WHY DOES IT COST SO MUCH TO SELL OR BUY A HOME?

Every so often, I get the "deer in the headlights"  look from a seller at the closing table. Some sellers ask "Why do you charge me so much  to sell my home?"
Some call me and tell  me to "sharpen my pencil" that one makes my blood boil!
I love what I do to make others dreams come true.
I insure and protect the American dream and that is pretty awesome responsibility.
In order to achieve this I have to do a lot of work.
Examine the title, commit to the conditions to insure.
As the neutral  escrow agent, I follow contract and lender instructions to complete the deal-
Keep in touch with ALL parties and hope they return calls and co-operate to get it done.
Then there's Real estate agents, inspectors, insurance agents, city and county offices, attorneys,
and we collect the lender's charges for the mortgage loan.
 Sometimes, there are well meaning relatives who think they  know more than we. Loan officers and their processors, who have different stories to tell  buyers, get mortgage pay-offs, taxes, appointments for signing -one each for buyer and seller. This is an escrow closing area. Make sure deed and mortgage are filed on time, and disburse the funds to all involved including paying off the mortgage. We wire most of these and it is not free and..when it is all over...
I issue a title insurance  policy to protect the American Dream!
Do you have any idea the number of hours we put into a real estate transfer title?
Much of what is charged, I am collecting for another party -: the county/state  transfer tax (a biggie) and we collect the lender's charges for the mortgage loan. and the
real estate commission, the biggest biggie.
I totally believe in educating the buyers and sellers through our free workshops, consultations, plus
 the zillions of phone calls I take and explain costs up front.
 Sometimes they  "forget".
We are the low man(or woman) on the totem pole when it comes to fees involved in a real estate purchase or sale, I started  Gateway Title 21 years ago.
I guess I keep  doing this  because I love it!
Call me when you are buying or selling for a free estimate and explanation of the costs involved. PS. Did you know the seller and buyer have a right to choose the title company used for their closing?