What's in your closing costs
Every fee category mapped to its Loan Estimate section, and who controls it.
Buyer's Guide
How Much Are Closing Costs?
A clear breakdown of lender fees and closing costs on your Loan Estimate — what's normal, what's negotiable, and which charges are junk you should never pay.
Last Updated: August 2026 · ~9 min read
Included with every paid audit and DIY toolkit.
The short answer (free preview)
Closing costs usually run from about 2% to 5% of your loan amount, according to Fannie Mae. On a $400,000 mortgage that is roughly $8,000 to $20,000. The single biggest lever you control is the lender fees in Section A of page 2 of your Loan Estimate. The full guide shows you exactly which of those you can remove.
What are lender fees?
The Section A charges lenders keep — and the junk fee red flags to challenge.
Where to find every fee on your Loan Estimate
A section-by-section walkthrough of page 2, Sections A through G.
Which closing costs are negotiable?
The realistic split between fees that move and fees that never do.
How to lower your closing costs
Five steps, in order, including the counter-offer wording that works.
Unlock the full Closing Cost Guide
The complete guide is included with every paid audit and with the DIY toolkit — every fee category, the negotiable vs. fixed breakdown, the Loan Estimate walkthrough, and the five steps that lower your costs.
Already paid?