Closing costs, line by line
Closing costs, line by line
A refinance quote is hard to judge until the fee stack is separated into lender charges, third-party services, and your own prepaid bills. Only the first two, plus any points, belong in a break-even calculation. These guides walk the Loan Estimate section by section.
- Sections A to J, in Loan Estimate order
- True costs split from prepaids and escrow
- CFPB categories, checked on each guide
How to use this section
Bring one Loan Estimate and read it top to bottom with these guides open. Mark every line as lender charge, third-party service, prepaid, or credit. Add only the true costs, plus any points, and carry that single total into the calculator. If a lender will not show you the split, the break-even guide shows why that missing split matters more than the headline rate. Terms like par rate and lender credit are defined in the glossary in plain language.
Lender fees on a refinance, line by line
Origination, underwriting, processing, points: which lender charges are real, which are negotiable, and which are just padding with a formal name.
Read the guide
Third-party closing fees: appraisal, title, and the rest
The services your refinance has to buy from other people: what each one is, what drives its price, and which ones you are allowed to shop for.
Read the guide
Prepaids and escrow at closing: your own bills, not lender profit
Homeowner's insurance, property taxes, and per-diem interest fill the biggest lines on many closing statements. Why they are mostly not a cost of refinancing.
Read the guide
Lender credits: the higher rate that pays your fees
A lender credit trades a slightly higher rate for cash toward closing costs. How the trade is priced and the horizon where it stops being smart.
Read the guide