Fees When Buying A House May 2026

Finally, at the closing table, Sarah and Mike had to "prepay" for certain future expenses:

More than a Mortgage: Eight Surprising Costs of Buying a Home fees when buying a house

Meet Sarah and Mike. They just found their dream cottage for $400,000. They have their 20% down payment ready, but their lender just handed them a "Loan Estimate" that made them realize the sticker price was only the beginning. Finally, at the closing table, Sarah and Mike

As the closing date approached, the administrative costs—often called —began to stack up, typically totaling 2% to 6% of the loan amount : As the closing date approached

Before they could even finish the paperwork, Sarah and Mike had to open their wallets for early due diligence:

: A title company charged about $300–$2,500 to search public records and ensure no one else could claim ownership of the home .

Here is the story of the fees they encountered on their way to the front door: The "First Impressions" Fees