Fees When Buying A House May 2026

: Their local county charged $20–$250 just to update the public records with their names as the new owners . The "Advance Payment" Fees

Meet Sarah and Mike. They just found their dream cottage for $400,000. They have their 20% down payment ready, but their lender just handed them a "Loan Estimate" that made them realize the sticker price was only the beginning. fees when buying a house

: They paid $300–$500 for a pro to crawl through the attic and check for leaks. This was an out-of-pocket cost paid directly to the inspector . : Their local county charged $20–$250 just to

: To show they were serious, they put down about 1% to 3% of the purchase price ($4,000–$12,000) into an Escrow Account , which would eventually count toward their down payment . They have their 20% down payment ready, but