Comparing closing costs isn't as easy as it sounds. Some lenders give fees a wide variety of names in an effort to confuse consumers. One might advertise that it doesn't charge an "application" fee up front, for example. But it makes that up by charging a "commitment" fee or "doc prep" fee at closing. Other companies try to look cheaper by charging an all-inclusive "processing" fee. But they may charge $900, whereas a lender that itemizes might only charge $200 as an "application" fee, plus $300 as a "funding fee" and $250 as a "review fee" -- $750 total. When people call and ask specifically about closing costs, unscrupulous lenders and brokers may even quote only their fees. That conveniently leaves out the hundreds or thousands of extra dollars in other costs the borrower will have to pay. Consumers trying to make the best of the less-than-ideal, mortgage-shopping world will find Bankrate.com's survey useful. It contains information on three of the four major closing-cost categories: lender/broker fees, third-party fees and government fees. Lender/broker fees include charges for document preparation, underwriting and origination, while third-party fees include charges for title searches, flood certifications, appraisals and the like. Government fees include recording taxes and other charges assessed by local and state agencies. Borrowers will find information on the first two categories the most useful. Lender/broker fee information is helpful because "doc prep" fees and other similar costs are negotiable. Borrowers who know what lenders are charging, on average, to process loans can determine if they're being overcharged and, if so, demand lower prices. "Different companies have different names for different fees, but really what they are all trying to cover is the costs for processing, underwriting and making a loan," says Schnall. "If you add them all up, you can compare one lender to another." Third-party provider data, meanwhile, can help because some lenders let borrowers choose their own title insurers, appraisers and such. Consumers willing to invest the time and effort may find they can save money by choosing their own closing-service providers. Not all lenders will play ball, though, and those who do usually have "approved provider" lists. A customer would have to make sure an appraiser is on the list, for instance, before paying $300 for the person's services. "The title insurance, as a consumer, that's your call," says Mark Ulmer, senior vice president of home loans field operations for Seattle-based Washington Mutual Inc. "Typically, what happens when you're going to buy a house and you're going through a Realtor, they know what title insurance companies do the best in the market and they want to control that. But you as the buyer, you're paying that and it's between you and the seller in some cases. You can go out and shop around title companies." With appraisals, "It's up to the lender as far as determining the value that they should be using to make their loan. You could go down the block and find Joe the Appraiser and he'll do it for $100, but Joe doesn't know anything," he says. "We have approved appraisers that we will accept appraisals from. We're not doing appraisals for the buyer. We're not doing it for the seller. We're doing it for us. We need to make sure we're protected."

I found a site that has a closing tutorial for both refinance and purchases. It basically explains the fees and process that you traditionally see when closing. Here is the refinance URL http://www.myclosingspace.com/reclosingSpace101.aspx and here is the purchase URL http://www.myclosingspace.com/closingSpace101.aspx

It is also helpful to understand that all of the fees mentioned in the answers above must be listed on your settlement sheet, which is also refered to as the "HUD-1". I came across a guide to the settlement sheet, which explains all of the fees that must be disclosed to you, as well as what each of those fees are. Here's the link: http://www.mobile-settlements.com/HUD_guide.htm Hope this helps!