Illinois is a state of contrasts and complexities. Home to the notorious (for settlement services purposes, that is!) Cook County, Illinois is a place that certainly keeps loan officers and title agents preparing CD’s and LE’s on their toes.

Like some of its neighbors to the south, Washington is best known—at least, when it comes to generating a Loan Estimate, for it’s varied and sundry county-specific and city-specific transfer taxes. These also can change from time to time, and never in unison.

California has built a reputation as a heavily regulated state with a  complex system of laws and rules, no matter what part of the economy or society being discussed. So it’s probably no surprise to learn that, when it comes to property fees, taxes and other influences on creating an accurate Loan Estimate and closing, California is one of the trickier places in which to do it.

Many users of LodeStar’s closing cost calculator use it in most or all of the states they do business. However, it’s telling to note that, of all of our single-state users—title companies that prefer to do their LEs and closing cost estimates by hand—the vast majority use it for the state of New York.

When it comes to preparing a TRID Loan Estimate (LE) there might not be a trickier state for your transaction than Maryland, with its myriad of wrinkles and various, differing taxes and requirements.