How do I read a Closing Disclosure to spot what changed from the Loan Estimate, and what changes are allowed?

How do I spot changes between my Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure?

You want to compare your Closing Disclosure to your original Loan Estimate to understand what changed and whether those changes follow federal rules. The Closing Disclosure shows final loan terms and closing costs, and lenders must follow specific tolerance rules for how much certain fees can increase.

Start by checking Section A (loan terms) for your loan amount, interest rate, and monthly payment. These should match your Loan Estimate unless you requested changes. Then review Section B (projected payments) and Section C (closing costs). Look at the loan costs in Section B and other costs in Section C—some fees can't increase at all, others can increase up to 10%, and some have no limit.

Fees that can't increase include your origination charges and most third-party services you couldn't shop for. Fees with a 10% tolerance include recording charges and services you could shop for but didn't use the lender's recommended providers. Services you shopped for and selected yourself can change without limit.

Compare each section line by line with your Loan Estimate. If any zero-tolerance fees increased or the 10% bucket went over the limit, ask your lender to explain the changes. They can walk you through which increases are allowed and help you understand any differences before you sign.