Who charges each fee? Sort the buckets first.

Closing cost charges

Showing 31 of 31 charges

• Origination fee

  Lender

  The lender's charge for doing the loan. Ask for it in dollars, not as points, so two lenders are comparable.

  Charged by

  Mortgage lender

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• Discount points

  Lender

  Prepaid interest bought to lower your rate. Worth it only if you stay long enough to earn it back.

  Charged by

  Mortgage lender

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• Appraisal fee

  Lender

  VA requires an appraisal by a VA-approved appraiser. The lender picks the company, not you.

  Charged by

  VA-approved appraiser, ordered by the lender

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• Credit report

  Lender

  Usually small and sometimes bundled into another line.

  Charged by

  Credit bureau via the lender

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• Flood certification

  Lender

  Required when the property sits in a mapped flood zone.

  Charged by

  Third-party vendor via the lender

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• Prepaid interest

  Lender

  Interest from closing day to your first statement. The closing date drives this, not who handles the closing.

  Charged by

  Mortgage lender

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• Escrow or impound deposit

  Lender

  Seeds the account that pays your taxes and insurance inside the monthly payment.

  Charged by

  Mortgage lender

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• Rate lock fee

  VA nonallowableLender

  VA does not allow a rate lock fee to be charged to the Veteran borrower.

  Charged by

  Mortgage lender

  Usually paid by

  Seller or lender — not the Veteran

• Prepayment penalty

  VA nonallowableLender

  VA bars a prepayment penalty charged to the Veteran more than two years before the scheduled payoff.

  Charged by

  Mortgage lender

  Usually paid by

  Seller or lender — not the Veteran

• Real estate agent commission

  VA nonallowableLender

  VA does not let the Veteran borrower pay a broker commission. It is not the closer's line to add.

  Charged by

  Listing or buyer broker

  Usually paid by

  Seller or lender — not the Veteran

• Settlement or closing fee

  VA nonallowableTitle / closing

  VA does not allow this to be charged to the Veteran borrower. Watch for it on your disclosure anyway.

  Charged by

  Closing attorney, title or escrow company

  Usually paid by

  Seller or lender — not the Veteran

• Title search and examination

  Title / closing

  The work of confirming the seller actually holds clear title. One of the two numbers worth comparing.

  Charged by

  Title company or closing attorney

  Usually paid by

  Varies by state or county custom

• Lender's title policy

  Title / closing

  Required by your lender. Premiums are filed rates — no one discounts them as a favor.

  Charged by

  Title underwriter

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• Owner's title policy

  Title / closing

  Protects you, not the lender. In some states the seller pays for it by custom.

  Charged by

  Title underwriter

  Usually paid by

  Varies by state or county custom

• Escrow fee

  Title / closing

  Holding the money and paying it out. Often split between buyer and seller.

  Charged by

  Escrow or title company

  Usually paid by

  Negotiated in the contract

• Document preparation fee

  VA nonallowableTitle / closing

  VA does not allow this fee to be charged to the Veteran borrower.

  Charged by

  Title company or attorney

  Usually paid by

  Seller or lender — not the Veteran

• Notary fee

  VA nonallowableTitle / closing

  VA does not allow a notary fee to be charged to the Veteran borrower.

  Charged by

  Notary or signing agent

  Usually paid by

  Seller or lender — not the Veteran

• Posting or deferred posting fee

  VA nonallowableTitle / closing

  A charge for recording later than the closing date. VA bars it for the Veteran borrower.

  Charged by

  Title or settlement company

  Usually paid by

  Seller or lender — not the Veteran

• Property management or settlement service fee

  VA nonallowableTitle / closing

  A wrapper fee VA does not allow the Veteran borrower to pay.

  Charged by

  Third-party settlement manager

  Usually paid by

  Seller or lender — not the Veteran

• Courier or delivery fee

  Title / closing

  Often where a mobile signing charge quietly shows up. Ask if it is bundled.

  Charged by

  Title company or courier

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• Attorney review fee

  Title / closing

  In attorney-required states this is the lawyer's own fee for running the closing.

  Charged by

  Closing attorney

  Usually paid by

  Negotiated in the contract

• Policy endorsements

  Title / closing

  Riders that cover specific risks, such as a boundary or access question.

  Charged by

  Title underwriter

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• Recording fees

  Government

  The cost of putting the deed and the deed of trust on the public record.

  Charged by

  County recorder

  Usually paid by

  Negotiated in the contract

• Transfer tax or revenue stamps

  Government

  Sometimes a percentage of the price. Who pays it is settled by local custom, not by the closer.

  Charged by

  State, county, or city

  Usually paid by

  Varies by state or county custom

• Municipal lien search

  Government

  Checks for unpaid water bills and open permits the county record would not show.

  Charged by

  City vendor ordered by the title company

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• Survey

  Government

  Not always required. A lender or title company may ask for one on a larger or irregular lot.

  Charged by

  Licensed surveyor

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• HOA transfer or documentation fee

  Government

  Charged to move the membership records into your name.

  Charged by

  Homeowners association

  Usually paid by

  Negotiated in the contract

• Homeowner's insurance premium

  Prepaids

  Usually the first year paid up front before the lender will fund.

  Charged by

  Insurance carrier

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• Property taxes prepaid or escrowed

  Prepaids

  Counties that bill in arrears prorate at closing, which is why a late-in-the-month closing costs more.

  Charged by

  County tax collector

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• HOA initiation dues

  Prepaids

  First dues plus any one-time initiation charge.

  Charged by

  Homeowners association

  Usually paid by

  Buyer

• Mortgagee clause endorsement

  Prepaids

  Names your lender on the policy. Small, and the insurer sets it.

  Charged by

  Insurance carrier

  Usually paid by

  Buyer