Let’s talk briefly about the types of closing costs you might encounter and how much those costs tend to run. Understand that closing costs, especially tax-related costs, will vary widely depending on where you live. But some costs can be estimated based on national averages.

Also, you should know that with fluctuations in the real estate market, closing costs are also fluctuating. A 2012 US News article pointed out that closing costs dropped 7 percent over 2011-2012 to an average of about $3,754.

The drops are, in part, because of 2010 regulations that were put in place by the government to shield homebuyers from “closing cost sticker shock.” Now that lenders are better at estimating final closing costs, those costs are dropping naturally.

Still, the national average for…