A Buyers Guide to Closing Costs in Florida

A Buyers Guide to Closing Costs in Florida breakdown.

Below is a list of the various items included on a closing statement. Use the breakdown of a buyers guide to closing costs in Florida to understand the different line items before making your purchase.

• Origination Fee – Payment to lender to evaluate your credit and underwrite and process loan.
• Discount Points – Paid to lender at closing to reduce interest rate over life of mortgage.
• PMI or Mortgage Insurance – Required if down payment is less than 20%. Protects lender if you default. 
• Appraisal Fee – Paid to appraiser to confirm home’s fair market value.
• Title Search – Covers cost to confirm seller owns property, and it is free from liens.
• Title Insurance – Protects lender and (optionally) you if title claim surfaces later.
• Termite Inspection Fee – Inspection required to certify home is free of termite damage.
• Survey Fee – Charge to verify property boundaries.
• Flood Certification Fee – Covers cost to determine if home is in federally designated flood zone. If it is, lender will require you to purchase flood insurance. Some lenders also charge a separate flood monitoring fee to check for flood map updates.
• Prepaid Interest – Covers mortgage interest due between date of closing and first mortgage payment.
• Prorated Property Tax – Covers property taxes from date of closing to end of tax year.
• Homeowners’ Insurance – Typically, you’ll pay full firstyear cost upfront at closing.
• Homeowners’ Association Transfer Fee – Paid on properties governed by associations to transfer ownership documents to you.
• Initial Escrow – Lender may require first two months of next year’s homeowners’ insurance, flood insurance and property taxes to build up reserve.
• Closing or Settlement Fee – Paid to title company, attorney or escrow company that conducts closing.
• Recording Fee – Paid to state to record transfer of property from one owner to another.
• Transfer Tax – Paid to state, based on the amount of the mortgage.