The origination fee is what the lender charges to process, underwrite, and close your mortgage. It's typically 0.5% to 1.5% of the loan amount, though it can be higher on specialty products like Non-QM or jumbo loans.
Origination fees appear on the Loan Estimate and the Closing Disclosure in Section A. They are paid at closing, either by writing a check or by rolling them into the loan amount on a refinance.
Origination fees are negotiable. If you have strong credit and shop multiple lenders, you can often get a lower origination fee or a lender credit that offsets it. Always compare two or three Loan Estimates side by side before committing.