Dallas
TX
$1,530
San Jose
CA
$2,280
Austin
TX
$1,575
Jacksonville
FL
$1,380
Fort Worth
TX
$1,425
Columbus
OH
$1,350
Charlotte
NC
$1,425
Indianapolis
IN
$1,320
View all 219 cities →
San Francisco, CA
$2,325
Seattle, WA
$1,950
Denver, CO
$1,725
Washington D.C., DC
$2,025
Nashville, TN
$1,500
Oklahoma City, OK
$1,230
El Paso, TX
$1,230
Boston, MA
$2,100
Portland, OR
$1,770
Las Vegas, NV
$1,530
Memphis, TN
$1,230
Louisville, KY
$1,275
Baltimore, MD
$1,650
Milwaukee, WI
$1,380
Albuquerque, NM
$1,320
Tucson, AZ
$1,320
Fresno, CA
$1,575
Sacramento, CA
$1,770
Mesa, AZ
$1,425
Kansas City, MO
$1,350
Atlanta, GA
$1,575
Omaha, NE
$1,320
Colorado Springs, CO
$1,530
Raleigh, NC
$1,470
Long Beach, CA
$2,025
Virginia Beach, VA
$1,575
Miami, FL
$1,800
Oakland, CA
$2,175
Minneapolis, MN
$1,620
Tampa, FL
$1,530
Tulsa, OK
$1,230
Arlington, TX
$1,425
New Orleans, LA
$1,425
Pittsburgh, PA
$1,425
St. Louis, MO
$1,320
Bakersfield, CA
$1,530
Anaheim, CA
$2,025
Honolulu, HI
$2,250
Santa Ana, CA
$1,980
Riverside, CA
$1,725
Corpus Christi, TX
$1,275
Lexington, KY
$1,320
Stockton, CA
$1,650
Henderson, NV
$1,530
St. Paul, MN
$1,575
Cincinnati, OH
$1,320
Anchorage, AK
$1,920
Greensboro, NC
$1,320
Plano, TX
$1,575
Newark, NJ
$1,875
Lincoln, NE
$1,275
Orlando, FL
$1,530
Irvine, CA
$2,100
Durham, NC
$1,425
Chula Vista, CA
$1,920
Toledo, OH
$1,230
Fort Wayne, IN
$1,230
Jersey City, NJ
$2,025
St. Petersburg, FL
$1,530
Laredo, TX
$1,200
Madison, WI
$1,470
Chandler, AZ
$1,470
Buffalo, NY
$1,380
Lubbock, TX
$1,230
Scottsdale, AZ
$1,680
Reno, NV
$1,575
Glendale, AZ
$1,425
Gilbert, AZ
$1,530
Winston-Salem, NC
$1,275
North Las Vegas, NV
$1,470
Norfolk, VA
$1,470
Chesapeake, VA
$1,530
Irving, TX
$1,500
Fremont, CA
$2,175
Richmond, VA
$1,470
Boise, ID
$1,470
San Bernardino, CA
$1,620
Spokane, WA
$1,425
Des Moines, IA
$1,275
Tacoma, WA
$1,725
Modesto, CA
$1,575
Fontana, CA
$1,650
Moreno Valley, CA
$1,620
Fayetteville, NC
$1,275
Birmingham, AL
$1,230
Rochester, NY
$1,380
Salt Lake City, UT
$1,575
Oxnard, CA
$1,830
Knoxville, TN
$1,275
Worcester, MA
$1,725
Brownsville, TX
$1,170
Grand Rapids, MI
$1,350
Newport News, VA
$1,425
Huntsville, AL
$1,275
Amarillo, TX
$1,230
Little Rock, AR
$1,230
Montgomery, AL
$1,200
Akron, OH
$1,230
Augusta, GA
$1,230
Baton Rouge, LA
$1,275
Mobile, AL
$1,200
Shreveport, LA
$1,200
Tallahassee, FL
$1,350
Hartford, CT
$1,725
Providence, RI
$1,680
Charleston, SC
$1,470
Savannah, GA
$1,320
Columbia, SC
$1,275
Chattanooga, TN
$1,275
Fort Lauderdale, FL
$1,770
Dayton, OH
$1,230
Sioux Falls, SD
$1,275
Springfield, MO
$1,200
Jackson, MS
$1,170
Palm Bay, FL
$1,425
Lakeland, FL
$1,380
Cape Coral, FL
$1,470
Pensacola, FL
$1,320
Port St. Lucie, FL
$1,470
Naperville, IL
$1,725
Tempe, AZ
$1,500
Overland Park, KS
$1,425
McKinney, TX
$1,530
Frisco, TX
$1,575
Cary, NC
$1,530
Clarksville, TN
$1,275
Cedar Rapids, IA
$1,230
Peoria, AZ
$1,470
Surprise, AZ
$1,425
Denton, TX
$1,470
Roseville, CA
$1,725
Gainesville, FL
$1,320
Bellevue, WA
$2,100
Murfreesboro, TN
$1,380
Round Rock, TX
$1,530
Columbia, MD
$1,725
Boulder, CO
$1,875
Ann Arbor, MI
$1,650
Santa Fe, NM
$1,575
Wilmington, NC
$1,380
Greenville, SC
$1,320
Fargo, ND
$1,275
Provo, UT
$1,470
Duluth, MN
$1,320
Billings, MT
$1,380
Missoula, MT
$1,470
Cheyenne, WY
$1,320
Burlington, VT
$1,620
Portland, ME
$1,620
Concord, NH
$1,575
Bismarck, ND
$1,275
Rapid City, SD
$1,275
Casper, WY
$1,320
Bangor, ME
$1,425
Charleston, WV
$1,200
Dover, DE
$1,470
Manchester, NH
$1,620
Bridgeport, CT
$1,800
Stamford, CT
$2,025
Wichita, KS
$1,230
Topeka, KS
$1,200
Springfield, IL
$1,275
Rockford, IL
$1,275
Erie, PA
$1,230
Scranton, PA
$1,275
Flint, MI
$1,170
Lansing, MI
$1,275
Syracuse, NY
$1,320
Albany, NY
$1,425
Eugene, OR
$1,575
Salem, OR
$1,530
Fort Collins, CO
$1,650
Pueblo, CO
$1,275
Aurora, CO
$1,620
Santa Barbara, CA
$2,100
Santa Rosa, CA
$1,920
Pasadena, CA
$2,070
Visalia, CA
$1,500
Pomona, CA
$1,770
Myrtle Beach, SC
$1,320
Daytona Beach, FL
$1,380
Sarasota, FL
$1,575
Naples, FL
$1,770
Ocala, FL
$1,275
Athens, GA
$1,275
Macon, GA
$1,200
Lexington, SC
$1,275
Asheville, NC
$1,530
Flagstaff, AZ
$1,620
Rochester, NY
$1,380
New Haven, CT
$1,620
Manchester, NH
$1,575
Augusta, GA
$1,230
Fort Myers, FL
$1,470
Wilmington, NC
$1,425
Arlington, VA
$1,950
Green Bay, WI
$1,275
South Bend, IN
$1,230
Bend, OR
$1,680
Bellingham, WA
$1,650
Midland, TX
$1,425
Waco, TX
$1,230
Newark, NJ
$1,800
Related Cost Guides
💬 What Did You Pay?
Real costs reported by homeowners for Real Estate Lawyer
$1,503
Avg Reported
$1,052
Lowest Reported
$2,179
Highest Reported
Recent Reports
$1,204
Dallas, TX · Jan 2024
★★★★★
$1,847
Chicago, IL · Feb 2024
★★★☆☆
$1,543
Phoenix, AZ · Mar 2024
★★★★☆
$1,608
Denver, CO · Apr 2024
★★★☆☆
$1,188
Atlanta, GA · May 2024
★★★☆☆
$1,843
Seattle, WA · Jun 2024
★★★★★
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