It’s not news that FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans can be a great way for first-time homebuyers to break into the market. They’re government-backed and tend to come with lower costs and less-stringent eligibility requirements.
But like any mortgage, FHA loans do still come with closing costs — expenses due at the time the mortgage is signed — which can add up to a pretty penny. It’s a good idea to know what you’re getting into ahead of time with closing costs to avoid sticker shock, which is exactly why you’re here.
Keep reading to learn such intel as:
• How to figure out your FHA loan closing costs
• What is an FHA loan closing cost calculator
• How to use a calculator table to determine your FHA loan closing costs
• How to lower your FHA loan closing costs.
Why Use an FHA Loan Closing Costs Calculator Table?
Closing costs for FHA loans (a kind of government loan) are made up of several different expenses, including lender fees, third-party fees, and prepaid items. Each of these categories of expenses is composed of smaller costs.
For example:
• Lender fees might include an origination fee, underwriting fee, document preparation fee, and other charges.
Third-party fees might include an appraisal fee and real estate attorney fees, just to name a couple.
• That is a lot of instances of the word “fee.” And that’s before you factor in the mandatory FHA mortgage insurance premium, or MIP — which is basically the FHA version of private mortgage insurance (PMI).
That’s why using an FHA loan closing costs calculator table can be an efficient way to see, at a glance, a ballpark range of what you might expect to plunk down on the closing table. Of course, the best way to know exactly what to expect is to calculate all of your FHA loan closing costs by hand. Or to ask your lender to share the expected or actual fees involved.
💡 Quick Tip: Buying a home shouldn’t be aggravating. SoFi’s online mortgage application is quick and simple, with dedicated Mortgage Loan Officers to guide you throughout the process.
First-time homebuyers can
prequalify for a SoFi mortgage loan,
with as little as 3% down.
How to Calculate Your FHA Loan Closing Costs
To calculate your specific FHA loan closing costs, you’ll need to add up all the smaller costs — which means ascertaining exactly what they are. Asking your lender is a great way to do this for these government-backed mortgages, whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or beyond. Your lender should even be able to tell you the overall cost without your needing to calculate it yourself.
As a general rule of thumb, closing costs tend to amount to about 3% to 6% of the amount you borrow. In other words, if you were buying a million dollar home and putting down $700,000, your mortgage would be $300,000, and your closing costs would be between $9,000 and $18,000.
If you were buying a home that costs $330,000 and putting down $30,000, your home loan would again be $300,000, and your closing costs would be similar to the range above.
Calculating MIP
Now, here are more details about the MIP portion:
• With an FHA loan, you can expect to pay 1.75% of the loan amount in MIP upfront.
• It may be possible to finance your upfront MIP by adding it to your overall loan, but doing so will likely increase the amount you pay in interest over time.
• In addition, you will pay an ongoing premium as part of your monthly payment that ranges from 0.15% to 0.75% of your home’s outstanding loan balance annually.
Below, you’ll find a chart that shows a range of possible down payments and closing costs on FHA loans.
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2024 FHA Loan Closing Costs Calculator Table
Here’s a basic guide to approximately how much you can expect to pay in closing costs if you take out an FHA loan in 2024, depending on the cost of your home. (Actual figures may vary, but this serves as an overall FHA loan closing cost calculator.)
| Home Price | 3.5% Down payment | 10% Down payment | MIP due at closing (1.75%) with 3.5% down | MIP due at closing (1.75%) with 10% down | Overall Closing Costs (3% to 6%, including MIP) with 3.5% down | Overall closing costs (3% to 6%, including MIP) with 10% down |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $7,000 | $20,000 | $3,377.50 | $3,150 | $5,790 – $11,580 | $5,400 – $10,800 |
| $350,000 | $12,250 | $35,000 | $5,910.63 | $5,512.50 | $10,125 – $20,250 | $9,450 – $18,900 |
| $500,000 | $17,500 | $50,000 | $8,443.75 | $7,875 | $14,475 – $28,950 | $13,500 – $27,000 |
As you see, when you put more money down, your home loan is smaller, and closing costs can be reduced somewhat.
Recommended: Guide to FHA 203(k) Home Loans
Examples of FHA Loan Closing Cost Calculations
So, how do such seemingly small percentages add up so quickly?
Here are some examples of the types of fees that add up to that 3% to 6% in closing costs. This percentage tends to apply to different kinds of home loans, including FHA ones:
• Lender fees. Your lender is in business to make money, and may charge various fees associated with the service of originating, writing, and maintaining the loan, such as:
◦ Loan origination fee: 0.5% to 1% of your home loan total
◦ Underwriting fee: $300 to $900+
◦ Document preparation fee: Up to $100
• Third-party fees. From getting your property appraised to finding and insuring your title, there are plenty of third-party fees that crank up your closing cost total.
◦ Appraisal fee: $600 to $2,000
◦ Survey fee: $500
◦ Real estate attorney fee: $500 to $1,500
◦ Title search fee: $75 to $200
◦ Title insurance: 0.5% to 1% of your home purchase price
◦ Recording fees: $125
• Prepaid items. As part of signing, you’ll also need to pay a certain number of items upfront, such as your first year’s worth of homeowners insurance to be held in escrow. These costs vary depending on your home’s location and overall value, but they can be substantial. They can include:
◦ Real estate taxes
◦ Tax and insurance escrow deposits
◦ Flood, earthquake, or hazard insurance premiums
• MIP: As mentioned above, this will be 1.75% of the loan amount, though some borrowers may roll it into the loan amount).
As you can see, FHA loan closing costs can really add up — but it can be worth it to have a home to call you very own.
💡 Quick Tip: Backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), FHA loans provide those with a fair credit score the opportunity to buy a home. They’re a great option for first-time homebuyers.
Reasons to Calculate Your FHA Loan Closing Costs First
If you’re searching for your dream house and accessing a home loan help center, that’s terrific. Be sure to also focus on understanding how much you may pay in closing costs. This can help you know how much house you can really afford to buy.
Often, buyers get so caught up in trying to save up for their down payment that they forget about closing costs entirely. This lump sum, which is often five figures, could be a pretty upsetting thing to be surprised by as you move towards signing.
Calculating your closing costs ahead of time will help ensure you’ve actually saved up enough to comfortably make your home purchase. Your lender is required to offer you a closing statement before it’s time to sign the deal.
That said, the more preplanning you can achieve when it comes to these amounts of money, the better. You may want to use a closing cost FHA loan calculator (look online for tools that can help) so you can get a feel for these numbers.
Tips on How to Save on Your FHA Loan Closing Costs
If you are planning on buying a home, you are probably researching tips to qualify for a mortgage. In addition, you may want to consider ways to lower the overall expense of closing costs.
Yes, closing costs can be a hefty chunk of change. Fortunately, there are a few ways to help lower your closing costs and usher you over the threshold into homeownership.
• Negotiate with the seller. If the person you’re buying the house from is eager to let it go, they may be willing to pay some — or even all — of your closing costs on their end.
• Ask for a gift. Not all mortgages allow gift funds to be used for closing costs, but FHA loans do. If you have a friend or family member who is willing to offer a sum of money, you could consider using gift funds to lower your costs.
• Roll them into the mortgage. As with MIP, it can be possible to roll some of the remainder of your closing costs into your mortgage. Keep in mind that doing so can raise your monthly payment and mean you pay more in interest overall.
The Takeaway
FHA loans do come with closing costs, and most buyers can expect to pay about 3% to 6% of the loan amount at signing. This type of mortgage in particular requires a mortgage insurance premium (MIP) of 1.75% of the loan amount closing, which can drive up the overall price of FHA loans upfront.
Despite these charges, FHA loans can be an important option for many borrowers as they move along the path to homeownership.
SoFi offers a wide range of FHA loan options that are easier to qualify for and may have a lower interest rate than a conventional mortgage. You can down as little as 3.5%. Plus, the Biden-Harris Administration has reduced monthly mortgage insurance premiums for new homebuyers to help offset higher interest rates.
Another perk: FHA loans are assumable mortgages!
FAQ
Who pays the closing costs on an FHA loan?
Traditionally, closing costs are the responsibility of the buyer. However, it is possible to ask the seller to pay closing costs as part of your negotiation. (Keep in mind that this probably won’t work in a highly competitive seller’s market, though.)
How much FHA loan can I qualify for?
The amount you qualify for will depend on personal financial data like your income and credit score. That said, it’s also important to understand that the FHA does impose loan limits that cap the maximum amount borrowers can take out. In 2023, the FHA loan limits for a single-family housing unit are $472,030 in most areas of the country, and up to $1,089,300 in specific, high-cost counties.
Can closing costs be included in an FHA loan?
Some of your FHA loan closing costs, including the upfront MIP, can be rolled into your mortgage, but keep in mind doing so will increase your monthly payment and also mean spending more in interest over time. And note that you can’t include your down payment in the loan. The minimum FHA loan down payment is 3.5%. Using a closing cost FHA loan calculator can help you estimate your expenses.
Photo credit: iStock/ridvan_celik
¹FHA loans are subject to unique terms and conditions established by FHA and SoFi. Ask your SoFi loan officer for details about eligibility, documentation, and other requirements. FHA loans require an Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP), which may be financed or paid at closing, in addition to monthly Mortgage Insurance Premiums (MIP). Maximum loan amounts vary by county. The minimum FHA mortgage down payment is 3.5% for those who qualify financially for a primary purchase. SoFi is not affiliated with any government agency.
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