11 states, including Arizona, have laws against private transfer fees.

A private transfer fee, sometimes called a "property transfer fee," occurs when the builder adds a covenant to the deed of each new home that requires subsequent home buyers to pay a percentage of the selling price to a designated beneficiary.

The charge, typically 1 percent, is over and above the usual and normal settlement fees that also are paid at closing.In some cases, though, the covenant runs with the deed for 99 years, meaning that each time the house changes hands, subsequent buyers must also pay the fee. And because the charge is a covenanted mandate, it is difficult to reverse once in place.

Ohio is the latest state to prohibit the fees.