First Time Home Buyers Closing Costs

Buying your first home? Congratulations! While it can be exciting to buy a new house, there are a lot of moving parts and paperwork to keep track of—and it can start to feel like there’s no end in sight.

In addition to the standard ideas of buying a home, you’ll also have to deal with the practicalities of moving your belongings and arranging for your new home to be ready. And let’s not forget about financing your new home—a task that can feel like pulling teeth if you don’t know what to look for. But are these the only costs you should be thinking about? No!

What Should First-Time Homebuyers Know About Closing Costs

Perhaps the most important thing to factor in when buying a home is the closing costs—the costs associated with bringing your new home into being. It could be as small as a few hundred dollars or as big as thousands, depending on where you live and how much you’re purchasing. And before you get frustrated or overwhelmed, read on for information about what these costs are, where they come from, how they’re calculated, and some proven tips on how to avoid them.

What Are Closing Costs?

First time home buyer closing costs are the expenses associated with purchasing a new house—the stuff that comes after you and your real estate agent have negotiated the final price for your home. Typically, closing costs fall into two broad categories and add up to 2% and 5% of the total cost of the home: lender fees and third-party fees.

Lender fees— this one is pretty self-explanatory. These include processing fees from your mortgage broker, bank, or credit union, as well as appraisal and origination fees charged by banks and other lending institutions. Depending on where you live, there may also be local transfer taxes (usually included in your monthly mortgage payment) which can vary by the municipality; these taxes go toward paying for things like schools, roads, and emergency services.

Third-party fees—here’s where it gets tricky! This category of closing costs includes homeowner’s insurance, property tax payments, attorney fees, homeowners’ association dues, and more.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any hard-and-fast rules when it comes to how much closing costs will run. The good news is that you’ll know exactly what they are before you buy because they’ll be listed right on your settlement statement (which is basically just a big bill of all your closing costs). Overall, closing costs tend to average out around 3% of your purchase price.

How Much Are Closing Costs for a First-Time Homebuyer?

Closing costs for a house can vary between 2% and 5% of the home’s value. And believe it or not, closing costs can add up FAST. That’s why—if you’re a first-time homebuyer who’s looking to buy a $200,000 house—you could be looking at $4,000 to $10,000 in closing costs alone if you fail to negotiate or do your research!

Costs Before Closing Date

When you buy a home, there are additional costs that go along with your monthly mortgage payment. These closing costs can add up to a significant amount of money, and it’s important to understand what they are and how much you might need to pay.

Earnest money

The borrowing phase begins when you take out a HELOC and lasts for ten years, which is called the draw period. During this time, you borrow money up to your credit limit. You can pay it back at your leisure or even make a small payment each month and let the remaining balance accrue interest.

Appraisal

An appraisal is ordered by your lender to ensure that the home you’re purchasing is worth the amount you’re paying for it. An appraisal fee averages $300 to $400 but can be as high as $600 in some areas. The appraiser will visit your new home and review sales data to determine its value. If the appraisal comes back less than what you’re paying, you may have to pay more cash at closing or ask the seller to reduce their asking price so that it matches up with the appraisal report’s value amount.

Home inspection

A home inspection is used to assess the condition of a property, including its systems and structure. The inspector will provide you with an evaluation of the property’s physical condition and identify any major problems that need repair or replacement before completing the purchase of your home. A typical inspection costs between $250-$500 depending on where you live and how large your home is.

Costs at Closing

When you buy a house, you will encounter a series of fees and expenses. Many of these are closing costs, which are paid at the closing of a real estate transaction. The closing is when the title to the property is transferred from the seller to the buyer.

Points

On most mortgages, there is a charge called “points,” and each point is equal to 1% of the total loan amount. These points are paid upfront and can be used to lower your interest rate or buy-down your monthly payment (which amounts to the same thing). If you have a high credit score, then you might qualify to pay fewer points than someone who has less-than-perfect credit.

On most mortgages, there is a charge called “points,” and each point is equal to 1% of the total loan amount. These points are paid upfront and can be used to lower your interest rate or buy-down your monthly payment (which amounts to the same thing). If you have a high credit score, then you might qualify to pay fewer points than someone who has less-than-perfect credit.

Credit Report Fees

Credit report fees are charged by lenders to cover the cost of running your credit report. They usually run about $25-$30 per person involved in the transaction. This fee is usually passed on to the buyer and is non-refundable even if you don’t get the loan!

Flood Determination

This is a fee that varies from $10-$15 depending on whether you’re buying or refinancing. It’s paid to an outside company that determines whether or not your house is located in a flood zone. If it is, you’ll need special insurance to protect your home from flooding disasters!

Government Taxes and Fees

There are a number of government fees associated with real estate transactions, including Recording Fees, Transfer Tax, Document Prep Fee, and Title Examination. These fees can vary greatly by state and county, but you should expect to pay anywhere from $250-$400 in government fees when you close on your home purchase.

Beyond these fees, there are also other costs that you may encounter.

How Can First-Time Homebuyers Reduce Closing Costs?

Negotiate

Comparison Shopping

Conclusion