Mortgage Closing Cost Estimator
Enter your purchase price, loan amount, and the five main closing-cost categories to see an itemized estimate of what you will need at the closing table. All amounts are rough US national estimates for education — actual costs vary significantly by lender, state, and loan type. This tool is not a Loan Estimate (LE) document, which you will receive from your lender within three business days of application.
Rough estimate only — US national averages 2025. Actual costs vary by lender, state, and loan type. This is not a Loan Estimate (LE).
Estimated cash to close
$81,000
Down payment
$75,000
Closing costs
$6,000
Cash to close breakdown
Itemized estimate breakdown
| Fee | Amount | Typical US range (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Loan origination (1%) | $3,000.00 | 0.5%–1.5% of loan amount |
| Appraisal fee | $500.00 | $300–$600 |
| Title insurance & searchvaries | $1,200.00 | $700–$2,500 (varies by state) |
| Recording feesvaries | $300.00 | $25–$250 (varies by county) |
| Prepaids & escrow setup | $1,000.00 | $1,000–$5,000+ |
| Total closing costs | $6,000.00 | Typically 2%–5% of purchase price |
All figures are rough estimates. Amounts labeled varies depend on your state, county, or lender. Your Loan Estimate (LE) from your lender is the authoritative document.
How it works
Closing costs fall into two broad buckets: lender fees and third-party fees. The origination fee (sometimes called a 'loan fee' or 'points') is the lender's charge for processing the loan — commonly 0.5% to 1.5% of the loan amount, though some lenders charge none in exchange for a slightly higher rate. Third-party fees include the appraisal (required by the lender to value the property), title insurance and a title search (protects against ownership disputes), and recording fees charged by the county to register the deed and mortgage publicly. Each of these is a separate vendor charge — your lender cannot control what the appraiser or title company charges.
Prepaids and escrow setup are often the most confusing line items because they are not really 'fees' — they are advance payments you make at closing so that future bills don't fall through the cracks. Prepaids typically include: a few days of prepaid mortgage interest (covering the gap between closing day and the first day of your first full payment month), your first year's homeowners insurance premium paid upfront, and two to three months of property tax reserves deposited into an escrow account. The actual amount depends heavily on your closing date, property tax rate, and insurance premium — which is why this category has the widest typical range.
The two summary numbers that matter most are total closing costs and cash to close. Total closing costs is the sum of all five fee categories; it typically runs 2%–5% of the purchase price for a conventional mortgage. Cash to close is the total you must wire or bring to closing — your down payment plus closing costs, minus any lender credits. Because lender credits (from a higher rate) or seller concessions can offset closing costs, the Loan Estimate your lender issues is the authoritative document, not this estimator.
Frequently asked questions
Why are these numbers estimates and not exact figures?+
Every line item in this calculator varies by geography, lender, and transaction. Title insurance premiums are regulated differently in each state — some states set fixed rates tied to purchase price, others let companies compete freely. Recording fees are set by individual counties and range from under $50 to over $200. Appraisal costs vary by property complexity and local appraiser availability. Prepaid amounts depend on your exact closing date and local property tax calendar. The estimates here represent typical national ranges; your lender is required by law to give you a Loan Estimate (LE) within three business days of application, which will reflect your actual transaction.
Can the seller pay my closing costs?+
Yes — seller concessions are common in slower markets and are negotiated as part of the purchase contract. Conventional loans allow the seller to cover 3%–9% of the purchase price in closing costs depending on your down payment (higher down payments unlock higher seller-concession limits). FHA loans cap seller concessions at 6% of the sale price. VA loans allow up to 4% plus all loan-related fees. If the seller contributes to closing costs, the cash-to-close number you actually need at closing is reduced by that amount. This calculator does not model seller concessions — you would subtract them from the cash-to-close total manually.
What is the difference between 'no-closing-cost' mortgages and paying points?+
Both are trade-offs between upfront cash and long-run interest costs. A no-closing-cost loan rolls some or all fees into a higher interest rate — the lender pays the costs but earns them back over time through higher monthly payments. Paying discount points works the opposite way: you pay extra upfront (1 point = 1% of the loan) in exchange for a lower rate. Whether either option makes sense depends on how long you keep the loan before selling or refinancing. If you move within a few years, avoiding upfront costs can be smart; if you hold the loan for a decade, paying points often wins on total interest paid.