• The FHA requires sellers to pay certain fees.single family houses image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
  
  Because the United States Federal Housing Administration, or FHA, helps insure mortgages, the organization sets some standards on what fees the buyer and seller must pay. Though the seller may set a higher asking price to help cover some sales expenses, the FHA requires that sellers absorb certain costs at closing.
  
  

Tax Service Fee

• On an FHA mortgage, the lender collects property taxes as part of the buyer's regular monthly payments, places them in escrow and disburses them after receiving a tax bill. According to Investopedia, a tax service agency receives the bills from the state tax collector and forwards them to the lender for processing. These agencies typically apply a fee for their services when closing on a mortgage, and the FHA requires sellers to pay this cost.
  
  

Tax Stamps

• When closing a mortgage, many states and local municipalities require certification of payment for the buyer's portion of real estate taxes. As verification, the closing agent applies a tax stamp and reports payment of taxes to the local tax authority. The agent may charge for the tax stamp and the FHA requires that the seller pay this cost.
  
  

Prorated Property Tax

• Because many states collect property tax only once per year, many sellers find themselves closing real estate transactions after paying a full year of taxes. Though a buyer typically must pay prorated taxes that cover the period between closing and the next tax collection, the FHA prohibits sellers from passing on the full year's cost. Instead, according to Real Estate Colorado, the seller must pay prorated taxes for the property through the closing date.
  
  

Outstanding Liens

• In some cases, a property owner may accumulate a number of liens resulting from unpaid taxes, fines or a combination of expenses. If a property has outstanding liens, the Federal Housing Administration requires that sellers pay or resolve the liens before transferring ownership to a buyer with an FHA mortgage.
  
  

HOA Transfer Fees

• Many homes, and especially condominiums and townhomes, require that owners belong to a homeowner's association. These associations control the property's appearance and may perform some maintenance on the property or the exterior of the home. HOAs typically collect a regular fee to pay for these services, and some associations charge a fee to record transfer of ownership. If an association charges a transfer fee, the FHA requires that sellers pay this cost rather than passing it on to the buyer.
  
  

Agent and Broker Fees

• When real estate is sold using a broker, the broker typically charges a fee that covers the cost of listing the property, advertising and compensating the agent for finding a buyer. Though the broker and agent fees often cost up to 6 percent of the final sales price, according to FHA Loan Pros, the Federal Housing Administrators prohibit sellers from passing this cost on to buyers at closing.