Median Total Costs
$7,546
+13.0% vs national ($6,680)
↑ $330 vs prior year
Median Rate
6.380%
−1.7% vs national (6.490%)
Median Origination
$3,390
Purchase Originations
8,523
Denial Rate
7.7%
vs national avg (9.0%)
Montana uses a non-judicial foreclosure process, allowing lenders to foreclose through a trustee sale without court involvement when a deed of trust is used, which is the standard instrument for most residential mortgages in the state. Montana is not an attorney-required closing state; licensed title companies and escrow agents may conduct closings without attorney involvement. The state imposes no real estate transfer tax at the state level, which distinguishes it from many other states and can reduce seller-side closing costs. Title insurance rates in Montana operate under a prior-approval system, meaning insurers must file rates with the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance and receive approval before use. Montana does not have a standalone consumer financial protection bureau; federal CFPB oversight applies. Prepayment penalties on residential mortgages are subject to federal Regulation Z restrictions, and Montana has enacted additional state-level restrictions under Mont. Code Ann. §32-5-306, generally prohibiting prepayment penalties on consumer loans. Buyers should confirm whether their county imposes any local documentary or transfer fees, as practices can vary at the county level.
Conventional loans dominate Montana's purchase market, accounting for 66.1% of originations per HMDA 2024 data, reflecting the state's relatively high home prices and a borrower pool that frequently exceeds FHA income and loan limits. VA loans represent a notable 16.6% share — the second-largest segment — tied to military personnel and veterans connected to Malmstrom Air Force Base and other installations. FHA loans account for 16.2% of volume, serving first-time and lower-down-payment buyers. USDA loans are a small but present 1.1%, reflecting limited eligible rural zones relative to total purchase activity.
Stockman Bank of Montana
Montana's top lender by purchase origination volume in the HMDA 2024 data, with 928 originations and a median total closing cost of $6,982. As a Montana-chartered community bank with branches across the state, it has broad in-state reach including rural and agricultural markets.
Glacier Bank
A regional bank headquartered in Kalispell, Montana, with a strong presence across the northern Rockies. It recorded 494 purchase originations in the HMDA 2024 data with a median total closing cost of $7,901, above the state median.
Opportunity Bank of Montana
A Montana-based community bank with 470 purchase originations in the HMDA 2024 data and the lowest median total closing costs among the top five lenders at $6,080, making its fee profile worth examining when comparing options.
| Loan type | Volume | Median Rate | Median Total Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| conventional | 5,565 | 6.625% | $6,572 |
| fha | 1,491 | 5.990% | $12,944 |
| va | 1,389 | 6.125% | $6,772 |
| usda | 78 | 5.990% | $8,114 |
Ranked by median total loan costs among lenders with 50+ purchase originations in Montana.
| Rank | Lender | Median Total Costs ↑ | Median Rate ↕ | Median Origination ↕ | Volume ↕ | vs. Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3,783 | 6.000% | $0 | 72 | −$3,763 | |
| 2 | $4,386 | 6.375% | $500 | 58 | −$3,160 | |
| 3 | $4,737 | 6.250% | $0 | 343 | −$2,809 | |
| 4 | $4,996 | 6.375% | $2,055 | 74 | −$2,550 | |
| 5 | $5,228 | 6.375% | $1,483 | 72 | −$2,318 | |
| 6 | $5,277 | 6.625% | $1,450 | 57 | −$2,269 | |
| 7 | $5,396 | 6.490% | $1,767 | 178 | −$2,150 | |
| 8 | $6,227 | 6.875% | $1,442 | 72 | −$1,319 | |
| 9 | $6,261 | 6.500% | $3,357 | 57 | −$1,285 | |
| 10 | $6,272 | 6.625% | $2,851 | 67 | −$1,274 | |
| 11 | $6,365 | 6.125% | $2,218 | 473 | −$1,181 | |
| 12 | $6,765 | 6.250% | $2,966 | 60 | −$781 | |
| 13 | $6,826 | 6.750% | $2,746 | 100 | −$720 | |
| 14 | $7,127 | 6.250% | $3,495 | 923 | −$419 | |
| 15 | $7,234 | 6.500% | $2,880 | 81 | −$312 | |
| 16 | $7,289 | 6.575% | $3,099 | 390 | −$257 | |
| 17 | $7,338 | 6.500% | $2,414 | 206 | −$208 | |
| 18 | $7,349 | 6.500% | $3,239 | 249 | −$197 | |
| 19 | $7,471 | 6.475% | $2,229 | 299 | −$75 | |
| 20 | $7,843 | 6.463% | $3,117 | 642 | +$297 | |
| 21 | $8,128 | 6.438% | $3,776 | 50 | +$582 | |
| 22 | $8,284 | 6.375% | $4,170 | 561 | +$738 | |
| 23 | $8,584 | 6.125% | $3,604 | 149 | +$1,038 | |
| 24 | $8,723 | 6.250% | $4,720 | 133 | +$1,177 | |
| 25 | $8,962 | 6.125% | $3,076 | 77 | +$1,416 |
Includes lenders with 50+ purchase originations in Montana. Source: HMDA 2025. Sorted by median total loan costs.
Total closing costs in Montana typically range from roughly 1.5% to 3% of the loan amount, varying by loan type and lender. Origination fees and discount points represent the largest variable line items and differ most significantly across lenders. Title insurance premiums and escrow fees are set under a file-and-use rate environment, meaning some shopping is possible but rate variation is moderate. FHA loans carry mandatory mortgage insurance premiums — both upfront and annual — that significantly inflate total costs compared to conventional loans, as reflected in the HMDA data. Buyers should pay particular attention to lender origination charges and whether quoted rates include discount points, since those two items account for the widest cost differences between competing offers in this market.
Got a Montana Closing Disclosure or Loan Estimate?
HMDA medians tell you what Montana lenders usually charge. Upload your paperwork to see exactly how your quote compares — and get a ready-to-send negotiation email.
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Grades A–F from verified closing disclosure and loan estimate uploads — not industry medians.
Yellowstone County
1,598 originations
Gallatin County
1,072 originations
Flathead County
861 originations
Missoula County
835 originations
Cascade County
763 originations
Lewis and Clark County
675 originations
Ravalli County
339 originations
Silver Bow County
320 originations
Lincoln County
158 originations
Lake County
149 originations
Jefferson County
118 originations
Park County
118 originations
Broadwater County
112 originations
Hill County
107 originations
Custer County
100 originations
See Montana closing cost details, fee benchmarks, and county comparisons → Montana Closing Costs Guide
Found your lender? Make sure their quote is fair.
HMDA data shows industry-wide medians. Your actual quote may differ. Upload your Closing Disclosure or Loan Estimate to see exactly where your fees stand — and get a ready-to-send negotiation email.
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.