Your down payment is only one part of the cash you need to buy a home. If you are selling, the sale price is only the starting point for what you take home. Use this guide to organize the questions for your lender and closing company before you commit to a move in Oklahoma.
Start with an itemized estimate for your property. A statewide percentage cannot account for your loan, insurance quote, closing date and contract. Freddie Mac explains that closing costs vary by location and transaction; the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) shows where to find those charges on a Loan Estimate. Freddie Mac closing-cost guide · CFPB Loan Estimate guide.
What buyers should budget for
Ask which expenses are due before closing, which are collected at closing, and which continue after you move. Keep moving costs and a repair reserve in a separate part of your budget.
| Expense | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Lender charges and points | Request the full fee total and an explanation of any points or lender credit. |
| Appraisal and inspections | Confirm which services you need, their quoted prices and when payment is due. |
| Title and settlement services | Request an itemized quote; ask what each policy or service covers and who pays. |
| Recording and other government fees | Have the closing company identify the fees for this property and transaction. |
| Homeowners insurance | Get a quote for the actual home, including coverage, deductibles and the amount due up front. |
| Prepaid interest and escrow funding | Ask the lender to explain the amounts, the dates covered and the effect of your closing date. |
| Other agreed expenses | Check the contract and representation agreement for costs assigned to you. |
These categories follow the CFPB Closing Disclosure guide and Freddie Mac's overview. A listed category is not a promise that every purchase includes that charge.
Closing costs and cash to close are different
Cash to close is the amount still needed at settlement after the down payment, closing costs, deposits, credits and other adjustments are reconciled. Keep receipts for earnest money and charges paid earlier so the lender and closing company can account for them. Compare the calculation on your Loan Estimate with the final Closing Disclosure and ask about differences. Loan Estimate calculation · Closing Disclosure calculation.
How to compare loan offers
Request estimates using the same home price, down payment and loan type. Review the interest rate, monthly payment, lender fees and cash needed together. Ask whether the rate is locked and how long the lock lasts. A lender credit can reduce the amount due at closing while increasing the interest rate, so ask for both options in writing. CFPB guide to comparing offers · CFPB explanation of credits and fees.
What sellers should ask for
Request a written seller net sheet using the price you are considering. Have the closing company or the relevant provider confirm each amount:
- The mortgage payoff and any other balances that must be resolved.
- Compensation agreed to in your signed representation agreements.
- Title, settlement and recording charges assigned to you.
- Tax adjustments and any applicable association charges.
- Buyer credits, repairs or other terms included in the offer.
Ask for an updated net sheet when an offer changes. The contract and transaction details determine who pays particular costs; do not assume that a fee belongs to one party just because someone calls it customary. CFPB: who pays closing charges · CFPB: the settlement process.
Before sending your closing funds
Review the closing documents, confirm the amount due and ask what identification and payment method the closing company requires. Verify wire instructions by calling a trusted number you established independently. Do not use a new phone number supplied in an unexpected email. CFPB wire-fraud precautions.
Let's put your next move on paper.
Tell me whether you are buying, selling or doing both. I can help organize the property and contract questions, then coordinate with your lender and closing company for the numbers.
Build my next-move plan →Keep reading: buying a home in Edmond and OKC · preparing to sell · request a home-value review.
Reviewed September 26, 2026. General planning information, not a lender quote or a statement of your final costs. All estimates must be verified by your lender, insurer and closing company as applicable. Anthony Coby is a real estate agent, not a mortgage lender.