The biggest upfront cost in purchasing a home is the down payment. 
Traditional lenders typically expect borrowers to put at least 20% of a loans total amount down. If a borrower is unable to do that, they are required to purchase Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI), which protects the lender in case of default by the borrower.
Make sure you get a clear indication as to the downpayment percentage your lender requires. You will probably want to know what kind of documentation your lender requires to verify that you have funds for the down payment.
If Private Mortgage Insurance is required because you are not able to put down the 20% on your purchase, be sure to ask your lender what the total cost of the insurance will be, how much it will increase your monthly payment and how long you’ll be required to carry the insurance.
