I'd prepare for about $7 or $8K. But there are a lot of things that will impact that - points, time of year for taxes, etc.

I'm going through my credit union. I have sent a bunch of questions to the agent who contacted me and I'm impatient for a response.

Sometimes having the effective memory of a goldfish means I can give myself surprise presents. To wit - totally forgot that I bought new sweat pants last time I was at Target. Score!

A few weeks ago I got an email from the library telling me my hold was ready for pickup -- but I didn't remember putting anything on hold. So it was like the universe wanted me to read the Ms. Marvel TPB! (I eventually remembered, but for a while I wondered if I put it on hold while I was sleepwalking or drunk. Only I didn't remember getting drunk, so I would have had to have gotten drunk WHILE sleepwalking and THEN put the book on hold.) (Also, I don't sleepwalk.)

SuziQ, here's an example of closing costs from the mortgage we were going to take out except we couldn't come to an agreement with the seller about inspection and decided to play hardball so it's over ARGH.

Closing costs included a flat application fee, points for a reduced rate, and title recording fee, totaling $1151. We were also required to prepay property taxes, insurance, and PMI for 2-4 months, totaling $2743. Those two payments, plus the down payment, were due at closing. Subtract earnest money we'd already paid, a contribution towards closing costs by the seller written in to the contrcat, and loan application fee which we'd already paid, and you get the amount due at closing.

As said above, your lender should be able to run the numbers on this and give you hard examples as part of pre-approval.

we couldn't come to an agreement with the seller about inspection and decided to play hardball so it's over ARGH.

Boo! I'm convinced the right house is out there for your family, but I'm so frustrated on your behalf. (And I realize that doesn't compare to your actual frustration, multiplied by 3 more family members.)

Thanks. I'm trying to be patient and I know this is going to be a rough process cause I'm trying to pull this together from next to nothing.

except we couldn't come to an agreement with the seller about inspection and decided to play hardball so it's over ARGH

Oh noes! I'm sorry, flea. Home-buying is such a dreadful process. I hope something awesome pops up soon.

Eeeek, Flea, just realized what you said and that the house fell through. I'm sorry that happened. So frustrating.

Oh dang, so sorry to hear that, flea.

Sarameg, I woke up cursing the fact that today I have a bunch of meetings, myself. I didn't go out last night drinking like I was supposed to (my friend canceled, but I got to have a lovely chat with msbelle!) and I still woke up with an awful headache?? No fair.

Also I forgot to charge my computer last night after it ran out of battery and am trying to decide if I haul everything upstairs in the next five minutes before my teleconference, or if I am so lazy I will try to participate in the teleconference without leaving the couch. (No notes, no agenda...hmm) I think the lack of headset down here is deciding me. In a minute.

Suzi, you'll need some money to put down when they take the house off of the market. It's called earnest money. Mine was $3000 on a house that listed at $179,900. Final selling price was $172,900.

Upfront costs? Inspection ran me about $475, to include radon testing. You may also have to pay a mortgage application/origination fee upfront, but that's dependent on how you obtain your mortgage. My total closing costs were about $7300, paid at settlement, and my down payment was around 20%.