Christopher Liew: Smart Tips to Accurately Budget Home-Buying Costs

First-time homebuyers often underestimate closing costs, which typically range from 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price. Key expenses include land transfer tax, mortgage default insurance premiums plus sales tax, legal fees, inspections, and adjustments for prepaid taxes. These costs must be paid in cash and can add thousands to the budget. Buyers should save an additional 2-3% of the home price separately from the down payment to avoid financial surprises at closing.