What closing costs should you expect?

Closing costs are the fees to complete your loan and purchase, such as lender fees, title and escrow charges, prepaid taxes and insurance, and appraisal and inspection costs. They vary by loan, price, and county, so the only reliable number comes from your lender. The lender must give you a Loan Estimate within three business days of your application, and you'll get a Closing Disclosure before closing so you can compare the final numbers to the estimate. Closing costs are one of the things I negotiate firmly. I try to get the seller to pick up thousands of dollars that can be used to buy down your rate or pay a portion of your closing costs. Some of that is needed from a lending standpoint, depending on your loan type and cash available, and I can't promise a seller will agree in every deal. I work to get my clients into the home they want at a fair price and to avoid becoming "house poor," and I help set financial boundaries to protect them.