Prior to committing to a home purchase, it’s crucial to anticipate all associated expenses. While concentrating on saving for the down payment, it’s essential not to overlook preparation for closing costs.

Here’s some useful insight into the nature of these costs and how to budget for them.

Understanding Closing Costs: As elucidated in a recent Bankrate article, closing costs encompass the fees and expenditures required before assuming legal ownership of a property, be it a house, condominium, or townhome. These costs are subject to variation based on the property’s purchase price and the chosen financing method.

In simpler terms, closing costs refer to the supplementary payments and charges due at the closing stage. According to Freddie Mac, although they can fluctuate depending on location and circumstances, typical closing costs may include government recording expenses, appraisal charges, credit report fees, lender origination fees, title services, tax service fees, survey fees, attorney fees, and underwriting fees.

Estimating Closing Costs: Freddie Mac’s aforementioned article indicates that these costs generally range between 2% and 5% of the total home purchase price. With this in mind, you can approximate your budgetary needs.

For instance, if you’re eyeing a property at the current median price of $384,500, applying the 2-5% estimate implies potential closing costs ranging from approximately $7,690 to $19,225. However, it’s essential to note that if your target home falls above or below this price bracket, your closing costs will correspondingly increase or decrease.

Preparedness for Closing: Freddie Mac offers valuable counsel to prospective homebuyers, advising them to gain a comprehensive understanding of all associated expenses, from the down payment to closing costs, as they embark on their homebuying journey.

The optimal approach involves collaborating with a team of reliable real estate professionals. This ensures access to expert guidance on required savings and preparedness for potential expenses, as well as a readily available support system for addressing any queries that may arise during the process.