What is a home inspection fee on a Loan Estimate?

Updated November 2026 · Every dollar figure is an illustrative example, not a quote

A home inspection fee pays an inspector you hire to check the house's condition before you commit to buying it, and roughly $300 to $600 is common for a typical home, with larger homes and extra tests such as radon or sewer scope costing more. The lender does not require it and you usually pay it directly to the inspector days after your offer is accepted; it appears in Section H only if the lender knows about it.

Where it is on the form

Page 2, Section H, Other, as Home Inspection Fee, if the lender lists it. Many estimates omit it entirely because it is paid outside closing and is not the lender's requirement. Do not confuse it with the appraisal in Section B, which the lender orders to value the home, or the pest inspection in Section C.

Illustrative rangeOften $300–$600; more for large homes and add-on tests

The base fee tracks the home's size and age. Radon testing, a sewer camera, a pool, a well and septic, or a termite report each add from under a hundred to a few hundred dollars. Inspectors' rates vary by region, and an inspector is worth choosing for thoroughness over price.

Paid toA home inspector you choose, usually paid directly at the inspection

Can you shop for it?Yes

Can it change at closing?No tolerance limit: It is an estimate and can move either way

The inspection is for you, not the lender. It is the one chance before closing to find the leaking water heater, the amateur wiring in the garage or the roof with three years left, and to go back to the seller for repairs or a price cut while the contract still lets you walk away. The appraisal does none of that; the appraiser is valuing the home, not inspecting it.

Timing: most purchase contracts give an inspection period of a week or two after acceptance. The fee is paid then, and the result can change the deal, which can change the loan, which can mean a revised Loan Estimate. That is normal and not a tolerance problem.

Can you shop for it?

Completely. The inspector is your choice; the lender has no say and usually no involvement. Ask for a sample report, check the state license where one is required, and attend the inspection.

Can it change between the Loan Estimate and closing?

No tolerance limit. It is a service the lender does not require, so it is outside the tolerance rules. It is normally paid before closing and shown on the Closing Disclosure, if at all, as paid outside closing (P.O.C.).

Questions to ask the lender

Does the contract give me an inspection period, and how long is it?
What is included in the base fee, and what tests are extra?
If the inspection finds a problem that changes the price, will you issue a revised Loan Estimate?

Red flags

An inspector recommended by the seller's agent, or one who discourages you from attending.
A contract with the inspection contingency waived in a hurry to win the house.
A home inspection fee in Section H at a price well above what inspectors in the area charge, from a provider the lender or agent chose for you.

Questions people ask

Is a home inspection required for a mortgage?

No. The lender requires an appraisal to value the home; the inspection is for you, to learn its condition. A few loan programs require repairs for specific problems the appraiser notes, but the general inspection is your choice.

Is a home inspection the same as an appraisal?

No. The appraisal is ordered by the lender to decide what the home is worth and appears in Section B. The inspection is ordered by you to find out what is wrong with the house and appears in Section H, if at all.

Can I pay the home inspection fee at closing?

Usually it is paid at the inspection, well before closing, because the inspector wants to be paid and the report comes before you decide to proceed. If it is shown on the Closing Disclosure it is marked as paid outside closing.

Only have one quote? That's the problem.

Tell us the rate and the fees you were quoted. It is free, there is no credit pull, and nobody calls you. We check whether another lender beats it, fees included. Or start with the free Loan Estimate checker, which reads your rate, points and Section A and flags anything out of the ordinary.

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Every dollar figure on this page is illustrative. Fee ranges are general observations, not a survey or a quote, and are not a loan offer, approval, commitment to lend, or Loan Estimate. Your actual rates and fees depend on qualification with lenders, your state and county, and your closing date. The tolerance rules described are the federal TRID rules in general terms; the rule itself and your own Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure decide how it applies to your loan. comparemyloan does not negotiate with lenders, lock rates, or take loan applications.