Home / First-Time Buyer Guide / Closing Costs
Closing Costs Calculator
Estimate total cash needed at closing for your home purchase
Your Purchase Details
💡 First-Time Buyer Tip: Closing costs typically range from 2-5% of the home price. Budget extra for surprise expenses!
Your Results
Total Closing Costs
$0
0% of purchase price
Down Payment
$0
Total Cash Needed
$0
Down payment + closing costs
Closing Costs Breakdown
Loan Origination Fee$0
Appraisal Fee$0
Title Insurance$0
Home Inspection$0
Escrow/Attorney Fees$0
Recording Fees$0
Prepaid Property Tax$0
Prepaid Insurance$0
HOA Transfer Fee$0
Loan-Specific Costs
FHA Upfront MIP$0
VA Funding Fee$0
PMI (if applicable)$0
For First-Time Buyers
Understanding Closing Costs
Everything you need to know about the fees and expenses at closing
📋
What Are Closing Costs?
Closing costs are fees paid at the final stage of your home purchase. They cover services like appraisals, title searches, and loan processing. Expect 2-5% of your home price.
💰
How Much to Budget
On a $400K home, budget $8K-$20K for closing costs. FHA loans cost more (3.5-5%) due to upfront mortgage insurance. Conventional loans with 20% down have lower costs.
🤝
Seller Concessions
You can ask sellers to pay some closing costs (usually up to 3-6% depending on loan type). This reduces your cash needed but may mean a higher offer price.
🏦
Lender Credits
Some lenders offer credits to cover closing costs in exchange for a slightly higher interest rate. Good if you're short on cash but planning to refinance later.
📄
Loan Estimate
Within 3 days of applying, lenders provide a Loan Estimate showing all costs. Compare multiple lenders' estimates. Fees should match within 10% at closing.
✅
What You Can Negotiate
Shop around for: title insurance, home inspection, and homeowners insurance. You can't negotiate lender fees much, but you can choose cheaper service providers.
Common Questions
Closing Costs FAQ
You can shop around and negotiate several closing costs:
- Title insurance: Compare multiple title companies - prices vary by hundreds of dollars
- Home inspection: Get quotes from 3+ inspectors ($300-600)
- Homeowners insurance: Shop multiple carriers for best rates
- Pest inspection: If required, compare prices
- Survey fees: May be able to use existing survey
Cannot negotiate: Government fees (recording, transfer taxes), lender fees (origination, underwriting), appraisal ordered by lender.
Yes! This is called "seller concessions" and is very common for first-time buyers:
- Conventional loans: Sellers can pay up to 3% (with less than 10% down) or 6% (with 10%+ down)
- FHA loans: Up to 6% of purchase price
- VA loans: Up to 4% of purchase price
- USDA loans: Up to 6% of purchase price
Trade-off: You'll typically need to offer a higher purchase price to compensate the seller. In competitive markets, sellers may reject offers with concessions.
FHA Loans (3.5% down):
- Upfront mortgage insurance: 1.75% of loan amount (can be rolled into loan)
- Higher total closing costs: 3.5-5% of purchase price
- More lenient credit requirements
Conventional Loans (5-20% down):
- No upfront mortgage insurance
- Lower closing costs: 2-4% of purchase price
- PMI required if less than 20% down (can be removed later)
VA Loans (0% down for veterans):
- VA funding fee: 2.15-3.3% (can be rolled into loan, waived for disabled veterans)
- No PMI ever required
- Some closing costs paid by seller required
You pay closing costs at the closing table (or wire transfer before closing day):
- 3 days before closing: Receive Closing Disclosure showing final costs
- 1-2 days before: Wire money to escrow/title company (personal checks not accepted for large amounts)
- Closing day: Sign documents and receive keys
Important: Some costs (appraisal, inspection) are paid upfront during the process. These are credited toward your total closing costs.
Prepaid Costs (part of closing): Money for future expenses collected at closing:
- Prepaid property taxes: 2-6 months depending on closing date
- Prepaid homeowners insurance: First year premium
- Prepaid interest: Interest from closing until first payment
- Escrow account: 2-3 months of taxes and insurance reserves
One-Time Fees: Services paid for at closing:
- Loan origination fee, appraisal, title insurance, attorney fees, recording fees
Total cash needed = Down payment + One-time fees + Prepaid costs
Maybe, depending on your loan type and situation:
YES - Can be rolled in:
- FHA upfront mortgage insurance (1.75%)
- VA funding fee (2.15-3.3%)
- USDA guarantee fee (1%)
SOMETIMES - Depends on appraisal:
- If home appraises higher than purchase price, you might finance some closing costs
- Refinances can sometimes roll in costs
NO - Must pay cash:
- Down payment
- Most one-time closing fees
- Prepaid property taxes and insurance
Trade-off: Rolling costs into your loan means paying interest on them for 30 years.