Fees When Buying A House Apr 2026

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

: To show they were serious, they put down about 1% to 3% of the purchase price ($4,000–$12,000) into an Escrow Account , which would eventually count toward their down payment . fees when buying a house

Here is the story of the fees they encountered on their way to the front door: The "First Impressions" Fees Before they could even finish the paperwork, Sarah

: The lender charged a fee to process and "underwrite" their mortgage application, often starting at 0.5% to 1% of the loan . They just found their dream cottage for $400,000

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.

: Their local county charged $20–$250 just to update the public records with their names as the new owners . The "Advance Payment" Fees