here are nearly a dozen parties involved in processing and approving a mortgage, and everybody wants something for their efforts.

Unavoidable fees
Most fees come with the territory and can't be avoided (you may live in a desert, but you'll still need a flood certification).

With these unavoidable fees, understand what you are paying for and make sure that you aren't being overcharged, but try not to lose sleep over them (it doesn't help).

Lender and broker fees
Lenders and brokers charge for their services in different ways. This can make it difficult to compare the cost of different loans.
Luckily, the federal government requires that all brokers and lenders quote an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) with every loan.

APR
An APR shows the total annual cost of a mortgage (closing costs and interest) over its full term (usually 30 years), shown as a percentage of the amount borrowed. Click here for more details.