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Closing on a property is a very challenging time for a would-be homeowner. Being informed, either through your mortgage broker, your real estate agent, or through self knowledge is the best thing you can be when going through this procedure. A good real estate agent can help you tremendously. They should know the local market well enough to help you save money in whatever way they can. Since closing costs are handled differently in different areas, having a professional with experience in that area is your best bet. They can give you a better idea of what costs are customarily paid by the buyer, and which ones are paid by the seller. While on the subject of who pays, "I have built my reputation on saving money for my clients! I (Beryl Gosney), save 95% of my clients, an average of $4500 in out of pocket expenses, which otherwise would be required to pay for closing costs and prepaids." The mortgage broker you deal with can make a big difference in your closing costs too. Have them show you several programs suited to your needs. There are lots of ways to structure closing costs based on your points and down payment. After finding a property, you will want to get qualified by your mortgage broker. Your mortgage broker will send you a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) within 3 days as required by law. A GFE is a list of your closing costs from your lender. There may be additional closing costs that the lender does not control, so always be prepared to pay for other items also. A good number to be prepared to pay would be to double the GFE amount. Closing costs on average are from 2.7 - 3.3% of your loan amount, and the exact amount will be told to you the day before the closing. All closing costs are to be paid at the settlement of the mortgage loan. There are two types of closing costs:
Loan Origination Fee (1% of the amount borrowed) Loan Discount fee Loan Application fee Points to be paid Lender’s attorney fees Buyer’s attorney fees Appraisal fee Credit Report Lender’s Inspection fee Mortgage Broker commission or fee Tax service fee Processing fee Underwriting fee Wire transfer fee Interest from the day of settlement to the date of the first mortgage payment Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) Hazard Insurance premiums Property taxes from the day of settlement to the end of the tax year Settlement or closing/escrow fee Notary fee Title search & Title insurance to protect your lender Title insurance to protect you Recording fees Tax stamps Pest inspection Your closing procedure will go smoothly when you are armed with the right information and guided by the right professionals. |