Buyers: Don’t Be Surprised by Closing Costs!
Many homebuyers think that saving for their down payment is enough to
buy the house of their dreams, but what about the closing costs that
are required to obtain a mortgage? By law, a homebuyer will receive a loan estimate from their lender 3 days after submitting their loan application and they should receive a closing disclosure 3 days before the scheduled closing on their home. The closing
disclosure includes final details about the loan and the closing costs.
But what are closing costs anyway?
According to Trulia:
“Closing costs are lender and third-party fees paid
at the closing of a real estate transaction, and they can be financed as
part of the deal or be paid upfront.
They range from 2% to 5% of the
purchase price of a home. (For those who buy a $150,000 home, for
example, that would amount to between $3,000 and $7,500 in closing
fees.)”
Keep in mind that if you are in the market for a home above this
price range, your costs could be significantly greater. As mentioned
before,
Closing costs are typically between 2% and 5% of your purchase price.
Trulia continues to give great advice, saying that:
“…understanding and educating yourself about these
costs before settlement day arrives might help you avoid any headaches
at the end of the deal.”
Bottom Line
Speak with your lender and agent early and often to determine
how much you’ll be responsible for at closing. Finding out that you’ll need to
come up with thousands of dollars right before closing is not a surprise
anyone is ever looking forward to.