Once you have negotiated a final purchase offer with the seller, you are ready to finalize the loan application process. Under RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act), lenders are legally required to provide you with a good faith estimate within three days after receiving your application. The information gives you an estimate of your closing costs and monthly payments. This good faith estimate does not require lenders to provide a detailed breakdown of the closing cost items or to identify the persons responsible for the payments. Therefore, it is important for you to work with your real estate agent or attorney to understand all the closing cost fees. This will ensure that there are no significant surprises related to your final closing costs.