[ad_1] One of the most mysterious parts of the home buying and refinancing process are mortgage closing costs. Most consumers interested in applying for mortgage financing are aware they exist, but most are unfamiliar with how much they are, and where they come from. In this guide, we’re going to answer the question, what are mortgage closing costs? But we’re going to go beyond closing costs themselves, and also include mortgage escrows. Those are allowances for taxes and insurance that must be paid at closing. For that reason, they can seem indistinguishable from closing costs – in no small part because they’ll have much the same effect on the transaction. #ap79600-ww{padding-top:20px;position:relative;text-align:center;font-size:12px;font-family:Lato,Arial,sans-serif}#ap79600-ww #ap79600-ww-indicator{text-align:right}#ap79600-ww #ap79600-ww-indicator-wrapper{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end}#ap79600-ww #ap79600-ww-indicator-wrapper:hover #ap79600-ww-text{display:block}#ap79600-ww #ap79600-ww-indicator-wrapper:hover #ap79600-ww-label{display:none}#ap79600-ww #ap79600-ww-text{margin:auto 3px auto auto}#ap79600-ww #ap79600-ww-label{margin-left:4px;margin-right:3px}#ap79600-ww #ap79600-ww-icon{margin:auto;padding:1px;display:inline-block;width:15px;height:15px;min-width:15px;min-height:15px;cursor:pointer}#ap79600-ww #ap79600-ww-icon img{vertical-align:middle;width:15px;height:15px;min-width:15px;min-height:15px}#ap79600-ww #ap79600-ww-text-bottom{margin:5px}#ap79600-ww #ap79600-ww-text{display:none}#ap79600-ww #ap79600-ww-icon img{text-indent:-9999px;color:transparent} Ads by Money. 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Talk to a mortgage expert today before the market changes! Mortgage experts can help you find the best financing option for your needs, to help you get one step closer to the home of your dreams. Click your state to begin! HawaiiAlaskaFloridaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeRIRhode IslandCTConnecticutMAMassachusettsMaineNHNew HampshireVTVermontNew YorkNJNew JerseyDEDelawareMDMarylandWest VirginiaOhioMichiganArizonaNevadaUtahColoradoNew MexicoSouth DakotaIowaIndianaIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinMissouriLouisianaVirginiaDCWashington DCIdahoCaliforniaNorth DakotaWashingtonOregonMontanaWyomingNebraskaKansasOklahomaPennsylvaniaKentuckyMississippiArkansasTexas View Rates Today! What are Mortgage Closing Costs? Mortgage closing costs are any costs incurred in connection with obtaining a mortgage. The lender provides the loan, but since mortgages are ultimately a type of investment security that will be sold to third parties, there are numerous transaction fees involved in the process. In addition, a mortgage is also a legal transaction that requires the filing of documents with the appropriate state, county, and local authorities. That process adds an additional layer of fees. Typical closing costs you can expect to incur are listed below. However, this list is not comprehensive. There may be certain closing costs unique to individual states or markets that are not included on this list. As well, some of the costs listed below may not be charged in your local area. Points Mortgage points are a percentage of the loan amount paid upfront. There are three types of mortgage points. Each point is equal to 1% of the loan amount. They come in two flavors: origination fees and discount points. Origination fees are the lender’s compensation for arranging the mortgage. The fee is typically 1%, but it can be eliminated by accepting a slightly higher interest rate. For example, by agreeing to a rate increase of 1/8% (0.125), the lender may waive the origination fee. Discount points are what you will pay if you want to lower the interest rate on your mortgage. For example, if you want to lower your interest rate from 3% to 2.75%, the lender might charge 1.5% in discount points to make that happen. This type of strategy is only recommended if you plan on being in the home for many years and will have a chance to recover the cost of the discount points through the lower rate and monthly payment. A similar fee is what’s known as a rate lock fee. Many lenders will allow you to lock your loan rate at application free of charge if the lock term is no more than 30 days. But if you want a longer lock, like 45 days or longer, they may charge you a rate lock fee, which is also expressed as points. For example, the lender may charge you 0.50% of the loan amount to lock your rate for 60 or 90 days. But generally speaking, that fee will be applied to the origination fee, rather than being an additional closing cost. However, if you fail to close on the loan you may forfeit the rate lock fee. This is because the lender will have incurred a fee to reserve that rate for the time specified. Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premiums Both FHA and VA loans charge an upfront mortgage insurance premium (FHA loans also have a monthly premium). Conventional and jumbo mortgages have only monthly mortgage insurance premiums, that only apply if your down payment or the equity in your home is less than 20%. On FHA loans, the upfront mortgage insurance premium is typically 1.75% of the loan amount. On a $200,000 mortgage, this will be the equivalent of $3,500. The upfront mortgage insurance premium on VA loans is known as the VA funding fee. It is currently set at 2.3% of the loan amount for most borrowers, which means you’ll pay $4,600 on a $200,000 loan. In the case of either an FHA or VA loan, the upfront mortgage insurance premium is not generally paid out-of-pocket by the borrower. More commonly, it’s added to the loan amount and financed over the life of the loan. But in some cases, the property seller may pay the upfront mortgage insurance premium as an inducement for the borrower to purchase his or her property. Application Fees Most mortgage lenders will charge an application fee due at the time of application, not closing. However, in most cases, the application fee covers the appraisal and credit report fees. You can generally expect this to be in the range of $300 – $500. Appraisal Fees When a mortgage lender originates a loan, they must use the services of an independent, third-party appraiser to determine an objective value of the subject property. The lender will collect the fee for this service, but it will be paid to the appraiser, and not retained by the lender. An appraisal fee will typically run between