What Are Closing Costs?

Understanding Closing Costs - Hire Realty LLC Westchester CountyYou've found your dream home, the seller has accepted your offer, your loan has been approved and you're eager to move into your new home. But before you get the key, there's one more step--the closing and the closing costs you will be responsible for.

Also called the settlement, the closing is the process of passing ownership of property from seller to buyer. Although this is an exciting day,  it can also be bewildering. As a buyer, you will sign what seems like endless piles of documents and will have to present a sizeable check for the down payment and various closing costs. It's the fees associated with the closing that many times remains a mystery to many buyers who may simply hand over thousands of dollars without really understanding exactly what they are paying for.

As an informed buyer, you should become familiar with these costs that are both mortgage-related and government imposed. Hire Realty LLC can assist you with determining what you will be responsible for in your exact location. Although many of the fees may vary by locality, here are some common fees:

At any point during the purchase of your home, you have questions, call your Hire Realty LLC real estate expert - they will guide you through each step of the way.
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Appraisal Fee: This fee pays for the appraisal of the property. You may already have paid this fee at the beginning of your loan application process.

Credit Report Fee: This fee covers the cost of the credit report requested by the lender. This too may already have been paid when you applied for your loan.

Loan Origination Fee: This fee covers the lender's loan-processing costs. The fee is typically one percent of the total mortgage.

Loan Discount: You will pay this one-time charge if you have chosen to pay points to lower your interest rate. Each point you purchase equals one percent of the total loan.

Title Insurance Fees: These fees generally include costs for the title search, title examination, title insurance, document preparation and other miscellaneous title fees.

PMI Premium: If you buy a home with a low down payment, a lender usually requires that you pay a fee for mortgage insurance. This fee protects the lender against loss due to foreclosure. Once a new owner has 20 percent equity in their home, however, he or she can normally apply to eliminate this insurance.

Prepaid Interest Fee: This fee covers the interest payment from the date you purchase the home to the date of your first mortgage payment. Generally, if you buy a home early in the month, the prepaid interest fee will be substantially higher than if you buy it towards the end of the month.

Escrow Accounts: In locations where escrow accounts are common, a mortgage lender will usually start an account that holds funds for future annual property taxes and home insurance. Though this may change in your area in which you've purchased your new home, some general estimates may include at least one year advance plus two months worth of homeowner's insurance premium will be collected. In addition, taxes equal approximately to two months in excess of the number of months that have elapsed in the year are paid at closing. (For example, if six months have passed, eight months of taxes will be collected.)

Recording Fees and transfer taxes: This expense is charged by most states for recording the purchase documents and transferring ownership of the property.

Consult with your Westchester County real estate professional to find out which fees--and how much--you will be expected to pay during the closing of your prospective home. Keep in mind that you can negotiate these costs with the seller during the offering stage. In some instances, the seller might even agree to pay all of the settlement costs. When you hire Hire Realty LLC as a buyer agent, Hire Realty LLC works on your behalf, and will have helped you negotiate the best possible terms that are in your best interests.

Hire Realty LLC can assist you with understanding what you can expect to pay in closing costs for your particular Westchester County home or other real estate.  It's our job to help you with each step of purchasing a home, and we take that responsibility seriously.