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Closing Costs for the buyer

Closing costs are fees and expenses you pay when you close on your house, beyond the down payment. These costs can run 3% to 5% of the loan amount and may include title insurance, attorney fees, appraisals, taxes, and more. This guide can help you plan for closing costs, but be sure to talk to your mortgage lender about the specifics for your home purchase.

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What are closing costs?

Any home loan — whether its to purchase a new home or to refinance a current loan — will come with closing costs. Closing costs cover a variety of fees related to the processing of a mortgage and required prepaid items like homeowners insurance and property taxes.

How much are closing costs?

In general, closing costs average between 1% and 5% of the loan amount. However, closing costs vary depending on the loan amount, mortgage type, and the area of the country where you’re buying or refinancing.

Below is a list of the most common closing cost description and approximate costs. Everyone’s situation is different. The best way to get an accurate estimate of your loan’s costs is after your mortgage application is processed, and you receive an itemized closing cost sheet from your lender.

When do you pay closing costs?

You pay closing costs at the end of the loan process — when the transaction closes.

One common misconception is that home buyers have to come up with thousands of dollars in upfront and out-of-pocket closing costs. This isn’t the case.

You also don’t pay them separately from your down payment. After you sign the final loan paperwork, the escrow company calculates all of the closing costs and adds that to your down payment amount, then subtracts any lender credits or seller-paid costs. That is the amount you’ll need to hand off to the escrow company. (You usually wire the money or bring a cashier’s check with you when signing your final loan paperwork.)

Closing cost breakdown

This table shows estimated closing costs for a $250,000 conventional loan in Washington state. Closing costs are based on your loan type, loan amount, and geographical area; your costs will likely look different.

Loan origination fee: $2,500 (1% of loan amount)

Discount fee: $625 (0.25%)

Processing fee: $450

Underwriting fee: $500

Wire transfer: $25-$50

Credit report: $35

Tax service: $50

Flood certification: $20

Title insurance $550

Escrow/signing: $450

Courier fee: $20

Appraisal: $450

Recording: $110

Homeowners insurance premium (1st year): $700

Property tax reserves (6 months): $1,500

Estimated Total: $7,985 (3.2% of loan amount)

Lender fees

Every home loan is financed through either a private bank, mortgage company, or nonprofit credit union whether it’s a government-backed loan or not. These businesses have overhead costs like employees and bank branches. Therefore, a portion of your closing costs go toward paying these companies to handle your loan for you. Below are the common fees you can expect to be charged from your lender.

Origination fee (0%-1% of the loan amount)

The lender origination fee is essentially a portion of the lender’s compensation for originating your loan — in other words, finding you as a customer and working your loan through to completion. This fee can vary widely by lender, because a lender can make money on the loan in other ways.

For example, one lender may not charge an origination fee but give you a higher interest rate, while another lender may charge you no origination fee and give you a low interest rate but charge high processing and underwriting fees. It’s important to look at the entire list of closing costs and not just the origination fee.

Mortgage broker fee (0%-1% of the loan amount)

This fee is the same as an origination fee but is charged by mortgage brokers. Mortgage brokers are companies that help home buyers shop various lenders for the best deal, but don’t ultimately lend the funds. You should never be charged both a mortgage broker fee and an origination fee.

Discount fee (0%-2%+ of the loan amount)

Discount fees (or discount points) are fees you pay your lender to lower your interest rate. This process is also known as “buying down the rate.” Here’s how it works:

  1. You pay one discount point, which means you pay 1% of the loan amount.

  2. Your lender cuts your interest rate by a certain percentage per point. (Typically, the rate is reduced by 0.25%, but there’s no set amount. How much a discount point will reduce the rate varies by the lender, type of loan, and current mortgage interest rates.)

If you can afford to pay discount points and are planning on staying in your home for a lengthy period of time, then they’re likely worth the cost. But if you don’t stay in the home long enough to break-even with cost of the discount fee, then you lose that money.

Processing fee ($300-$900)

Loan companies hire loan processors who are responsible for gathering all of the documentation required to close your loan. While your loan officer is concentrated on the customer-facing side of the business, the processor focuses on the behind-the-scenes work that goes into your loan. Not all companies charge a processing fee, so take that into consideration when comparing lenders.

Underwriting fee ($300-$900)

The underwriter is the final decision maker on your loan approval. The underwriting fee goes toward paying for the necessary staff to analyze your documentation and loan application and decide whether or not to approve your loan.

Application fee/commitment fee ($100-$350)

Some lenders charge an upfront, nonrefundable deposit to take your application. It’s recommended that you avoid these lenders, because you don’t want to lose that money if you change your mind or your mortgage application is denied. You shouldn’t have trouble finding lenders that don’t charge this fee.

Lock-in fee ($100-$300)

It can take a few weeks to process your mortgage application, and mortgage interest rates fluctuate daily. Some companies will lock in your rate while your application processes for a set fee.

Services ordered by the lender

There are various services required to process your loan. The lender collects fees to pay for each of these services, which are included in your closing costs.

Credit report fee ($20-$40)

Lenders pull your credit when you apply for a loan. This is a vital part of the loan application, because it gives the lender a look at your credit history.

If your score is too low, your lender may try to raise your score with a rapid rescore process. This can cost hundreds of dollars, but it can be worth it if you get a better rate or it helps you qualify.

Your reported score also affects your interest rate. Credit reports are supplied by credit agencies that charge for the report, hence the fee.

Flood certification ($20)

Every home in the U.S. is either in a flood zone or not. The determination is based on FEMA flood maps. Lenders need to know whether or not your home is in a flood zone, and if it is, that flood insurance is available. Lenders won’t approve a loan that is in a flood zone but doesn’t have specific flood insurance available.

Tax service fee ($50)

This fee goes to the company hired to make sure all tax liens are paid on the home. A municipality like a city or county can seize a home with past due taxes. Lenders obviously like to avoid that situation.

Wire transfer fee ($25)

This fee pays the bank fees associated with wiring loan funds. If you use a cashier’s check to pay for your closing costs and down payment, you’ll likely not pay this fee.

Courier fee/postage fee ($20-$30)

Occasionally, lenders have documents hand-delivered or overnighted when gathering all of the documentation for processing your loan. This fee pays for those costs.

Upfront fees for government-backed loans

Government-backed loan types require an “upfront fee.” Upfront fees are technically not closing costs, but they show up on the fee estimate you receive from the lender, so it’s good to be aware of them.

Also, the name is misleading — you don’t have to pay for these with cash upfront; they’re rolled into your final loan amount. Conventional loans do not require an upfront fee. For other loan types, a fee applies as follows:

  • USDA loans require a 1.0% upfront fee

  • FHA loans require a 1.75% upfront fee

  • VA loans require an upfront fee between 1.25% and 3.3% of the loan amount. The amount depends on prior usage of the VA home loan benefit, down payment amount, and military status. Veterans disabled in the line of duty may be eligible to waive this fee.

Third-party fees

Third-party fees are costs for services by other parties associated with your loan that aren’t your lender — for example, the title company and the appraiser.

These fees will be similar no matter which lender you choose. They’re not as important as comparison shopping lender fees, but you should still examine the fee amounts and ask about them. For example, some lenders work with more expensive title and escrow companies. But for refinances you can shop around for your own title and escrow agent to bring the cost down.

Appraisal ($350-$500+)

Appraisers are professional home value estimators who determine the value of the home. (Your lender uses this value when evaluating your loan qualification.) Appraisals typically charge around $500 for their services, but expect to pay up to $1,000 if you’re purchasing a high-value home or unique property.

Pest inspection ($100-$500)

Some areas always require a pest inspection, though this isn’t common. Most areas only require one if there is evidence of pest infestation noted on the appraisal report.

Title report/title insurance ($300-$1,500+)

This fee can vary widely as it’s based on the home’s value and geographic location as well as the loan amount. A title company’s job is to research all past claims on the home and ensure the title is “clear” — meaning no one can claim a right to the home. They also issue insurance in the event something was missed.

There are two kinds of title insurance, and you’ll need both when getting a mortgage. The lender’s title policy repays the bank that holds the loan in case the home is lost to a title claim. The owner’s title policy protects the owner.

Who pays for each policy varies. In some areas of the country, the seller pays the owner’s title insurance for the buyer, while the buyer typically pays the lender’s policy. Ask your Real Estate Agent or lender if the seller is paying for the owner’s policy. If not, your title insurance costs could double.

For refinances, you won’t pay for an owner’s policy, since it was already purchased when you bought the home; you will be responsible to pay the lender’s policy on the new mortgage.

Escrow fee ($300-$700+)

The escrow company handles all the funds involved in the transaction. They make sure all parties pay and get paid appropriately. For example, at closing, the lender wires in loan funds and the buyer wires the down payment and closing costs. The escrow company then pays off any existing loans on the home, pays third-party service providers, and wires the rest of the funds to the seller. The escrow company also handles getting all of the loan documents signed and notarized.

The escrow fee (also known as the settlement fee or closing fee) is based on the loan amount and/or purchase price, so expect to pay more on higher cost homes.

Notary fee ($100-$150)

The escrow company won’t usually charge you an extra fee if you sign your final loan documents at their office. However, if you choose to sign elsewhere (like at your home), they may charge a fee to send a notary (a signer who can notarize documents) to you.

Closing protection letter (CPL) ($50)

This fee is only required when the escrow company is not associated with the title company and is not common. It’s a letter stating that the title company is responsible if the escrow company doesn’t distribute funds appropriately.

Survey fee ($400+)

Occasionally, the title company needs to determine property lines. A survey is required in this case, but isn’t common.

Attorney fees ($400+)

Some states require an attorney to be involved in negotiating the sales contract and facilitating a timely closing. If your state requires one, shop around for an inexpensive attorney — it’s mostly a formality, so no need to break the bank.

Government-processing charges

Each county has its own charges to record the home’s transfer of ownership.

Recording fee ($20-$250)

This fee is determined by the county in which the property is located. The county records details of the transaction and the new owner’s information for tax purposes each time a home is bought and sold. The process of recording it also solidifies your legal ownership of the property.

Transfer taxes (fee varies)

Some states tax home purchases and refinances — any transfer of real estate from one owner or mortgage company to another. The cost can be substantial. Some areas require a percentage of the new loan amount or the home price.

Prepaid items

Prepaid items are costs associated with owning your home that lenders require you to pay in advance. These are not really closing costs — you have to pay for these items when you own a home and they’re not tied to your mortgage per se. For example, lenders collect 1 year of homeowners insurance premiums upfront to guarantee the home is insured.

Prepaid closing costs do add to the cash you’ll need to close your loan, so they’re important to keep in mind. And they can easily add up to a significant amount of money. For example, if property taxes are $300 and the lender collects 6 months’ worth, that’s $1,800 for that one item.

Homeowners insurance ($400-$1,000+)

Lenders need proof that your home is insured for as long as you hold a mortgage loan with an adequate homeowners insurance policy (also known as hazard or fire insurance). In general, lenders collect at least 1 year’s premium at loan closing and pay the insurance company. The amount of this fee depends on the value of your home, the amount of insurance coverage, and the yearly premium.

Flood insurance ($300-$1,000+)

Flood insurance is required if your home is in a flood zone as determined by your flood certification. Like the homeowners insurance policy, lenders need to ensure the policy is paid for the first year when the loan closes.

Tax reserves ($500-$5,000+)

This cost can vary widely based on the home’s property taxes and the time of the year the loan closes compared with when the county collects taxes. Some counties collect property taxes twice per year (often April and October), for example.

Lenders need to collect enough to pay the upcoming tax installment. They’ll typically collect between 3 to 8 months of taxes to cover the first tax payment.

Keep in mind that you’re only paying taxes for when the home officially belongs to you — the seller is responsible for the taxes up until the day the loan closes.

Mortgage insurance ($100-$700+)

If you have a conventional mortgage and not a government-backed loan like FHA, USDA, or VA that requires private mortgage insurance (PMI), the lender will collect at least 2 months’ worth of premiums.

Prepaid daily interest charges ($100-$2,000+)

You prepay interest on your loan from the day your loan closes to the end of the month. For example, if you close on the 15th of the month, then you prepay 15 days of interest in advance. If your loan funds at the end of the month, this charge will be small. Basically, if you close near the start of the month and you have a big loan amount, then the charge may be substantial.

Apply to get a closing cost estimate

The closing cost estimates provided above are just that — estimates. Every situation is different, and many closing costs are determined by the home’s value, loan amount, and where you live, among other factors.

The best way to get an accurate closing cost estimate is to apply for your upcoming purchase or refinance loan. Lenders will work up an itemized worksheet of closing costs specific to your situation.

Request your estimated closing costs from one of our mortgage professionals.

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