When calculating prorations, which expense would typically be prorated at closing?

When calculating prorations at closing, the expense that is typically prorated is interest on loans. This is because the interest on the loan is usually calculated based on the number of days in the current month that the seller has owned the property prior to the closing date.

Prorating this expense accurately ensures that the buyer does not end up paying for interest that accrued before they officially took ownership of the property. Generally, the interest is calculated based on the loan amount and the interest rate, and it is divided by the number of days in the month to find the daily interest amount.

While property taxes, homeowner’s association fees, and insurance premiums can also be prorated, they are usually done so in a different manner. Property taxes may vary depending on local legislation, and homeowner’s association fees could be paid quarterly or annually, often necessitating a different approach to proration based on months owed. Insurance premiums are usually paid in full and may not need proration unless there is a specific arrangement or time frame in place. Hence, interest on loans stands out as a typical expense to prorate at closing.