Costs that come with buying a home
Closing Costs: Fees You Should Know About
• Origination Fee: A fee charged by the lender for originating or creating the loan. Typically 1% of the loan amount. • Prepaid Expenses: A portion of your property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and accrued mortgage interest will need to be paid up front at closing. • Recording Fees: Fees paid to your local government for recording the real estate purchase and making it a part of public record. • Title Service Fees: Fees paid to the title company covering the title search, title examination, title insurance, and in some states, the fee for facilitating your closing. • Transfer Taxes: A tax imposed on the transfer of the title from the seller to the buyer.
In addition to your down payment and monthly mortgage payment, there are several other costs that come with buying a home. These are called closing costs. Closing costs often represent one of the most unexpected expenses for homebuyers. They typically account for 2% to 5% of the home’s purchase price, so it’s important to save for them ahead of time. Closing costs are due on closing day, or the day you sign your loan paperwork and the property title is transferred into your name. Everyone’s closing costs vary slightly, but below are some examples of what might be included: • Appraisal Fee: A fee paid to the appraiser to estimate the fair market value of your home. • Attorney Fees: If your state requires an attorney to be present at closing, you’ll be responsible for any applicable attorney fees
To learn more about closing and how it works, jump to page 5.1.
NEGOTIATION TIP You can negotiate with the seller to
pay some or all of the closing costs. If the seller won’t pay and you can’t afford your closing costs, talk to your lender about adding the closing costs into your loan.
A fee paid to the lender that
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• Discount Points: An optional, upfront fee that you can pay to lower your interest rate over the life of your loan. One point typically equals 1% of the loan amount. • Home Inspection Fee: A fee paid to the home inspector for assessing the home’s condition and identifying any needed repairs.
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