New York tops in mortgage closing costs, according to a study by Bankrate.com

New York state has the nation’s highest mortgage closing costs for the second consecutive year, according to a study by Bankrate.com.

The organization found that New York led the nation with an average fee of $6,183, followed by Texas, Utah, San Francisco and Idaho. Arkansas was the least expensive area with an average fee of $3,378.

The study found New York closing costs average $2,210 in origination fees and another $3,972 in title and closing costs.

Nationwide, the average origination and title fees on a $200,000 mortgage were $4,070, 8.8 percent higher than a year ago, according to Bankrate’s “2011 Closing Costs Survey.”

“Interest rates get a lot of attention, and rightfully so,” Greg McBride, a senior financial analyst for Bankrate, said in a written statement.

“But it’s also important for consumers to compare lender fees when shopping for a loan.”

Bankrate, which based its data on surveys of lenders in each state in June 2011, obtained online good faith estimates for a $200,000 mortgage to buy a single-family home with a 20 percent downpayment.

Costs include fees charged by lenders, as well as third-party fees for services such as appraisals and title insurance, but excludes taxes, property insurance, association fees, interest and other prepaid items.