Median Total Costs
$7,490
+12.1% vs national ($6,680)
↑ $8 vs prior year
Median Rate
6.380%
−1.7% vs national (6.490%)
Median Origination
$1,700
Purchase Originations
4,658
Denial Rate
4.6%
vs national avg (9.0%)
The District of Columbia uses deeds of trust rather than traditional mortgages, and foreclosure proceeds non-judicially by default, though judicial foreclosure remains available. DC is an attorney-closing-optional jurisdiction — title companies can conduct closings, but attorneys are frequently used in practice, particularly for complex transactions. DC imposes a recordation tax on both the buyer and seller, with rates tiered by loan and purchase amount; for most residential transactions the combined rate is among the higher in the region. The District also levies a transfer tax, typically split between buyer and seller. Title insurance rates in DC are filed-and-approved by the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB). Prepayment penalty restrictions follow federal Qualified Mortgage rules, with DC providing substantial additional state-level protections including a prohibition on prepayment penalties for covered loans under DC Code § 26-1152.03. The DISB serves as the primary consumer protection and licensing authority for mortgage lenders operating in the District.
Conventional loans dominate DC's purchase market by a wide margin, accounting for 87.1% of originations (4,114 loans) per HMDA 2024 data. This reflects the District's high home prices — the median loan amount was $555,000 — which push many borrowers above FHA loan limits and attract higher-income, well-qualified buyers. VA loans represented 7.3% of originations (345 loans), a meaningful share tied to the region's substantial federal military and civilian workforce. FHA loans accounted for just 5.5% of volume (262 loans), consistent with the high price point limiting FHA's reach in the market.
First Savings Mortgage Corporation
The top originator in DC by volume in the HMDA 2024 data, with 379 originations and a median total closing cost of $7,050 — below the DC median. The company has a longstanding focus on the DC metro area market.
First Home Mortgage Corporation
A Mid-Atlantic regional lender with 294 DC originations in the HMDA 2024 data. Its median total closing costs of $9,254 were notably above the DC median, making fee comparison especially worthwhile for borrowers considering this lender.
Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC
A regional lender active across the DC metro area, recording 192 originations in the HMDA 2024 data. Its median total closing costs of $7,694 sat close to the DC-wide median, reflecting a broadly representative fee profile for the market.
| Loan type | Volume | Median Rate | Median Total Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| conventional | 3,992 | 6.375% | $7,170 |
| fha | 288 | 6.250% | $17,743 |
| va | 378 | 6.000% | $11,095 |
Ranked by median total loan costs among lenders with 50+ purchase originations in District of Columbia.
| Rank | Lender | Median Total Costs ↑ | Median Rate ↕ | Median Origination ↕ | Volume ↕ | vs. Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5,694 | 5.750% | $731 | 89 | −$1,796 | |
| 2 | $5,768 | 6.250% | $0 | 106 | −$1,722 | |
| 3 | $6,214 | 6.375% | $1,490 | 77 | −$1,276 | |
| 4 | $6,410 | 6.375% | $3,042 | 146 | −$1,080 | |
| 5 | $6,454 | 6.490% | $1,490 | 199 | −$1,036 | |
| 6 | $6,775 | 5.750% | $1,500 | 109 | −$715 | |
| 7 | $6,831 | 6.562% | $1,570 | 114 | −$659 | |
| 8 | $6,872 | 6.000% | $1,490 | 230 | −$618 | |
| 9 | $7,049 | 6.125% | $2,208 | 88 | −$441 | |
| 10 | $7,102 | 6.250% | $1,745 | 93 | −$388 | |
| 11 | $7,139 | 6.375% | $1,691 | 66 | −$351 | |
| 12 | $7,161 | 5.990% | $1,300 | 58 | −$329 | |
| 13 | $7,242 | 5.750% | $1,590 | 95 | −$248 | |
| 14 | $7,402 | 6.490% | $1,675 | 104 | −$88 | |
| 15 | $7,475 | 6.625% | $1,976 | 56 | −$15 | |
| 16 | $7,569 | 6.500% | $1,590 | 371 | +$79 | |
| 17 | $7,582 | 6.500% | $1,640 | 119 | +$92 | |
| 18 | $7,741 | 6.037% | $1,250 | 96 | +$251 | |
| 19 | $8,031 | 6.500% | $1,781 | 170 | +$541 | |
| 20 | $8,340 | 6.500% | $1,920 | 57 | +$850 | |
| 21 | $8,562 | 6.625% | $2,190 | 80 | +$1,072 | |
| 22 | $8,826 | 6.625% | $2,509 | 87 | +$1,336 | |
| 23 | $10,050 | 5.990% | $0 | 59 | +$2,560 | |
| 24 | $10,449 | 6.625% | $6,080 | 245 | +$2,959 | |
| 25 | $10,774 | 6.500% | $4,920 | 72 | +$3,284 |
Includes lenders with 50+ purchase originations in District of Columbia. Source: HMDA 2025. Sorted by median total loan costs.
Total closing costs in DC are elevated relative to national norms, with the DC median landing at $7,482 per HMDA 2024 data. Government-imposed costs — specifically DC's recordation and transfer taxes — are a dominant line item and largely non-negotiable; they represent a higher share of total costs here than in most states. Lender origination fees and third-party service charges (title, settlement, and appraisal) are the components most worth shopping. Title and settlement fees vary meaningfully by provider in DC. Loan type matters significantly: FHA borrowers face a much higher total cost profile than conventional borrowers, primarily due to upfront mortgage insurance. Buyers should request a full Loan Estimate and compare the 'Loan Costs' and 'Other Costs' sections separately across lenders.
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Grades A–F from verified closing disclosure and loan estimate uploads — not industry medians.
See District of Columbia closing cost details, fee benchmarks, and county comparisons → District of Columbia Closing Costs Guide
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Data source: HMDA Modified Loan Application Register 2025, published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Statistics reflect originated first-lien purchase mortgages on owner-occupied principal residences. Medians exclude loans with exempt or unreported fee disclosures. Learn more at ffiec.cfpb.gov.