Regs Hike Up Closing Costs Nationwide

Mortgage closing costs rose six percent over the past year and now average $2,539 on a $200,000 loan, according to a study by Bankrate.com. Origination fees increased nine percent to $1,877 and third-party fees rose one percent to $662. Texas' average closing costs of $3,046 are the highest in the nation. Alaska ($2,897), New York ($2,892), Hawaii ($2,808) and Wisconsin ($2,706) round out the top five. The cheapest closing costs are in Nevada (an average of $2,265). Tennessee ($2,366), Missouri ($2,387), Ohio ($2,392) and Washington, D.C. ($2,402) comprise the rest of the bottom five. "New mortgage regulations are the biggest reasons why closing costs went up over the past year," said Holden Lewis, senior mortgage analyst with Bankrate.com. "The good news is that some lenders have not increased fees. To get the best deal, consumers should compare Good Faith Estimates (GFEs) from at least three different lenders." Click here to view the average closing costs in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.