Congrats! 🎉 We’re in the home stretch!

Closing isn’t a singular event – it’s a series of small steps. Here’s what’s ahead:

1. Loan docs prepped – We send your closing package to the settlement agent, who adds a few final forms and prepares everything for signing.

2. Final numbers confirmed – The settlement agent balances with our closer and gives you the exact amount to send (minus any earnest money or deposits).

3. Send funds – Time to pay up! Wire transfer or cashier’s check only—no personal checks, money orders, or duffel bags of cash.

4. Signing appointment – The closing agent schedules a time for you to sign (and sign… and sign…).

5. Loan funding – On closing day, we wire your loan funds to the settlement agent.

6. Recording – Once loan funds arrive at closing, your purchase and new mortgage are recorded in public records, and… you officially own a home! 🎉

From “clear to close” to keys in hand typically takes 3 to 5 business days. 

Loan documents prepped – 1 to 2 days

Signing scheduled – Compare calendars with your settlement agent

Closing – Depends on your state: 
• “Wet” funding states – Signing and closing are on the same day.
• “Dry” funding states (OR, WA, CA, AK, AZ, HI, ID, NV, NM) – You usually sign 1-2 business days before closing.

Nope! And they may not even happen on the same day. 

Signing – You put pen to paper and sign closing documents. 

Closing – Your purchase officially records in public record.

Think of signing as preparation for closing. 

The difference between wet and dry funding is timing:

Wet funding – Signing and closing happen on the same day –  before the ink has time to dry on the papers you just signed. You sign, funds are verified, and deeds are recorded with the county in one exciting whirlwind of a day. 

Dry funding (Oregon, Washington, California, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, and New Mexico) – Signing is usually 1 to 2 business days before closing. Timing is more relaxed, and the ink has time to dry between signing and closing. 

Your settlement agent will provide the exact amount 2 to 5 days before closing after we send your loan documents.
 
This timing may feel last-minute, but we fine-tune the numbers as we prepare for your signing. But don’t worry… there shouldn’t be any surprises!

We work hard to provide accurate estimates along the way: 
• Loan Summaries while you shop
• Loan Estimate (LE) once your offer is accepted
• Closing Disclosure (CD) when your loan is approved

The numbers should be old hat by the time you sign the final CD at closing!

Absolutely! As closing approaches, you can send a wire or drop off a cashier’s check at the closing agent’s office. 

If you’re receiving outside funds—like a family gift or proceeds from a home sale—have those sent, too. Everything you send ahead gets applied to the total. And if you overpay, you’ll receive a refund after closing. 

Pro tip: If you’re worried about timing, busy, or want to check “send money” off your to-do list, err a little high and wire funds beforehand. I do this myself when I buy my own home – it’s one less thing to worry about on signing day. 

In a large black duffle bag, small bills with non-sequential serial numbers. Kidding…please don’t do that. 
 
Closing funds must be certified – either a wire transfer or a cashier’s check. (No personal checks, credit cards, or duffel bags of cash.)

Important: Always verify wiring instructions directly with the closing agent before sending a wire. Wire fraud is real – but a quick Google search, a confirmation call, and you’re 100% scam-proof. 

Yes! Here’s what you need to bring: 

Government-issued photo ID – Driver’s license, passport, military ID, etc.
A second form of ID – Credit card, Costco card, insurance card—anything with your name as it will appear on title.
Closing funds – If you haven’t wired money in advance, bring a cashier’s check (no personal checks, money orders, or Venmo, sorry!).

That’s it! Your friendly closing agent will take care of the rest—just show up, sign, and get ready to celebrate. 🎉

Possibly! Anyone on the loan or taking ownership must be there to sign at least a few documents. Plus, buying a home is a big deal – you may want them there for moral support, a high-five, and selfies. 

Your spouse may have some documents to sign even if they’re not on the loan or title. Particularly if you’re buying in: 
• Community property states – AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI
• Certain homestead rights states  – AR, FL, IL, IA, KS, KY, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, SD, TN, UT, VT, WY

When in doubt, ask your settlement agent. They’ll confirm who needs to be at the signing and what (if anything) your spouse needs to sign. 

Plan for 45 minutes to an hour. 

Let us know if you’re short on time or want to review documents beforehand. We’ll do our best to send loan documents early and ask your closing agent to share copies before your signing appointment.

Ask away! Your closing agent, real estate agent, and our team are all available to help out and answer questions. (Also, further down this page, check our Reasonably Comprehensive Index of Mortgage Closing Documents.)

No problem – so long as we plan ahead!

If you can’t make it to the closing agent’s office, here are your options:

Mobile Notary (aka “mail away”) – A notary comes to you.
Cost: $150-$250 plus overnight delivery fees. 
Timing: Extra 1-2 days for documents to get back in time for closing. 

Power of Attorney (POA) – You authorize someone to sign on your behalf.
Cost: ~$100 extra recording fee. 
Timing: No delay, as long as the POA is set up early. (Underwriting must approve the document and the reason you need a POA.) 

Remote Online Notary (RON) – You sign digitally via a live video session.
Cost: $150-$200 service fee. 

Timing: No delay, as long as your state, loan, and closing agent allow RON. Note: if anyone signs digitally, everyone must sign digitally. 
Keep us in the loop! If you can’t sign in person, let us know ASAP – choosing the right alternative signing early helps keep closing on track.

If you’ll be outside the U.S. at closing, let’s plan ahead. Here are your options: 

Signing at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate 
• Requires an appointment and may require travel.
• Original documents must be mailed back to the U.S. before closing, which may cause a delay.

Power of Attorney (POA) 
• You authorize someone in the U.S. to sign for you.
• Keeping documents stateside avoids international mailing delays.

Remote Online Notarization (RON) 
• You can sign fully online if your state, loan type, and closing agent allow it.
• You’ll need stable internet and a webcam. We may need to set up access for your IP address.

As soon as you know you’ll be overseas, let us know – we’ll find the best option. 

It depends. We allow online closings – called remote online notarization (RON). However, not all states, loan types, and settlement agents are compatible with RON. 

A notary is present at every loan closing to verify your identity, guide you through documents, and ensure everything is signed correctly. This usually happens in person at a title company or attorney’s office.

But if your closing is eligible, we offer RON through Stavvy. RON closings require planning – but once set up, the process is simple: 
• Log in at your scheduled time.
• Verify your identity by scanning your ID and answering challenge questions (Pro tip: Having your credit report handy makes this easier!).
• Meet your notary, who walks you through signing—just like an in-person closing.

Requirements for RON include a stable internet connection and a webcam, and (if you are outside the U.S.) possibly pre-approved access to your IP address.

Interested in RON? Let us know, and we’ll verify eligibility and set it up!

Maybe! Closing with a Power of Attorney (POA) is usually allowed, but there are some rules:

• Valid reason – You must provide a letter explaining why you need a POA. Generally, it must be due to hardship (work obligations, family emergency) rather than convenience (vacation).
• Recorded at closing – The POA must be recorded with other documents.
Eligible agent – The person signing for you can’t have an interest in the transaction (e.g., your realtor, lender, title company, the seller, etc). 
• Limited Power of Attorney – The POA must be specific to this transaction, referencing the property and loan amount.*
• Pre-Approved by Underwriting – The underwriter must review and approve the POA before closing.

*Exception: If you have a Durable Power of Attorney for someone who can’t execute a new Limited POA (e.g., a parent with dementia, legal guardianship, or a deployed military spouse), an exception may be possible.

Because lawyers. Kidding (sort of).
 
If the world were a simpler place, you and the seller would spit on your palms, shake hands, and sign three documents: 

• Promissory Note – Your agreement to repay the loan.
• Deed of Conveyance (usually a Warranty Deed) – Transfers ownership to you and gets recorded in public records.
• Deed of Trust or Mortgage – Ties your loan to the property and records it as a lien.

Money borrowed. Ownership transferred. Loan secured. Easy, right?

But alas, modern real estate transactions come with layers of legal and regulatory requirements, so you’ll sign a whole bunch of other stuff to stay compliant with lending and settlement rules. 

Curious to know what else you’ll be signing. Scroll down to our Reasonably Comprehensive Index of Mortgage Closing Documents. 

A whole bunch! It’s a big stack, but here are the key documents to look out for:

• Closing Disclosure (CD) – A final breakdown of your loan terms and closing costs.
• Promissory Note – Your agreement to repay the loan under the specified terms. 
• Deed of Conveyance – Signed by the seller. When recorded in public record, ownership transfers to you. 
• Deed of Trust or Mortgage – The “security instrument” that legally ties your loan to your home. Recorded as a lien.
• Initial Escrow Disclosure – Explains how your property taxes and insurance will be handled.

For more, scroll down to our Reasonably Comprehensive Index of Mortgage Closing Documents.

Absolutely! However, aside from the closing disclosure, a preview of documents doesn’t happen automatically. 

The Closing Disclosure (which you’ll receive at least 3 days before you sign) lays out all the key numbers and terms:
• Interest rate
• Loan term
• Closing costs
• Monthly Payment
• What’s included in your payment
• Projected interest costs

Closing, however, involves a lot of additional legal, loan, and compliance documents.

If you’d like to review everything before signing, let us know. We’ll do our best to get the documents out early and ask the closing agent to share an advance copy for you to review. 

You’ll sign an Initial Escrow Account Disclosure Statement at closing if your monthly payment includes property taxes and/or homeowners insurance. 

An escrow is any account in which a third party holds money for someone else. In this escrow, your lender is the third party, and the money is to pay your property taxes and insurance when they come due.

The Escrow Disclosure outlines:
• The starting balance in your account (your initial deposits).
• How much you add each month as part of your mortgage payment.
• Projected payments over the next year for future property taxes and homeowners insurance.

As the name hints, this isn’t a one-time disclosure—each year, you’ll receive an Annual Escrow Disclosure Statement reporting on account activity and adjusting your monthly payment based on changes to property taxes or insurance premiums.

Inconceivable! But if something looks amiss, let us know ASAP. We’ll take a look and figure out what’s amiss. 

Mistakes are rare but can happen (we’re only mostly perfect). If something slipped past us, we’ll be quick to make any necessary corrections. 

Yup! The notary helping you sign will make a copy of the entire closing package – either as a paper packet or digitally on a thumb drive.

Keep these documents in a safe place. And put the Closing Disclosure on top—you’ll need it for your income tax return this year!

It’s a long-standing tradition to wear a sleeveless jacket – or “vest” – when signing closing documents. The origins of this tradition are obscure, but according to Wikipedia… just kidding! (But not entirely*)

“Vesting” refers to how your ownership is legally structured – ownership rights, control of the property, taxation, and inheritance. (You know, just a few minor details. /s)

At closing, you’ll “take title” to your new home. How you vest title determines who owns the property, how much of the property each person owns, how the title transfers if something happens to you, and potential tax implications.

Talk to a real estate or estate planning attorney if you’re unsure how to vest your title. (Let us know if you need a referral.)

* “Vesting” comes from the Latin word “vestire,” meaning “to clothe.” You clothe yourself in legal rights to a property at closing. But hear me out… wouldn’t it be fun if you got an actual vest, too? Maybe one like bikers wear, embroidered with “Deeded & Dangerous” and an image of your house on the back? 🤔

Here are a few ways to hold title:
• Sole Ownership – One person owns the property individually. 
• Tenants by the Entirety – Joint ownership with strong asset protection, available only to legally married couples in about half of U.S. states.
• Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship – Two or more owners hold equal shares, and ownership automatically transfers to the other(s) if one passes away.
• Tenancy in Common – Two or more owners can have different ownership percentages. If one dies, their share goes to their heirs instead of co-owners.
• Community Property – In community property states (AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI), spouses share equal ownership of property acquired during marriage.
• Living Trust—A revocable trust owns the property. This is a common estate planning tool to avoid probate and simplify inheritance.
• Corporation, LLC, or Partnership—A business entity owns the property. This type of ownership is typically used for investment properties and can offer liability protection, but it restricts loan options. 

The title company or lawyer closing your transaction will ask how you want to hold title and follow your directions when preparing the deed.

Not sure which option is best? It’s worth consulting a real estate or estate planning attorney.

A Right of Survivorship (ROS) means that when one co-owner of a property dies, their share automatically transfers to the other surviving owners.

Key features of Right of Survivorship… 
• Avoids probate – Do not pass go; do not go through probate (which is costly, complicated, and time-consuming).
• Should overrule a will – A deceased owner’s share likely won’t go to other heirs. 
• Simplifies estate planning – Ownership transfers without a will, trust, or court involvement.

Right of Survivorship is commonly used in Joint Tenancy and Tenancy by the Entirety (for married couples in certain states).

Not sure if ROS is right for you? A real estate or estate planning attorney can help. (Need a referral? Just ask!)

It depends! Check with your real estate broker or review your purchase contract to find the possession date—possession is when you get keys. 
Possibilities for possession: 
• Typical possession – You get keys after the deed is recorded, usually at a specified time on the day of closing.
• Rent-Back Agreement – The seller gets to stay in the home after closing. You get possession after the negotiated rent-back period.
• Early Occupancy – In rare cases (and with some risk), you might negotiate for access to the home before closing. (But did we mention this is risky?)

Whatever the timing, Key Day is exciting! Your real estate agent will coordinate pickup and be there to celebrate with you. 

Signing is a big milestone – and usually your last chore. But your home purchase isn’t official until a few final steps happen:

1. Fund verification –The settlement agent confirms they’ve received your wired funds or cashier’s check and that the amount matches the final balance due.

2. Lender review – We verify all documents are completed and signed.

3. Loan funding – We wire loan funds to your settlement agent. 

4. Recording – The closing agent files the deed (transferring ownership to you) and the mortgage or deed of trust (securing the loan) with the county.

Welcome home! 🔑🎉– Now your new home is truly yours.