Closing Costs Explained: What to Expect When Buying a Home

Closing costs are the fees and expenses you pay to finalize your mortgage, beyond the down payment. They typically range from 2% to 5% of the loan amount, so it's essential to budget for them.

Common Closing Costs

Lender Fees

• Origination Fee: Charged by the lender for processing the loan (often 0.5% - 1% of loan amount).
• Application Fee: Covers the cost of processing your request.
• Underwriting Fee: Covers the cost of evaluating your application.

Third-Party Fees

• Appraisal Fee: Pays for a professional appraiser to estimate the home's value ($300 - $500).
• Credit Report Fee: Cost to pull your credit report ($30 - $50).
• Title Insurance: Protects against claims on the property title.
• Home Inspection: Optional but highly recommended ($300 - $500).

Prepaid Items

• Property Taxes: Lenders often require you to prepay several months of taxes.
• Homeowners Insurance: Usually, you must pay the first year's premium upfront.
• Prepaid Interest: Interest that accrues between the closing date and the first of the next month.

Reducing Closing Costs

• Shop Around: Compare Loan Estimates from different lenders.
• Negotiate: Ask the seller to cover some closing costs (seller concessions).
• Close End of Month: Reduces prepaid interest charges.

Being prepared for closing costs ensures a smoother path to homeownership.