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WHAT TO EXPECT FOR CLOSING COSTS |
 Closing on a property is a very challenging time for a would-be homeowner. Being informed, either through your mortgage broker, your real estate  agent,
or through self knowledge is the best thing you can be when going through this
procedure.
A good real estate agent can help you tremendously. They should know the
local market well enough to help you save money in whatever way they can. Since
closing costs are handled differently in different areas, having a professional
with experience in that area is your best bet. They can give you a better idea
of what costs are customarily paid by the buyer, and which ones are paid by
the seller.
The mortgage broker you deal with can make a big difference in your closing
costs too. Have them show you several programs suited to your needs. There
are lots of ways to structure closing costs based on your points and down payment.
 After finding a property, you will want to get qualified by your mortgage
broker. Your mortgage broker will send you a Good Faith Estimate within 3 days
as required by law. A GFE is a list of your closing costs from your lender.
There may be additional closing costs that the lender does not control, so
always be prepared to pay for other items also. A good number to be prepared
to pay would be to double the GFE amount.
Closing costs on average are from 3% to 5% of your loan amount, and the exact
amount will be told to you the day before the closing. All closing costs are
to be paid at the settlement of the mortgage loan.
There are two types of closing costs
- Non-recurring closing costs are the ones that you pay once and never have
to pay again.
- Recurring closing costs you pay repeatedly over the course of your home ownership.
These would be items like property taxes or homeowner insurance.
- Property taxes
placed in escrow are one of the largest expenses at closing.
The following is an alphabetic listing of the items that may be on your GFE.
Some items listed here may not be on your GFE.
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Loan Origination Fee (1% of the amount borrowed) |
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Wire transfer fee |
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Loan Discount fee |
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Interest from the day of settlement to the date of the first mortgage payment |
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Loan Application fee |
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Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) |
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Points to be paid |
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Hazard Insurance premiums |
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Lender’s attorney fees |
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Property taxes from the day of settlement to the end of the tax year |
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Buyer’s attorney fees |
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Settlement or closing/escrow fee |
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Appraisal fee |
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Notary fee |
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Credit Report |
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Title search & Title insurance to protect your lender |
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Lender’s Inspection fee |
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Title insurance to protect you |
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Mortgage Broker commission or fee |
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Recording fees |
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Tax service fee |
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Tax stamps |
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Processing fee |
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Pest inspection |
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Underwriting fee |
Your closing procedure will go smoothly when you are armed with the right
information and guided by the right professionals. Good Luck & Happy Buying!
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