Strategies for Lowering Your Closing Costs

The closing cost is the last sum of money home buyers to pay after which there will be no further payment. The closing price can be surprisingly huge. This bill ranges from 3% to 6% of the mortgage. Do the math, and this means that the closing cost on a $300,000 home is around $9,000 to $18,000.

It is understandable that many home buyers are eager to complete their payment and move in, but there is a need to compare prices just as you research prices of a similar product when you set to buy a refrigerator, TV, or a car. Here are some strategies that will enable you to lower your closing cost:

Request a ‘Loan Estimate’ from the Lender 

Asking your lender for a ‘Loan Estimate' form is the first step to take towards minimizing your closing cost. The ‘Loan Estimate' form is a three-page document that your lender will issue to you within three working days.

A loan estimate allows you to make a comparison between companies and also lets you some specific fees that are peculiar to the lender you have chosen.

Be aware of where the savings are 

You will find the total closing cost as well as the amount you need to close the loan at the base of the first page of the Loan Estimate form. Check page two, section C of the Loan Estimate form, there you find the heart of your savings.

Push back on the charges of the lender 

Some lenders might charge a flat fee that covers services like originating and underwriting while others charge may have a separate price for each of the services. There is no problem with charging a separate fee for such services, but when there are more than one or two lines of itemized charges, you should be cautious when dealing with such a mortgage company. Also, take note of the names of the fees, demand for a further explanation from your lender if you notice a charge with a vague title.

Ask your Seller to contribute 

You can ask your seller to provide money to meet your closing cost demands. However, this contribution depends mainly on the market situation as well as the home because sellers may not oblige if there is aggressive competition among buyers. 

Go for a mortgage without a closing cost 

Going for a no-closing-cost mortgage is another strategy to consider. If you don't have enough cash, a no-closing-cost mortgage will be of great benefit. This strategy works like this – you won't have to pay the closing cost, but it will add up to your monthly mortgage payment.