Before making the decision to buy a home, it’s important to plan for all the costs you’ll be responsible for. While you’re busy saving for the down payment, don’t forget you’ll want to prep for closing costs too. Here’s what every homebuyer should know about closing costs and how much you should budget for them.
What Are Closing Costs?
A recent article from Bankrate explains:
“Closing costs are the fees and expenses you must pay before becoming the legal owner of a house, condo or townhome . . . Closing costs vary depending on the purchase price of the home and how it’s being financed . . .”
Simply put, your closing costs are the additional fees and payments you have to make in order to close your mortgage loan. According to Freddie Mac, while they can vary by location and situation, closing costs typically include:
- Government recording costs
- Appraisal fees
- Credit report fees
- Lender origination fees
- Title services
- Tax service fees
- Survey fees
- Attorney fees
- Underwriting Fees
How Much Are Closing Costs?
According to the same Freddie Mac article mentioned above, they’re typically between 2% and 5% of the total purchase price of your home. With that in mind, here’s how you can get an idea of what you’ll need to budget.
Let’s say you find a home you want to purchase at today’s median price of $384,500. Based on the 2-5% Freddie Mac estimate, your closing fees would approximately be between $7,690 and $19,225.
But keep in mind, if you’re in the market for a home above or below this price range, your closing costs will be higher or lower.
Closing Cost and Down Payment Assistance
For many first-time homebuyers closing costs and purchase down payments can represent a barrier to home ownership. The good news is that most states offer assistance programs to help with these expenses. When you partner with a respected real estate agent they can help connect you with these resources designed to help you become a homeowner.
Make Sure You’re Prepared To Close
Freddie Mac provides great advice for homebuyers, saying:
“As you start your homebuying journey, take the time to get a sense of all costs involved – from your down payment to closing costs.”
The best way to do that is by partnering with a team of trusted real estate professionals like Bay Shores Living. Then you’ll have a group of experts to help you understand how much you’ll need to save and what you’ll want to be prepped for. It also means you have go-to resources for any questions that pop up along the way.
Bottom Line
Planning for the fees and payments you’ll need to cover when you’re closing on your home is important. Partnering with a local real estate professional can give you the guidance and confidence you need throughout the process. Let’s connect and we’ll guide you to understand what every homebuyer should know about closing costs.
