Thanks to new federal rules covering closing costs on mortgages, home buyers are experiencing a new type of surprise at closing.

Instead of being faced with higher-than-expected costs -- as homebuyers often were shocked to find prior to this year -- the amount needed to close on a mortgage loan is generally the same or lower than the original estimate, experts say.

That's because lenders and brokers, faced for the first time with new penalties if they lowball estimates of upfront mortgage costs, are giving borrowers more realistic cost estimates.

Read more in the Tribune Review.