Real Estate Buyer's Closing Costs

Closing on your home-purchase deal costs money -- about 3 to 5 percent of the purchase price, plus your down payment. You'll be taking the money you owe to the document signing meeting, and you won't see any of it again until next year's tax refund arrives to erase the sting of closing day.

Advance Tips for Saving Money

Negotiate closing costs with the seller and make sure your deal is in the purchase contract.
Comparison shop for lenders.
Usually a bank attorney is the closing agent.
Shop for your own homeowner's insurance policy so you can compare rates instead of letting the lender provide the policy for you.
Hire the same company to do a title search that the seller used when the house was listed for sale. This reduces the cost and means a more efficient process.
Some first-time home buyer programs help with the down payment and closing costs. Ask prospective lenders if you qualify for low down payment loans and whether a portion of your closing costs can be wrapped into the mortgage.
Don't schedule closing for a Monday. Your lender will have to put the mortgage money in escrow on Friday and you'll pay interest on it for three extra days.

Tips for Saving at Closing

You have the right under federal law to get, and by all means do so, an itemized list of fees at least one day prior to closing. This is provided on the HUD-1 Settlement Form. All fees that you and the seller must pay are itemized separately. Go over the list ahead of time.
Read the sales contract one more time. Make a list of closing costs you agreed to pay and check it against the HUD form.
Check the lender's preliminary good faith estimate against the final document. Question any changes and additional fees.
Shop for title insurance. Title Insurance and the associated fees make a up a big chunk of your closing costs. Shop around to find the best price. Make sure you are getting a guaranteed quote on all associated fees and charges.

Mortgage calculator: Calculate your closing costs

<a href="/wikipages/Closing-on-a-House-for-the-Buyer">Closing</a> on your home-purchase deal costs money -- about 3 to 5 percent of the purchase price, plus your down payment. You'll be taking the money you owe to the document signing meeting, and you won't see any of it again until next year's tax refund arrives to erase the sting of closing day. Advance Tips for Saving Money <ul><li>Negotiate <a href="/wikipages/Closing-Costs">closing costs</a> with the seller and make sure your deal is in the purchase contract.</li><li>Comparison shop for <a href="https://www.zillow.com/directory/mortgage-lenders/" title="External link to https://www.zillow.com/directory/mortgage-lenders/">lenders</a>.</li><li>Usually a <a href="/wikipages/Attorneys">bank attorney</a> is the closing agent.</li><li>Shop for your own <a href="/wikipages/Homeowner">homeowner's insurance policy</a> so you can compare rates instead of letting the lender provide the policy for you.</li><li>Hire the same company to do a <a href="/wikipages/Title-Search">title search</a> that the seller used when the house was listed for sale. This reduces the cost and means a more efficient process.</li><li>Some <a href="/wikipages/First-time-Home-Buyers-vs-Old-Hands">first-time home buyer</a> programs help with the down payment and closing costs. Ask prospective lenders if you qualify for low <a href="/wikipages/Coming-Up-With-a-Down-Payment">down payment</a> loans and whether a portion of your closing costs can be wrapped into the <a href="/mortgage/">mortgage</a>.</li><li>Don't schedule closing for a Monday. Your lender will have to put the mortgage money in <a href="/wikipages/Explaining-Escrow-for-Buyers">escrow</a> on Friday and you'll pay interest on it for three extra days.</li></ul> Tips for Saving at Closing <ul><li>You have the right under federal law to get, and by all means do so, an itemized list of fees at least one day prior to closing. This is provided on the <a href="/wikipages/HUD-1-Statement">HUD-1 Settlement Form</a>. All fees that you and the seller must pay are itemized separately. Go over the list ahead of time.</li><li>Read the sales contract one more time. Make a list of closing costs you agreed to pay and check it against the HUD form.</li><li>Check the lender's preliminary <a href="/wikipages/Good-Faith-Estimate-">good faith estimate</a> against the final document. Question any changes and additional fees.</li><li>Shop for <a href="/wikipages/Title-Insurance-for-the-Buyer">title insurance</a>. Title Insurance and the associated fees make a up a big chunk of your closing costs. Shop around to find the best price. Make sure you are getting a guaranteed quote on all associated fees and charges.</li></ul> Mortgage calculator: <a href="/mortgage/calculator/closing-costs-calculator.htm">Calculate your closing costs</a>

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Last edited August 27 2009

Real Estate Buyer's Closing Costs

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