“Closing” is the last step of buying and financing a home and when the property is officially transferred from the seller to you. At Closing you and all the other parties in the mortgage loan transaction sign the necessary documents.
Your Closing may include some or all of these entities: real estate agents, your attorney, the seller’s attorney, lender’s representative, title and escrow firm representatives, clerks, secretaries, and other staff. Closing can take anywhere from 1-hour to several depending on contingency clauses in the purchase offer, or any escrow instructions needing to be executed.
Most paperwork in closing or settlement is done by attorneys and real estate professionals. You may or may not be involved in some of the closing activities; it depends on who you are working with.
Prior to closing you should have a final inspection, or “walk-through” to insure requested repairs were performed, and items agreed to remain with the house are there such as drapes, lighting fixtures, etc.
In most states the settlement is completed by a title or escrow firm in which you forward all materials and information plus the appropriate cashier’s checks or bank wire so the firm can make the necessary disbursement. Your representative will deliver the check to the seller, and then give the keys to you.