01Loan Estimate Guide
What Is Section C on a Loan Estimate?
Section C is the part of page 2 of your Loan Estimate labeled Services You Can Shop For. It identifies mortgage closing services your lender requires but allows you to shop for separately.
Loan Estimate Guide
Title search
Lender's title insurance
Settlement or closing services
Where to find it
Look on page 2 under Loan Costs.
The Loan Costs section of the Loan Estimate is divided into categories. Section A covers Origination Charges. Section B is Services You Cannot Shop For. Section C is Services You Can Shop For.
If a service appears in Section C, that is your signal that shopping for another provider may be possible.
Section C in plain English
Your lender requires the service. You may be able to choose who provides it.
That distinction matters because different providers may charge different amounts for comparable closing services.
Common Section C services
The exact services depend on your loan and transaction.
Section C can include third-party settlement services such as title-related services, settlement or closing services, and other required services the lender permits you to shop. The specific names and charges on your Loan Estimate may differ.
Title search
Research used to identify ownership records, liens, or other title matters.
Lender's title insurance
A title insurance policy that protects the lender's interest, when listed as a shoppable service on your Loan Estimate.
Settlement or closing services
Services related to coordinating and completing the closing when your lender permits you to shop for the provider.
Examples are illustrative. Use the actual Section C on your Loan Estimate to identify the services your lender has listed as shoppable.
Your lender's provider list
You may have more than one place to look.
Your lender should provide a written list of providers for the services you can shop. You can compare providers on that list and may also be able to consider another provider. If you want to use a provider that is not on the lender's list, check with your lender because the lender may need to agree to work with that provider.
Why shopping can matter
Section C prices can vary from provider to provider.
The amount on the Loan Estimate is an estimate for the transaction. Another eligible provider may charge less for the same or comparable service. The potential savings come from comparing the amount on your Loan Estimate with a lower provider price.
There is no guarantee that another provider will be cheaper or that a particular provider can be used for your transaction. The goal is to compare before you decide.
How to shop Section C
A simple five-step approach.
- 01
Find Section C
Open page 2 of your Loan Estimate and locate Services You Can Shop For.
- 02
Write down the service and estimated charge
Use the amount shown on your Loan Estimate as the starting point for the comparison.
- 03
Compare eligible providers
Look at providers that can perform the same service in your market and for your transaction.
- 04
Check with your lender when needed
Confirm any lender requirements before relying on a provider that is different from the lender's list.
- 05
Compare the final charge
After closing, use the Closing Disclosure to see what you actually paid for the applicable services.
Section C and your Closing Disclosure
The final document tells you what happened at closing.
Your Closing Disclosure separates services based on whether the borrower shopped for them. Reviewing the applicable final charges is how you can confirm whether a provider change actually reduced the amount you paid.
See How ClosingCash Confirms Final SavingsHow ClosingCash helps
Start with the Section C you already have.
ClosingCash identifies the relevant Section C services on your Loan Estimate and shows where shopping may be worthwhile, so you do not have to manually sort through every closing-cost line.
Scan My Loan EstimateKeep reading
Related guides
How to Read Section C of Your Loan Estimate
Walk through the service names, estimated charges, provider list, and comparison details that matter when you start shopping.
Which Closing Costs Can You Shop For?
See how to identify shoppable services and what to check before using a provider that is different from the lender's list.
Can Your Lender Require a Closing Provider?
See how Section B and Section C distinguish services the lender controls from services you are allowed to shop.
Page information
Written by Matt Stein, Founder of ClosingCash
Updated
Sources and editorial note
This page provides general educational information. Loan requirements, available services, pricing, provider availability, and lender acceptance can vary by transaction. ClosingCash does not guarantee savings or outcomes.
Read our editorial and corrections policy, or email hello@shopmyclosingcosts.com to suggest a correction.