- Closing costs
- The fees and prepaid charges due when a home purchase and its mortgage are finalized, separate from the down payment. This calculator adds the origination fee, title insurance, appraisal, prepaid interest and recording and other fees. Amounts vary by state, lender and property; your Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure show the binding figures.
- Cash to close
- The total amount the buyer must bring to the closing table: the down payment plus total closing costs in this calculator. On a real Closing Disclosure it is also reduced by the earnest money deposit, seller credits and lender credits, and increased by escrow deposits, so the final figure can differ.
- Loan origination fee
- The lender’s charge for processing, underwriting and funding the mortgage, often stated as a percentage of the loan amount; the calculator’s default range is 0.5% to 1%. It is calculated on the loan, not the price, so a larger down payment lowers it. It is separate from discount points, which buy a lower rate.
- Title insurance
- A one-time premium paid at closing for a policy that protects against losses from defects in the property’s ownership record, such as unknown liens, forged documents or recording errors. The lender’s policy protects the lender; an owner’s policy protects the buyer. This calculator estimates it as a percentage of the purchase price.
- Prepaid interest
- Interest collected at closing for the days from the closing date to the end of that month, because mortgage payments are paid in arrears. It equals the loan amount times the annual rate divided by 365, times the number of days. Closing late in the month means fewer days and a smaller charge.
- Appraisal fee
- The charge for a licensed appraiser to estimate the home’s market value so the lender can confirm it supports the loan amount. It is usually paid by the buyer, sometimes before closing. If the appraisal comes in below the price, the buyer may need to renegotiate or bring more cash.
- Recording fees
- Charges from the county or local government to enter the deed and mortgage into the public record, which makes the transfer and the lender’s lien official. Some jurisdictions also levy transfer or mortgage taxes. This calculator groups them with other miscellaneous closing charges in a single dollar amount you enter.
- Down payment
- The part of the purchase price paid in cash rather than borrowed. The loan amount is the home price minus the down payment. A larger down payment lowers the loan amount and every fee calculated on it, such as origination and prepaid interest, though it raises the cash needed to close.
- Closing Disclosure
- The standardized form the lender must give you a few days before closing, listing the final loan terms, closing costs and cash to close. It replaces the estimates on the earlier Loan Estimate. Comparing the two documents line by line is the practical way to catch fee changes before signing.
