Which Santa Clarita Real Estate Purchase Expenses Are Upfront?

Upfront costs - real estate purchase in Santa Clarita
Today’s home inspection at Northpark Valencia – my buyer’s first real estate purchase. And one of a few upfront expenses buyer must pay.

When you find yourself in a Santa Clarita real estate transaction buying a house, condo, or ranch – you’ll have a few upfront costs to deal with. Just today I was at a home inspection in the Northpark Valencia area of Santa Clarita, and it made me think that I should do a quick blog post about some of the upfront costs in a home purchase.

Upfront Costs In A Santa Clarita Real Estate Transaction:

1) Deposit: While the deposit is an upfront expense, it’s not money lost. The initial deposit you pay to escrow at the outset of your real estate transaction goes toward your down payment. The deposit varies and is negotiable… but it’s common for it to be about 2%-3% of the home purchase price.

2) Physical Home Inspection: While the buyer’s physical home inspection is optional, it’s highly advised you get one. Almost all of my homebuyer clients do! If you’re buying real estate in Santa Clarita, typically a home inspection will depend on the size of the home. On the average they are around $250-$550 for many average sized condos and homes in the Santa Clarita Valley.

3) Appraisal: Your lender will require an appraisal of the home in order to issue you a loan. The appraisal is usually an upfront cost, paid when you give credit card authorization to your lender toward the beginning of the transaction. The cost varies, but when buying a Santa Clarita home, I see many of my clients paying about $350-$650 for an appraisal for average sized condos and houses. Ask your lender if you can pay for this in your closing costs – and move it to an expense that’s not upfront.

You’re also entitled to have other inspections performed on the home (HVAC, Plumbing, Roof, etc – at your own cost). So your upfront expenses can vary, but the 3 I outlined are most typical.

If you’re on the prowl for a home in Santa Clarita, don’t hesitate to contact us at the AskRobertSCV Team at ReMax. You can reach out to us at 661-373-2374. We’re here to help you, when the time is right.

Here’s a list of the top home inspectors for Santa Clarita on Yelp:

Author: Robert Mickalson

Robert Mickalson created the Mickalson Group at Real Brokerage in Santa Clarita. He has been serving home buyers and sellers in and around Santa Clairta, CA for two decades. Robert's passion is to empower his clients with the most relevant housing market information. Bringing a boots on the ground perspective to this blog and also to his newsletter, SCV Cul-de-Scoop, are just a few ways Robert is able to help his clients, and the citizens of North LA County as a whole.