# Real Estate | Dunn & Phillips, P.C. > Real estate lawyers serving Western Massachusetts and Connecticut. Residential and commercial closings, title work, and purchase-and-sale review by a firm that answers the phone. Free consultation. [Canonical page](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/practice/real-estate/) --- / Real Estate # Real Estate Residential and commercial closings, title work, and purchase-and-sale review for both Massachusetts and Connecticut. [Estimate your closing for free](#closing-calculator) [Request a consultation](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/contact?practiceArea=Real%20Estate) ## A track record that closes A real estate closing rewards experience, and experience is what we bring. We are a small firm that closes a high volume of transactions, from sophisticated commercial deals to everyday home sales. The people who handle your closing know the numbers like the back of their hand, work well with everyone else at the table, and have seen enough deals to spot a problem before it arises and keep your transaction on track to close. Each state has its own transfer taxes, recording rules, and customs at the closing table. We handle the math and the paperwork in both Massachusetts and Connecticut so nothing slips, from purchase-and-sale review through recording. Estimate your closing ## Massachusetts & Connecticut closing cost estimator Whether you are buying or selling, estimate your closing numbers. Choose your state and your side, and the figures update as you type. Property in Massachusetts Connecticut I am Selling Buying County Hampden CountyHampshire CountyWorcester CountyBerkshire CountyFranklin County Town conveyance tax rate Standard municipality (0.25%) Targeted investment community (0.5%) Sale price Mortgage payoff (remaining balance) Real estate commission (%) Down payment Record a Declaration of Homestead (recommended) Closing attorney fee (optional) Other seller costs (optional) Miscellaneous fees (e-filing, courier, etc.) A soft estimate; these small fees typically total under $500. Adjust to your situation. Estimated costs Deed excise tax (stamps)$0 Real estate commission$0 Mortgage discharge recording$0 Closing attorney fee$0 Other costs$0 Miscellaneous fees$0 Mortgage payoff$0 Down payment$0 Deed recording$0 Mortgage recording$0 Homestead recording$0 Closing attorney fee$0 Other costs$0 Miscellaneous fees$0 Estimated net proceeds $0 Estimate only — assumptions & sources **Estimate only.** The deed excise tax ($4.56 per $1,000, rounded up to the nearest $500) and recording fees are Massachusetts statewide figures, verified for Hampden County as of June 2026; other counties are being confirmed. The Connecticut conveyance tax (state tiers of 0.75% up to $800,000, 1.25% to $2.5M, and 2.25% above, plus a municipal rate of 0.25%, or 0.5% in certain communities) and town recording fees are estimates pending the firm’s verification. It does not include the **incidental prorations** settled at the closing table, such as town property taxes, water and sewer charges, any fuel (oil or propane) left in the tank, and condominium or homeowners-association fees, which are adjusted between buyer and seller as of the closing date. Beyond those prorations and taxes, a closing also carries an assortment of small fees (electronic filing, courier, and the like); we pre-fill **$500** for these because they typically total under that amount, and you can adjust the figure. It also excludes payoff interest, lender points, title insurance, and prepaid escrows, and it is not legal, tax, or financial advice. You will receive an itemized closing statement before you sign. Sources: [M.G.L. c. 64D, § 1](https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIX/Chapter64D/Section1) (deed excise) and [c. 262, § 38](https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleVI/Chapter262/Section38) (recording fees). [Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 223](https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_223.htm) (real estate conveyance tax); Connecticut town recording fees vary by town clerk and should be confirmed locally. New to this? What these costs mean Deed excise / conveyance tax A state tax on transferring the property, based on the price. In Massachusetts the **seller** pays the deed excise; in Connecticut the **seller** pays a state plus town conveyance tax. Recording fees Flat fees the registry of deeds (MA) or town clerk (CT) charges to put your deed and mortgage on the public record, which is what makes your ownership official. Real estate commission The real estate agents’ fee, a percentage of the sale price, customarily paid by the seller. Mortgage payoff & discharge A seller’s remaining loan balance is paid off from the sale, and a small recording fee clears the old mortgage from the record. Down payment The cash a buyer puts toward the purchase up front; the rest is usually financed with a mortgage. Declaration of Homestead (Massachusetts) A $35 recording that protects a large share of your home equity from most creditors. We can record it at your closing. Prorations Shared running costs like property taxes, water, and fuel are split between buyer and seller as of the closing date, so each pays only for their time owning the home. Miscellaneous fees Small charges such as electronic filing and courier fees, usually totaling under $500. This page is general information only, not legal advice for any specific situation, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Every matter depends on its own facts; for advice on your particular circumstances, talk to a licensed attorney. Published by Dunn & Phillips, P.C., 185 Belmont Avenue, Springfield, MA 01108. Responsible attorney: Cornelius W. Phillips, III. Your Real Estate team - [Pinar Karaaslan Senior Paralegal · Springfield](/team/pinar-karaaslan) - [Cornelius W. Phillips, III Named Founding Partner · Springfield](/team/cornelius-phillips) - [Derya Tanriverdi Paralegal · Springfield](/team/derya-tanriverdi) Contact the firm The form below is the best place to start. You can also email us, or call if you prefer. An initial conversation is without obligation. [Request a Consultation](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/contact?practiceArea=Real%20Estate) Email us [Prefer to call? (413) 787-9955](tel:+14137879955) Ways to reach us - Springfield, Main Office 185 Belmont Avenue, Springfield, MA 01108 [Get directions](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=185%20Belmont%20Avenue%2C%20Springfield%2C%20MA%2001108) [(413) 787-9955](tel:+14137879955) Show email - Springfield, Real Estate Closings 198 Belmont Avenue, Springfield, MA 01108 [Get directions](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=198%20Belmont%20Avenue%2C%20Springfield%2C%20MA%2001108) [(413) 787-9955](tel:+14137879955) Show email This page is general information only, not legal advice for any specific situation, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Every matter depends on its own facts; for advice on your particular circumstances, talk to a licensed attorney. Published by Dunn & Phillips, P.C., 185 Belmont Avenue, Springfield, MA 01108. Responsible attorney: Cornelius W. Phillips, III. Next step Seen your numbers? Let’s talk through them. An attorney will walk you through your estimate and what comes next — no obligation. [Book a call about your closing](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/contact?practiceArea=Real%20Estate) [or call (413) 787-9955](tel:+14137879955) Free PDF worksheets ## Plan your move with a local firm Two free, stage-by-stage worksheets: every deadline and document for a Massachusetts home sale or purchase, from a firm that has handled local closings since 1988. Free worksheet · PDF ## Get the Massachusetts Home Buyer's Checklist Every deadline and document for your purchase, in one PDF worksheet. From a Western Massachusetts firm that has handled local closings since 1988. [Download the worksheet (PDF)](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/downloads/dunn-phillips-home-buyer-closing-checklist.pdf) Saves to your device as a fillable PDF you can complete or print. It is free, with nothing to fill out first. Using this does not make us your attorneys. It is general information, not legal advice. Free worksheet · PDF ## Get the Massachusetts Home Seller's Checklist Every deadline and document for your sale, in one PDF worksheet. From a Western Massachusetts firm that has handled local closings since 1988. [Download the worksheet (PDF)](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/downloads/dunn-phillips-home-seller-closing-checklist.pdf) Saves to your device as a fillable PDF you can complete or print. It is free, with nothing to fill out first. Using this does not make us your attorneys. It is general information, not legal advice. Insights ## More on Real Estate [All insights](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/blog) - [June 15, 2026 How a Massachusetts Real Estate Closing Works, Start to Finish A plain-language guide to a Massachusetts closing: the seven stages from offer to recording, what to expect on closing day, and the homestead tip worth real money. Read](/blog/how-a-closing-works) - [May 6, 2026 Do I Need a Closing Attorney to Buy a Home in Massachusetts? Massachusetts handles real estate closings differently from many states. Here is who the closing attorney represents, and why buyers often want their own counsel. Read](/blog/do-i-need-a-closing-attorney) - [April 15, 2026 Five Things to Check Before You Sign a Purchase and Sale Agreement The purchase and sale agreement, not the offer, sets the real terms of your home purchase. Here is what to review before you sign. Read](/blog/purchase-and-sale-checklist)