Expenses When Buying A Home -

The plot thickened during the "under contract" phase. Suddenly, the couple was hemorrhaging smaller amounts of cash. There was the (a $5,000 "I’m serious" deposit), the Home Inspection ($500 to make sure the roof wasn't held together by hope), and the Appraisal Fee ($600) required by the bank to prove the house was actually worth the price tag. Then came the climax: Closing Day .

The bank's "thanks for letting us lend you money" charge. expenses when buying a home

For the city to officially acknowledge they lived there. The plot thickened during the "under contract" phase

To ensure no long-lost cousin could claim the backyard. Then came the climax: Closing Day

Buying a home is often marketed as a "happily ever after," but for Maya and Sam, the story of their first home was more of a financial thriller.

Altogether, closing costs added another 3% of the home price—roughly $12,000—to their bill.