When writing an offer
Before you ask for seller concessions, know what the buyer's closing costs are likely to be. Run the estimator with them so the concession request is grounded in numbers rather than a round figure.
Buyer tools · Cash to close
A buyer closing cost estimator, line by line
This buyer closing cost estimator itemizes the costs a buyer pays at closing: loan origination, title insurance, appraisal, prepaid interest and recording fees, and adds the down payment for cash to close. It's the calculator to use once a buyer is serious about a specific home, when 'how much do I bring to the table?' becomes urgent.
- Included on: every plan
- Runs in English and Spanish
- Leads arrive with all 6 results attached
How much are a buyer's closing costs?
It varies by loan, lender, state and price. Typical items include origination fees, title insurance, appraisal, prepaid interest, recording fees and escrow deposits. This estimator itemizes the main ones from the buyer's inputs. The lender's Loan Estimate gives the actual figures after an application.
When you'd send it
When to put the Buyer Closing Cost Estimator in front of people
On listings where the seller offers a credit
If a listing advertises a seller credit toward closing costs, add the estimator to the page. Buyers can see how far the credit goes, which makes the incentive concrete.
When a Loan Estimate arrives
Buyers often ask their agent to explain a Loan Estimate. Run the estimator alongside it so you can point to which lines are lender fees, which are third-party costs and which are prepaids.
What your visitor sees
The buyer enters the home price, down payment, rate, loan origination as a percentage of the loan, title insurance as a percentage of the price, appraisal fee, days of prepaid interest and recording and other fees. They see total closing costs itemized, and cash to close with the down payment included.
The lead you receiveA buyer who's working out the cash for a specific home
You receive the Home Price and Down Payment, Total Closing Costs, the itemized Loan Origination, Title Insurance, Appraisal Fee and Prepaid Interest, and Cash to Close. A buyer running this is usually close to an offer, so treat it as a priority lead.
Follow-up that works
- Call the same day. Ask whether they're comfortable with the cash to close, and whether a seller credit would make the difference.
- If they don't have a lender yet, suggest getting a Loan Estimate so the real fees replace the estimate.
- Note the price they used. It's often the offer price they have in mind.
- What your visitor enters
- Home Price
- their input
- Down Payment
- their input
- Interest Rate (%)
- their input
- Loan Origination (% of loan)
- their input
- Title Insurance (% of price)
- their input
- Appraisal Fee
- their input
- What they see (and what you receive)
- Total Closing Costs
- their result
- Loan Origination
- their result
- Title Insurance
- their result
- Appraisal Fee
- their result
- Prepaid Interest
- their result
- Contact and source
- Name, email, phone
- with consent
- Page and campaign
- UTM · referrer
I saw you checked closing costs on 9 Birch. They came out around $11,400 before the down payment. The sellers are open to a credit toward closing. Want to talk about how an offer could use that?
Before and after
Your page before and after this calculator
BeforeAfter
Before: Closing costs are typically 2–5%
- A range too wide to plan with
- Buyers find the real number weeks into the deal
- Credit requests are guesses
After: Estimate your closing costs
- An itemized estimate from the buyer's own inputs
- Cash to close is clear before the offer
- Concession requests are based on numbers
Reading the results
What each result means for your follow-up
The same figures your visitor sees arrive in your lead record. Here's how to read the ones that matter.
- Cash to Close
- Down payment plus estimated closing costs. Earnest money already deposited is usually credited at closing, so the buyer's remaining funds may be lower.
- Prepaid Interest
- Interest from the closing date to the end of the month. Closing later in the month reduces it, which is sometimes worth mentioning when choosing a date.
- Title Insurance
- The lender's (and often the owner's) title policy. Who pays the owner's policy varies by local custom, so adjust for your market.
What can go wrong
Mistakes that cost agents the lead
Leaving out escrow deposits
Lenders often collect initial escrow for taxes and insurance at closing. If your market has high property taxes, tell buyers to add an estimate to 'Recording & Other Fees'.
Using one title rate everywhere
Title premiums and who pays them differ by state. Set the title percentage to suit your area, or the estimate will be off.
Forgetting the earnest money credit
Buyers sometimes panic at cash to close without remembering their earnest money is applied. Point it out on the follow-up call.
Inside the Buyer Closing Cost Estimator
What your visitor enters (8)
Purchase Details
- Home Price
- Down Payment
- Interest Rate (%)
Lender Fees
- Loan Origination (% of loan)
- Title Insurance (% of price)
- Appraisal Fee
Other Closing Costs
- Prepaid Interest (days)
- Recording & Other Fees
Field names are shown as they appear in the calculator's English interface.
What they see (and what you receive) (6)
- Total Closing Costs
- Loan Origination
- Title Insurance
- Appraisal Fee
- Prepaid Interest
- Cash to Close
Definitions shown in the calculator (9)
- Closing costs
- The fees and prepaid charges due when a home purchase and its mortgage are finalized, separate from the down payment. This calculator adds the origination fee, title insurance, appraisal, prepaid interest and recording and other fees. Amounts vary by state, lender and property; your Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure show the binding figures.
- Cash to close
- The total amount the buyer must bring to the closing table: the down payment plus total closing costs in this calculator. On a real Closing Disclosure it is also reduced by the earnest money deposit, seller credits and lender credits, and increased by escrow deposits, so the final figure can differ.
- Loan origination fee
- The lender’s charge for processing, underwriting and funding the mortgage, often stated as a percentage of the loan amount; the calculator’s default range is 0.5% to 1%. It is calculated on the loan, not the price, so a larger down payment lowers it. It is separate from discount points, which buy a lower rate.
- Title insurance
- A one-time premium paid at closing for a policy that protects against losses from defects in the property’s ownership record, such as unknown liens, forged documents or recording errors. The lender’s policy protects the lender; an owner’s policy protects the buyer. This calculator estimates it as a percentage of the purchase price.
- Prepaid interest
- Interest collected at closing for the days from the closing date to the end of that month, because mortgage payments are paid in arrears. It equals the loan amount times the annual rate divided by 365, times the number of days. Closing late in the month means fewer days and a smaller charge.
- Appraisal fee
- The charge for a licensed appraiser to estimate the home’s market value so the lender can confirm it supports the loan amount. It is usually paid by the buyer, sometimes before closing. If the appraisal comes in below the price, the buyer may need to renegotiate or bring more cash.
- Recording fees
- Charges from the county or local government to enter the deed and mortgage into the public record, which makes the transfer and the lender’s lien official. Some jurisdictions also levy transfer or mortgage taxes. This calculator groups them with other miscellaneous closing charges in a single dollar amount you enter.
- Down payment
- The part of the purchase price paid in cash rather than borrowed. The loan amount is the home price minus the down payment. A larger down payment lowers the loan amount and every fee calculated on it, such as origination and prepaid interest, though it raises the cash needed to close.
- Closing Disclosure
- The standardized form the lender must give you a few days before closing, listing the final loan terms, closing costs and cash to close. It replaces the estimates on the earlier Loan Estimate. Comparing the two documents line by line is the practical way to catch fee changes before signing.
Calculator disclaimer
Estimates only. Closing costs vary by state, lender and property. Your official Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure are the binding figures.
Calculator results are estimates for illustration, not Loan Estimates, pre-approvals or offers of credit.
Terms on this page
Sources
- CFPB: Loan Estimate explainer (2026-10)
Questions by topic
Buyer Closing Cost Estimator: questions agents ask
Which costs does the estimator include?
Loan origination (percent of loan), title insurance (percent of price), the appraisal fee, prepaid interest for the days entered, and recording and other fees. It doesn't itemize escrow deposits, inspection fees or HOA transfer fees, which can be added to 'other fees'.
How is prepaid interest calculated?
The daily interest on the loan (loan × annual rate ÷ 365) times the number of days entered, usually the days left in the month after closing.
How is this different from the Closing Cost Calculator?
This estimator itemizes specific buyer fees. The closing cost calculator groups costs into lender fees, third-party fees and prepaids and shows closing costs as a percentage of price. Use this one for detail and that one for a quick overview.
When should I share this with a buyer?
When they're narrowing down to one or two homes and before you write an offer, so you know whether to ask for a seller credit. It's also useful when a buyer receives a Loan Estimate and wants to understand it.
Can I use the estimate to negotiate a seller credit?
It helps you explain the request, but the credit allowed depends on the loan program's limits on interested-party contributions. Check with the buyer's lender before you write the number into an offer.
Is this the same as the Loan Estimate?
No. The Loan Estimate is a federal disclosure from the lender within three business days of an application, and the Closing Disclosure arrives at least three business days before closing. This calculator is a planning estimate.
Can I set local defaults for title and fees?
Yes. Set title percentage, appraisal fee and recording fees to typical values for your market in the calculator settings. Visitors can still change them.
Should this go on listing pages?
Yes, especially on listings with seller credits or in price ranges where closing costs are a stretch. On most listings, the mortgage calculator is the main tool, and this is a good second calculator in a widget.
Does it run in Spanish?
Yes. Labels, help text, definitions and disclaimer are available in Spanish, and visitors can switch languages.
Pairs well with
Calculators that pair well with this one
Put the Buyer Closing Cost Estimator on your next listing
Included on every plan, including the free Agent plan. No card needed.