Understanding Cash to Close

On the CD, you will see the cash to close listed. What exactly is that number and how is it determined?

Closing costs include all of the legal costs, appraisal, and other fees that are required to get your home purchase from accepted offer to closing. They can be paid by the buyer, seller, or split between both. These terms will be covered in the purchase offer. Common fees included in this number are:

• Appraisal, most often paid by the buyer
• Attorney fees to prepare documents and conduct a title search
• Title insurance to protect you in case a third-party comes forward to claim ownership
• Application fees to the lender
• Origination fees to cover underwriting costs
• Mortgage insurance premiums, if applicable
• Funding fees for FHA, USDA, and VA loans, if applicable
• Pest inspection fees

When all of these fees are totaled, they can result in a significant charge. It will depend on the fee and the lender how much of these they are able to finance.

You will probably have already paid an earnest money deposit (EMD) when you first agreed to purchase the home. At closing, the EMD goes toward these closing costs.

Most of the required cash to close comes from the down payment. You should discuss this with your lender well before closing, as it is part of the underwriting review.

Methods to Pay Closing Costs

Lenders do not expect buyers to bring physical cash to their closing appointment, but will provide a few options for transferring money to cover this expense. A cashier’s check is the most common and can be obtained at your local bank or credit union. To get a cashier’s check, you will need to know the exact amount and who to make the check out to. You can also get a certified check from your bank.

Lenders will also accept wire transfers, but give yourself a few days for the wire to be processed. Wire transfers are more susceptible to fraud, so always verify the wire addressee with your lender before transferring.

Cash, credit or debit cards, and personal checks are typically not accepted for real estate closings. Due to the high amounts, the lender wants to know exactly where the money is coming from and that you are not incurring additional debt to pay the cash to close amount.