How to minimize my closing costs as a home seller?
As a home seller, you want to minimize your closing costs. This can sometimes be a challenge. But there are some things that you can do to help lessen the burden of closing costs.
Get a clear idea of what your closing costs will be
The first step to minimizing your closing costs is understanding what they are and how much they will be. Your closing costs will depend on a number of factors, including the sale price of your home, your location, the type of mortgage you have, and more. Be sure to ask your real estate agent or loan officer for a breakdown of estimated closing costs so you can budget accordingly.
Negotiate the repairs with the house buyer
If you need to make repairs on your home before it sells and the buyer agrees to pay for them, then they should also agree to pay closing costs as well. This will save you money in the end and possibly get you a higher amount for your home’s sale price.
Get pre-approved for a mortgage loan before putting your house on the market
This will allow buyers who have been pre-approved for loans to make offers on your home without having to wait for an appraisal report or other documentation from their lender. It also helps speed up the process so that both parties don’t have to wait around for a long time before the closing day comes!
Agent commissions are often the biggest closing cost, as they receive an average of between 6–10%. You can avoid this by going for a “For Sale By Owner (FSBO) which essentially eliminates the middleman and can put more money in your pocket. One of the drawbacks of this approach, however, is that you’ll need to do all of your own marketing and customer communication.
Another way to reduce closing costs is to request an all-cash offer. Generally, investors and property management companies have the ability to pay the entire purchase price in cash. Investors are often willing to buy homes as is, so you don’t need to worry about paying for costly repairs before putting your home on the market.
Get a no-closing cost loan
Another option is to get a no-closing cost loan, which means you don’t have to pay any upfront fees. Instead, the lender will simply add the closing costs onto your loan balance. This can be a good option if you don’t have much cash on hand. But it will increase your monthly payments and the total amount you pay over the life of the loan.
Extensive research on loan estimate forms
Forms that must be produced by a lender after you apply for a mortgage or inquire about using their services. This form allows you to compare companies’ total costs and specific fees, including closing costs.
Title and settlement services
Your lender may provide recommendations for title companies, but do your own research on different companies. You could potentially save hundreds of dollars by gathering quotes from different online companies. There are many online domains that offer sellers the option to utilize their title services for a lower price than the lender is offering. Read more…