Meta Description: Are you a first-time home buyer? You should be aware of closing costs and how they can affect you! Keep on reading to learn more.
Do you know what closing costs are? If you’re a first-time home buyer and looking for mortgage loans in Colorado or wherever you are located, they can come as quite a surprise. Closing costs are the various fees and expenses associated with buying and selling a home, and they can add up to thousands of dollars.
So, what exactly are closing costs? These fees can add up quickly, so it’s important to understand what they are and how they might affect you.
First, let’s take a look at some of the most common closing costs:
- Appraisal fee– A professional appraiser will assess the value of the property you’re buying. The cost of this service can vary, but it’s typically a few hundred dollars.
- Loan origination fee– This is the fee charged by the lender for processing your loan application. It can be a percentage of the loan amount or a flat fee, and it’s usually paid at closing.
- Mortgage insurance premium– If you’re putting down less than 20% of the purchase price, you’ll likely be required to pay for mortgage insurance. This protects the lender in case you default on your loan. The cost of mortgage insurance can vary depending on your loan amount and credit score.
- Home inspection fee– A professional inspector will assess the condition of the property you’re buying. The cost of this service can vary, but it’s typically a few hundred dollars.
- Title insurance– This insurance protects the lender in case there are any problems with the title to the property you’re buying. The cost of title insurance can vary, but it’s typically a few hundred dollars.
Now that you know what closing costs are, you might be wondering how they affect you. Closing costs are typically paid at closing, which is the final step in the home-buying process. When you sign the paperwork for your loan, you’ll also sign a document called a “HUD-1 Settlement Statement.” This document lists all of the closing costs associated with your loan.
You can typically expect to pay 3-5% of the purchase price of your home in closing costs. So, if you’re buying a $200,000 home, you can expect to pay $6,000-$10,000 in closing costs.
Closing costs can be paid by the buyer, the seller, or split between the two parties. If you’re paying closing costs, you’ll need to have enough cash on hand to cover them. You can typically expect to pay your closing costs at closing, which is when the home-buying process is officially completed.
How to avoid paying too much in closing costs?
Here are a few tips:
- Get a loan estimate from at least three different lenders. This will give you a good idea of what kinds of fees and expenses you can expect to pay.
- Shop around for the best deals on services like appraisals, home inspections, and title insurance.
- Ask the seller to pay some or all of the closing costs. This is negotiable, so it’s worth asking!
- Get creative! There are many ways to save on closing costs, so be sure to ask your lender for advice.
Closing costs can add up, but there are ways to save. By understanding what they are and how they work, you can be sure to get the best deal possible on your new home.
