Glossary

Closing Costs After saving for a down payment, house hunting and applying for a mortgage, closing costs can come as an unpleasant surprise. What are Closing Costs? Closing costs include the myriad fees for the services and expenses required to finalize a mortgage. You’ll have to pay closing costs whether you buy a home or refinance. Most of the closing costs fall on the buyer, but the seller typically has to pay a few, too, such as the real estate agent’s commission. (Buying a home for the first time? See our tips for first-time home buyers.) How much are closing costs? Average closing costs for the buyer run between about 2% and 5% of the loan amount. That means, on a $300,000 home purchase, you would pay from $6,000 to $15,000 in closing costs. The most cost-effective way to cover your closing costs is to pay them out-of-pocket as a one-time expense. You may be able to finance them by folding them into the loan, if the lender allows, but then you’ll pay interest on those costs through the life of the mortgage. When buying a home, you can comparison shop and negotiate some of the fees to lower your closing costs. And some states, counties and cities offer low-interest loan programs or grants to help first-time home buyers with closing costs. Check with your local government to see what’s available. Your lender is required to outline your closing costs in the Loan Estimate you receive when you first apply for the loan and in the Closing Disclosure document you receive in the days before the settlement. Review them closely and ask questions about anything you don’t understand. List of Closing Costs (may not be comprehensive depending on the situation) Property-related fees Appraisal fee: It’s important to a lender to know if the property is worth as much as the amount you want to borrow. This is for two reasons: The lender needs to verify the amount you need for a loan is justified and make sure it can recoup the value of the home if you default on your loan. The average cost of a home appraisal by a certified professional appraiser ranges between $300 and $400. Home inspection: Most lenders require a home inspection, especially if you’re getting a government-backed mortgage, such as an FHA loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Before lending you hundreds of thousands of dollars, a bank needs to make sure the home is structurally sound and in good enough shape to live in. If the inspection turns up troubling results, you may be able to negotiate a lower sale price. But depending on how severe the problems are, you have the option to back out of your contract if you and the seller can’t come to an agreement on how to fix the issues. Home inspection fees, on average, range from $300 to $500. Loan-related fees Application fee: This covers the cost of processing your request for a new loan and includes costs such as credit checks and administrative expenses. The application fee varies depending on the lender and the amount of work it takes to process your loan application. Assumption fee: If the seller has an assumable mortgage and you take over the remaining balance of the loan, you may be charged a variable fee based on the balance. Attorney’s fees: Some states require an attorney to be present at the closing of a real estate purchase. The fee will vary depending on the number of hours the attorney works for you. Prepaid interest: Most lenders require buyers to pay the interest that accrues on the mortgage between the date of settlement and the first monthly payment due date, so be prepared to pay that amount at closing; it will depend on your loan size. Loan origination fee: This is a big one. It’s also known as an underwriting fee, administrative fee or processing fee. The loan origination fee is a charge by the lender for evaluating and preparing your mortgage loan. This can cover document preparation, notary fees and the lender’s attorney fees. Expect to pay about 0.5% of the amount you’re borrowing. A $300,000 loan, for example, would result in a loan origination fee of $1,500. Discount points: By paying discount points, you reduce the interest rate you pay over the life of your loan, which results in more competitive mortgage rates. The cost of one point equals 1% of the loan amount. So for a loan of $250,000, a 1-point payment would be $2,500. Generally, paying points is worthwhile only if you plan to stay in the home for a long time. Otherwise, the upfront cost isn’t worth it. Mortgage broker fee: If you work with a mortgage broker to find a loan, the broker will usually charge a commission as a percentage of the loan amount. The commission averages from 0.5% to 2.75% of the home’s purchase price Mortgage Insurance Fees Mortgage insurance application fee: If you make a down payment of less than 20%, you may have to get private mortgage insurance. (PMI insures the lender in case you default; it doesn't insure the home.) The application fee varies by lender. Upfront mortgage insurance: Some lenders require borrowers to pay the first year’s mortgage insurance premium upfront, while others ask for a lump-sum payment that covers the life of the loan. Expect to pay from 0.55% to 2.25% of the purchase price for mortgage insurance, according to Genworth, Ginnie Mae and the Urban Institute. FHA, VA and USDA fees: If your loan is insured by the Federal Housing Administration, you’ll have to pay FHA mortgage insurance premiums; if it’s guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Department of Agriculture, you’ll pay guarantee fees. In addition to monthly premiums, the FHA requires an upfront premium payment of 1.75% of the loan amount. The USDA loan upfront guarantee fee is 1%. VA loan guarantee fees range from 1.25% to 3.3% of the loan amount, depending on the size of your down payment. Property taxes, annual fees and insurance Property taxes: Buyers typically pay two months’ worth of city and county property taxes at closing. Annual assessments: If your condo or homeowners association requires an annual fee, you might have to pay it upfront in one lump sum. Homeowners insurance premium: Usually, your lender requires that you purchase homeowner’s insurance before settlement, which covers the property in case of vandalism, damage and so on. Some condo associations include insurance in the monthly condo fee. The amount varies depending on where you live and your home’s value. Title Fees Title search fee: A title search is conducted to ensure that the person selling the house actually owns it and that there are no outstanding claims or liens against the property. This can be fairly labor-intensive, especially if the real estate records aren’t computerized. Title search fees are about $200, but can vary among title companies by region. The search fee may be included in the cost of title insurance. Lender’s title insurance: Most lenders require what’s called a loan policy; it protects them in case there’s an error in the title search and someone makes a claim of ownership on the property after it’s sold. Coverage lasts until the loan is paid off. Owner’s title insurance: You should also consider purchasing title insurance to protect yourself in case title problems or claims are made on your home after closing. The owner's coverage lasts as long as you or your heirs own the property. The cost of the owner’s policy is about 0.5% to 1% of the purchase price, according to the American Land Title Association. Whether the buyer or seller pays for title insurance varies by region. A discount is sometimes offered when both the lender’s and owner’s policies are purchased at the same time. Mortgage Closing Documents With so many closing costs to consider, it’s obvious you’ll face a lot of paperwork just prior to and during the loan signing. Two of the most important closing documents are the Loan Estimate and the Closing Disclosure. You’ll receive the Loan Estimate three days after applying with a lender. It will officially detail all fees, the interest rate and the other costs to close your loan. It’s legally binding, so you’ll want to read it carefully. Then, three days from loan settlement and prior to making the big commitment, you’ll receive the Closing Disclosure from your lender. It confirms — or makes minor adjustments to — what you saw on the Loan Estimate. Again, it’s worth a big cup of coffee and a thorough review. Mortgage closing costs: summary Appraisal fee ($300-$400) Home inspection ($300-$500) Application fee (varies) Assumption fee (varies) Attorney’s fee (hourly or flat fee) Prepaid interest (based on loan amount) Origination fee (about 0.5% of loan amount) Discount points (1 point costs 1% of the loan amount) Mortgage broker fee (0.50% to 2.75%) Mortgage insurance application fee (varies) Upfront mortgage insurance (0.55% to 2.25%) FHA, VA and USDA fees (1% to 3.3%) Property taxes (two months’ worth) Upfront HOA fee (varies) Homeowners insurance (depends on home value and location) Title search fee (about $200) Lender’s title insurance (varies) Owner’s title insurance (0.5% to 1% of purchase price)

Marketing Plan The most basic strategy in the real estate marketing plan is ensuring that a property has professional pictures taken of the home, priced correctly in the market, and listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Once it is listed in the MLS, the listing should be syndicated to all of the major marketing websites such as Zillow.com, Realtor.com, etc. Most homes are found by buyers through these real estate websites. The MLS also allows local Realtors to be notified of the availability of a local property. Listing a property onto the MLS is the crucial first step to selling a property. A good listing agent will present a concise marketing strategy to you. They will show you examples such as listing on the MLS, hosting open houses, and sending out targeted campaigns. However, sellers should participate in the marketing process. Here are some examples of how sellers can participate in the process: opting for professional photography and virtual tours, or tapping into their personal networks to find interested buyers. It’s impossible to prepare a marketing plan that targets every buyer. But, in order to improve the chances of selling your property, it is necessary to understand the buyers in your market. Each market is different so this page will only attempt to speak to the macro national trends in the market, which is to market towards millennials (the current generation that is actively purchasing real estate). Real Estate Marketing For Millennials: 5 Tips For Success Those who hope to successfully sell to today’s buyers must actively take part in real estate marketing for millennials. Traditional marketing tactics may not work on these digital natives, and real estate professionals who take the initiative to understand this generation’s consumer preferences and behavior will develop an advantage. The following are 5 unique tips to find success in selling to the millennial home buyer: Help them each step of the way: 90% of home buyers aged 37 and younger worked with a real estate agent, and many of them cited that they wanted help in understanding the home buying process. Understand that guidance is extremely important to this consumer segment, and take advantage by marketing your emphasis in assisting clients. Know that price matters: A majority of millennials use their savings to pay their down payment, more so than other generations, signaling limitations in financial options. Help these buyers by suggesting how to save money or use their funds in the most impactful way during the home buying process. Pay attention to visual representation: Visually-based social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest are popular amongst young home buyers. In addition, many of them cite staging as an important factor filtering through properties online. Do not hesitate to market your property in a visually-compelling manner, such as through Instagram or Pinterest. Specify your competitive advantage: Millennials know that each real estate agent has something unique to offer, so be ready to stand out from a group of candidates by clearly specifying what you have to offer to them. Go digital: Is should go without saying that the best way to appeal to this generation of digital natives is through digital marketing. 93% of home buyers aged 37 and younger use the internet for their home buying process. There are a variety of trends associated with the millennial home buyer, and as a seller or real estate professional, it is important to keep up with the latest statistics and information. Each generation has its own unique tastes and preferences, and furthermore, there are divergences within each of those home buyer segments. Those who make an effort to keep up with these preferences, and take the extra step to understand why consumers have these preferences, are best able to serve these home buyers’ needs.

Pricing Strategy Being able to sell your home quickly is a matter of competitive pricing. There is a fine line between pricing low enough to sell, versus pricing just above market value. Your Realtor is responsible for conducting a market analysis in order to recommend the best possible listing price to help your property sell within a reasonable amount of time. Although the Realtor may recommend a price, the Seller is ultimately the person who will make the final decision. Each Seller’s situation is different and you’re allowed to sell your property for lower or higher than your Realtor’s recommendation. But, speak with your Realtor to understand the implications of selling higher or lower than the recommended list price.

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Title Companies A title company makes sure that the title to a piece of real estate is legitimate by conducting a title search and then issues title insurance for that property. Title insurance protects the lender and/or owner against lawsuits or claims against the property that result from disputes over the title. Title companies also often maintain escrow accounts — these contain the funds needed to close on the home — to ensure that this money is used only for settlement and closing costs , and may conduct the formal closing on the home. At the closing, a settlement agent from the title company will bring all the necessary documentation, explain it to the parties, collect closing costs and distribute monies. Finally, the title company will ensure that the new titles, deeds and other documents are filed with the appropriate entities. How much does a title company's services cost? The cost of title insurance depends on the size of the loan and varies greatly depending on the state. The good news is that the premium is a one-time fee you pay at closing, not an ongoing expense. According to the Federal Reserve, “a lender’s policy on a $100,000 loan can range from $175 in one state to $900 in another.” You’ll typically pay an additional amount — usually a few hundred dollars or more, depending on the size of the loan and your state of residence — for a buyer’s policy. Note that you may be able to get a discounted rate on your title insurance if the property was sold within the previous five years; just call and ask.

Mortgage Discount Points Mortgage points are fees you pay a lender to reduce the interest rate on a mortgage. Paying for discount points is often called “buying down the rate” and is totally optional for the borrower. How much does one mortgage point reduce the rate? When you buy one discount point, you’ll pay a fee of 1% of the mortgage amount. As a result, the lender typically cuts the interest rate by 0.25%. But one point can reduce the rate more or less than that. There’s no set amount for how much a discount point will reduce the rate. The effect of a discount point varies by the lender, type of loan and prevailing rates, as mortgage rates fluctuate daily. “Buying points” doesn’t always mean paying exactly 1% of the loan amount. For example, you might be able to pay half a point, or 0.5% of the loan amount. That typically would reduce the interest rate by 0.125%. Or you might be given the option of paying one-and-a-half points or two points to cut the interest rate more. How do mortgage points work? Paying discount points reduces the interest rate and therefore the monthly payments. Your monthly savings depends on the interest rate, the amount borrowed and the loan’s term (30-year vs 15-year loan, etc). Should you buy points? If you can afford them, then the decision whether to pay points comes down to whether you will keep the mortgage past the “break-even point.” The concept of the break-even point is simple: When the accumulated monthly savings equal the upfront fee, you’ve hit the break-even point. After that, you come out ahead. But if you sell the home or refinance the mortgage before hitting break-even, you lose money on the discount points you paid. The break-even point varies, depending on loan size, interest rate and term. It’s usually more than just a few years. Once you guess how long you’ll live in the home, you can calculate when you’ll break even.

Lease-To-Own Many people want the benefits of living in a single family home. However, whether you're a first-time homebuyer who's cautious about making such a large financial investment, you recently relocated and are unsure of which neighborhood to live in, or you would like to one day own a home and are creditworthy but cannot currently obtain a mortgage. There are companies that offer leasing and rent-to-own programs that allow you to find a home that you want to rent initially, but may also like to buy in the next three to five years. There are many households who may be thinking about buying a home, but for whatever reason would like to rent at the current time. You can lease the home for three to five one-year terms, depending on the state, and you may purchase the home from us at any time at a predetermined price. Let us know if you're interested in Lease-To-Own programs. We're happy to direct you to the right programs. Contact us for more information. Apply and Get Approved Prospective residents start the process by filling out a Pre-Qualification Application that checks key issues. Find A Home Prospective residents will work with a REALTOR® to find a home in an approved community. Housing Program Buys the Home, You Lease from The Housing Program Prospective residents will be required to sign a one year Lease for the home as well as a Right to Purchase Agreement. Buy from Housing Program The Housing Program buys the home. You lease it and have the right to buy it later if you want to.

Home Inspector Home inspectors are certified and licensed by each State to provide home inspections for real estate transactions. Home inspectors have a lot of ground to cover. Every reasonable, visible inch of a home is evaluated from top to bottom, and the inspector records the findings in a report for the Buyer, a real estate agent, or another client.

Showings Showings are scheduled between buyers and sellers so that a prospective buyer can tour the property. The coordination for the showings is generally coordinated between the respective Realtors, with the input of the buyer and seller of course. For the Seller: The Realtor will usually provide a Lockbox where a key for the property will be placed. Either your Realtor or the Buyer’s Realtor will escort the Buyer through your home Make sure to prepare your property for a showing and to also secure your valuables. It is recommended that Sellers do not leave anything out. Although a Realtor will be present during the showing, it is always better to be safe and secure your items. When a Buyer and the Buyer’s Realtor has coordinated a showing with a Seller, the Realtor will receive a Lockbox code to open the Lockbox to receive the key and gain access to the property. For the Buyer: Your Realtor can either coordinate an individual property showing or schedule multiple properties in one day. It is usually a lot more efficient to see multiple properties in a day. Only a Realtor is able to receive a Lockbox code from the Seller’s Lockbox per the Illinois regulations.

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