Home Buying: The Costs Involved
If you are just planning to buy a home, you should therefore look at your budget and determine how much you can afford. This way, you would have a better chance of arriving at the right decision when picking the right property to buy. You should therefore be aware of the costs involved in purchasing a property.
First of all, you have to understand that you need to pay the down payment.  Although just a fraction of the selling price, it can still be a significant amount. Usually, the down payment is set not less than 5 percent of the selling price of the property. If you take out a loan for the purchase, the lender will set the percentage of the down payment that you have to plop down before your loan is approved.
Private mortgage insurance is another cost that you need to be aware of. Generally, you will have to pay for this if you only paid for the minimum down payment. The lender would require you to insure the property because after all, you are still paying for it and you do not technically own the home yet. If you want to avoid this cost, you need to pay about 10 to 20 percent of the selling price as down payment. One advantage of paying a higher down payment is that you can request for better interest rates.
Then, there are also loan fees that you need to pay out of your pocket. Aside from the money you are borrowing, lenders would also charge you for fees. Different lenders use different names for it so be sure that you are ready for it and include it in setting your budget.
These are just some of the costs involved in buying a home so if you want to have a clear idea just how much you will need to pay, it is a good idea to consult with a good real estate agent.