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Closing Cost Basis Calculator

At property purchase, only some closing costs add to your basis. Capitalize: title insurance, transfer tax, recording fees, legal, survey, appraisal. Amortize separately over loan life: origination, points, loan fees. Expense at closing: prepaid taxes and insurance. This calculator splits costs correctly so your basis (and resulting depreciation or eventual capital gain) is accurate.

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Capitalize? Yes for investor; spread over loan life

Acquisition basis (price + capitalized)

$555,250

Capitalized closing costs

$5,250

Loan fees (amortize over loan life)

$5,500

How the math works

Capitalize closing costs into basis: title insurance, transfer tax, recording fees, legal, survey, appraisal. Loan-related costs (origination, points, application) are amortized over the loan term, not added to basis. Property taxes paid at closing are expensed.

For primary residence, capitalized closing costs reduce capital gain at sale. For rental property, they add to depreciable basis (improvement portion) — same general principle.

How to Use

  1. Enter purchase price.
  2. Enter title, transfer tax, legal, survey/appraisal — all capitalize to basis.
  3. Enter loan origination/points — amortize over loan life, not basis.
  4. Read total acquisition basis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What about prepaid taxes/insurance?

Expensed in the year paid, not capitalized. They go on Schedule E (rental) or Schedule A (primary residence itemized deduction).

Loan origination on rental?

Amortize over the loan life as interest expense (Form 4562). If you sell or refinance early, write off the unamortized portion.

Different rules for primary?

Same capitalization principles. Primary residence basis matters for capital gain calculation at sale (above the §121 exclusion threshold).

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