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Just found out my town charges a 'first time buyer' fee on top of closing costs
I was looking over the closing cost worksheet my loan officer sent over, and I saw a line item for $250 labeled 'FTB Admin Fee'. I had to call the town hall to ask what it was, and they told me it's a flat fee they charge all first time home buyers in our town. The lady on the phone said it helps pay for some local program, but she couldn't really tell me what the program does. I've been saving for years for a down payment, and I budgeted for all the normal stuff like the inspection and the title search, but this feels like a hidden tax just for being new at this. I looked it up and it's right there in the town code, section 12-45. I'm not mad about the money itself, it's more the idea that they just tack it on because they know you're already spending so much you might not notice. Has anyone else run into a random local fee like this? Did you try to fight it or is it just one of those things you have to pay?
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patking1mo ago
Used to think those fees were scams but now I get it.
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milacarr18d ago
Totally felt the same way for years. Saw a fee on my own permit and got mad, then asked what it was for. Turns out it paid for the inspector who came out to check the work, which honestly made the whole project safer. Changed my whole view on it once I saw the actual person doing the job that the fee covered. Now I just figure it's part of doing things right, even if it stings a little.
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