podcast, our Data Reports, the "A Tale of Two Mortgages" webcomic, and LodeStar Report Newsletter.
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Data Reports
2025 Purchase Mortgage Closing Cost Data Report
The national average total closing costs for a purchase mortgage transaction were $4,661. This amount consists of a national average of 1.06% of the home sales price.
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Full Disclosure
Vibe Check Before the Holidays
Here’s one last mortgage industry vibe check before the holidays. With just three and a half short weeks before break, Jim and Alayna give their take on the state of the mortgage industry.
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Full Disclosure
Lessons from the Office: Part One
To kick off the Lending Leaders Summer Session, Jim and Alayna begin a four-part discussion on the Office, the beloved TV show about a small-town paper company and the people who work there. This week’s question: is Dunder Mifflin a good company?
Loan Estimate Challenges
Vermont’s Biggest LE Challenges
The recording fees in Vermont are scaled by the size (length in page count) of each security instrument (mortgage), conveyance instrument (deed), or other recordable sent to the county for recordation.
Loan Estimate Challenges
Alaska’s Biggest LE Challenges
Easily the nation’s largest state at 663,300 square miles, Alaska is larger than the next three largest states (Texas, California and Montana) combined. That also means that the statewide recording fees, which are uniform, cover the largest array of land in the country.
Loan Estimate Challenges
Rhode Island’s Biggest LE Challenges
Throughout the state of Rhode Island, recording fees are scaled by the size (length in page count) of each security instrument (mortgage), conveyance instrument (deed), or other recordable sent to the county for recordation.