Closing Cost Calculator

Usually 2–5 % of the purchase price, or 3–6 % including prepaid taxes, insurance and interest. On a $400,000 home with 10 % down that is roughly $15,000: about $4,200 in lender fees, $7,000 in title, settlement, recording and transfer tax, and $3,900 in prepaids. Low-tax states with cheap title work come in near 2 %; New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and parts of Maryland with high transfer taxes can exceed 5 %.

Three groups. Lender charges: origination fee, any discount points, appraisal, credit report. Third-party and government charges: lender’s and owner’s title insurance, settlement or attorney fee, recording fees, survey, transfer taxes. Prepaids and escrow: interest from closing to month end, the first year of homeowners insurance, and 2–3 months of property tax and insurance deposited into escrow. Only the first two groups are true costs; prepaids are bills you would pay anyway.

Everything you bring to the closing table: the down payment plus closing costs, minus the earnest money already deposited and any seller credits. The calculator shows it as down payment + estimated costs. Lenders require the money to be seasoned in your account for about 60 days or documented as a gift.

On a purchase, mostly no — the loan is capped by the price, so costs must come from cash or seller credits (typically up to 3–6 % of the price depending on the loan type and down payment). Lender credits are another route: accept a slightly higher rate and the lender pays part of the costs. Refinances can usually roll the costs into the new balance.

Shop the items you are allowed to shop (title company, settlement agent, survey, insurance), which can differ by hundreds of dollars; ask the seller for a credit in a slow market; skip discount points unless you will keep the loan many years; and close late in the month to minimize prepaid interest. Compare Loan Estimates from at least two lenders — origination fees vary from 0 to 1 % or more.