Section A on the Loan Estimate (Origination Charges)

The section of your Loan Estimate that lists every fee the lender controls. The most negotiable section.

Page 2 of the Loan Estimate has Section A ("Origination Charges") and Section B ("Services You Cannot Shop For"). Section A is the lender's controllable fees: origination, application, underwriting, processing, points. Section B is mostly third-party services the lender selected on your behalf.

The fastest way to compare two Loan Estimates is to put Section A side by side along with the APR. If lender X has a $1,200 lower Section A AND the same APR, they're cheaper. Period.

Worked examples

Real numbers for common scenarios. These are estimates - your final closing disclosure will reflect the exact fees your specific loan and property require.

Scenario

Reading Section A on the Loan Estimate (Origination Charges) on a Loan Estimate

Inputs

Where it appears: Section A or Section B, page 2
Typical range: $0 to $5,000 depending on lender and loan
Negotiable?: Highly. This is where you push back.

Estimate

Action to take: Get 2-3 Loan Estimates and compare this exact line
Red flag check: When Section A is over 1% of loan amount AND the rate isn't competitive.

Always look at total Section A on the Loan Estimate, not individual line items in isolation.

Run your own numbers

The calculator gives you the same itemized breakdown for any price, down payment, loan type, and location.

Open the calculator

Frequently asked questions

Is the section a on the loan estimate (origination charges) negotiable?+

Highly. This is where you push back. The fastest way to negotiate it down is to bring a competing Loan Estimate from another lender that either doesn't charge it or charges less. Lenders price-match on closing fees regularly.

What's a fair section a on the loan estimate (origination charges)?+

Typical range is $0 to $5,000 depending on lender and loan. Anything outside that range deserves a question to your loan officer about what it's actually paying for.

How should I actually compare two mortgage lenders?+

Get a full Loan Estimate from each on the same loan amount, same lock period, same close date. Compare APR (not rate), Section A (origination charges), Section B (services you can't shop for), and Section J (total estimated closing costs). Most surface-level comparisons miss that one lender is quoting points and the other isn't.

Why don't advertised rates match what I get on a Loan Estimate?+

Advertised rates almost always assume a perfect-credit borrower paying discount points to buy the rate down. The actual rate you're quoted reflects your credit score, loan-to-value, occupancy, property type, lock period, and whether you're paying points. APR is the closer apples-to-apples number.

Is one lender always better?+

No. Pricing is competitive, fees vary by file, and lender strengths differ by product (FHA, VA, jumbo, non-QM, conforming). The right answer is to get 3 to 4 Loan Estimates and pick the one with the best total-cost number for your specific loan.

All numbers shown are estimates for planning purposes. Closing costs, taxes, and fees vary by lender, title company, county, and individual transaction. LoanElk is not a lender, broker, or financial advisor. Your final Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure are the authoritative figures.