Depending on prior negotiations, the buyer or the seller could be responsible for these costs, although typically the most of it is paid by the buyer. All closing costs are spelled out in the lender's Good Faith Estimate. If you want to make sure you are paying the least amount possible in closing cost fees, you should get at least three Good Faith Estimates from mortgage lenders. This is only an estimate and the actual charges may differ. If you see a charge that doesn't make sense, or that no other lender has, it's time to ask questions.
Points are equal to a percent of the loan amount.
Discount points represent additional money you can pay to the lender at closing. If you pay more points it will lower the interest rate. Paying points can be good if you plan on living in the home for a long time. Origination fees are often expressed as a percentage. Some lenders add origination points into their quoted points while other lenders add an origination point in addition to their quoted points.