Closing Cost Estimator
Get a detailed, line-by-line estimate of your home buyer closing costs — including lender fees, title insurance, transfer taxes, prepaid items, and escrow reserves — adjusted for your state and closing date.
Purchase Details
$90,000 down · $360,000 loan
Affects transfer tax estimate
Affects prepaid interest calculation
Your Closing Costs
Estimated Closing Costs
$53,253
11.8% of purchase price
Cash at Close
$143,253
Loan Amount
$360,000
Estimates based on national averages and state transfer tax rates. Actual costs vary by lender, title company, and locality. Transfer tax may be split between buyer and seller depending on local custom.
Closing Costs — Frequently Asked Questions
What are closing costs?
Closing costs are the fees and expenses you pay when finalizing a real estate transaction, beyond the property's purchase price. For buyers, they typically range from 2% to 5% of the home price and include lender fees (origination, underwriting, discount points), third-party services (appraisal, title insurance, inspection), government fees (recording, transfer taxes), prepaid items (property taxes, insurance, interest), and escrow reserves. Our estimator breaks down every line item so you know exactly what you're paying for.
How much are closing costs?
Closing costs typically range from 2% to 5% of the home purchase price. On a $450,000 home, that translates to $9,000 to $22,500. The exact amount depends on your loan amount, state (transfer taxes vary significantly), lender fees, title insurance rates, and your closing date (which affects prepaid interest). Use our estimator above with your specific details for a precise figure. Remember: closing costs are in addition to your down payment, so your total cash needed at closing equals your down payment plus closing costs.
Who pays closing costs — buyer or seller?
Both buyers and sellers have closing costs, but they differ. Buyers pay the majority — lender fees, appraisal, title insurance, prepaid taxes and insurance, and escrow deposits. Sellers typically pay the real estate agent commissions (5-6% of the sale price, split between buyer's and seller's agents), their own title transfer costs, and in some states, a portion of the transfer tax. Who pays the transfer tax varies by local custom — in some markets it's split, in others the buyer or seller pays it entirely. This estimator focuses on buyer-side closing costs.
What is the difference between prepaid items and closing costs?
Prepaid items are a subset of your total closing costs. They're payments made at closing for recurring expenses that aren't fees — they're advance payments for costs that will come due later. These include prepaid property taxes (several months upfront), prepaid homeowners insurance (the first year's premium), and prepaid interest (interest from your closing date through the end of the month). The rest of your closing costs are one-time fees — lender charges, title services, government recording fees, and transfer taxes. Both are paid at the closing table, which is why they're bundled together.
How does my closing date affect closing costs?
Your closing date directly affects your prepaid interest. Mortgage interest is paid in arrears, meaning your first regular mortgage payment covers the previous month's interest. At closing, you prepay the interest from your closing date through the end of that month. If you close on the 5th of the month, you'll prepay about 25 days of interest; if you close on the 28th, you'll prepay only 2-3 days. Closing late in the month reduces your upfront cash needed but means a longer gap before your first payment is due. Enter your expected closing date above to see how it impacts your costs.
What are discount points and should I buy them?
Discount points are optional fees paid to your lender at closing to permanently lower your interest rate. One point costs 1% of your loan amount and typically reduces your rate by about 0.25%. For example, on a $400,000 loan, one point costs $4,000 and might lower your rate from 6.75% to 6.50%. Whether points make sense depends on how long you plan to stay in the home — you need to stay long enough for the monthly savings to recoup the upfront cost (the 'break-even' period). If you plan to sell or refinance within 5-7 years, paying points may not be worth it. You can adjust the discount points slider above to see how they affect your closing costs.
Can I roll closing costs into my mortgage?
In most cases, you cannot roll buyer closing costs directly into a conventional loan — you'll need to pay them in cash at closing. However, there are exceptions. Some lenders offer 'lender credits' where they cover part of your closing costs in exchange for a higher interest rate (the opposite of discount points). FHA and VA loans allow the seller to contribute up to 4-6% of the price toward your closing costs (called seller concessions). And in some refinance transactions, closing costs can be added to the loan balance. If cash is tight, ask your lender about lender credits or negotiate seller concessions in your purchase offer.