Recording Fees

Recording fees are charges paid to the county clerk to enter documents into the public records. The rule of thumb here is that a party pays to record documents that benefit them or clear up their own history. Therefore, the seller pays to record the "satisfaction of mortgage" to prove their old loan is paid off. The buyer, on the other hand, pays to record the new deed (to prove they own the home) and the new mortgage (to protect their lender's lien position).