State rules / Permissible Fees
California permissible fees
For first-lien residential mortgage loans, total costs and expenses (including origination, processing, and underwriting fees, but excluding title charges and recording fees) are capped at the greater of 5% of the principal or $390, not to exceed $700, and cannot exceed actual costs. Broker compensation (charges) is capped at 5% of principal for loans with terms under 3 years and 10% for terms of 3 years or more. Late payment charges are capped at 10% of the installment due, with a minimum of $5. No interest may be charged before loan proceeds are made available.
Source
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 10242.5
https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/business-and-professions-code/bpc-sect-10242/Permissible Fees in other states
Researched and verified against primary sources by AI, with the controlling citation above. Not human-reviewed and not legal advice — confirm against the cited source before relying on it. Last updated July 6, 2026.