Congratulations! You’ve searched and searched and thankfully you found your dream home. You applied for a mortgage and completed every step of the home buying process so far. Now, all that’s standing between you and your new home is the closing.

If you’re a first time home buyer, you might be unfamiliar with the closing process.

This article was solely created to fill that gap and answer any questions you may have as you prepare for your big day.

What is a real estate closing?

Closing, also referred to as completion and settlement, is the last step in finalizing the real estate transaction. The seller and the buyer will sign all of the documents required to transfer ownership of the property.

In most cases, ownership is officially transferred when a deed from the seller is delivered to the buyer.

Then, the closing agent will handle filing and completing all required paperwork.

When Does the Closing Take Place?

After all contingencies have been removed and the buyer’s financing has been approved all parties will move forward with closing.

Typically, you want to avoid closing on the last day of the month. If a problem arises you may not have enough time to address the issue and the closing deal may be delayed until the next month resulting in an increase in cost accumulating throughout the month.

Therefore, experts recommend scheduling the closing date around before the 29th of the month to avoid any last minute problems.

Where Does the Closing Happen?

Usually, the title company office or the listing or buying agent’s office is where the closing will take place. If unable to make it to the appointed location some title companies are willing to do mobile closings, where a notary will come to you.

Because this is pretty important for everyone involved make sure to mark your calendars and set an alarm. I recommend arriving remember to set your alarm clock and make sure to get to the appointment minutes early to avoid traffic and allow yourself time to check in with the receptionist.

Who Attends the Closing?

While the people present at a closing will vary depending on the place, in addition to the buyer you may also see the following people:

Both the listing and the buying agent
The seller or the seller’s representative
A representative from the title company
A representative from the lender or mortgage company

The closing agent has the documents that need to be signed and will lead the proceedings.

What Documents Are Signed?

During the closing, you will receive and sign all the documents that transfer the ownership of the property and documents related to your mortgage.

Documents you’ll receive and sign at the closing may include:

Tax forms
Title forms
Deed of trust
Affidavits
Promissory note
Variety of disclosure forms

Do I Need to Bring Anything?

The buyer will be responsible for showing proof of identification and cashier’s check. The check should cover the buyer’s closing cost, including the remainder of the down payment. Some companies may allow you to arrange a wire transfer prior to closing. Be sure the ask the title company for wire instructions and confirm them with both your agent and the title company’s processor.

What Can Go Wrong?

There are few issues that can cause hiccups in closing your transaction. Not having enough money at closing, the lender pulling out, your financial situation drastically changing or the seller not taking care of tax liens can delay closing.

By researching the entire home buying process with an expert, you can ensure that the closing will run smoothly and the property will be transferred without any hitches.

If you are looking for settlement attorney near Kingstowne, you’ve come to the right place. We listed trustworthy and quality home warranty providers below.

In search of other reliable services around the area? Click here for a consolidated list of trusted vendors near you.

title companies

Universal Title

Address: 5971 Kingstowne Village Pkwy, #200, Alexandria, VA 22315

Contact number: (703) 738-1436

Business website: www.universaltitle.com

stewart title

Address: 10505 Judicial Dr #300, Fairfax, VA 22030

Contact number: (703) 352-2900

Business website: www.stewart.com

The Settlement Group, Inc

Address: 6096-B Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310

Contact number: (703) 971-4701

Business website: www.thesettlementgroup.com

mbh settlement group

Address: 5971 Kingstowne Village Pkwy, Suite 210, Alexandria, VA 22315

Contact number: (703) 417-5000

Business website: www.mbh.com

Provident Title & Escrow LLC

Address: 202 Old Keene Mill Rd # B, Springfield, VA 22150

Phone number: (703) 451-6600

Business website: www.provtitle.com

Monarch title, inc

Address: 6800 Backlick Rd Suite 303, Springfield, VA 22150

Contact Number: (703) 852-7710

Business website: monarchtitle.net

Alliance Title & Escrow, Inc

Address: 6800 Backlick Rd, Springfield, VA 22150

Contact number: (703) 451-5206

Business website: www.virginiaclosings.com

fireside settlement and title

Address: 3333 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Contact number: (703) 836-5834

Business website: firesidesettlements.com

Integrity Title, Escrow & Settlement

Address: 1940 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Contact number: (703)997-2179

universal title springfield

Address: 7200 Fullerton Rd, Springfield, VA 22150

Contact number: 877-645-8319

Business website: www.universaltitle.com

Are you thinking about buying a home soon? Check out our Steps to Buying a Home Guide. Feel free to give me a call at 703-539-2053 or email info@AskAWalker.com to schedule a private showing of this or any other property.

Thinking of selling your home? Check out our 20+ step Guide to Selling Your House. Or you can contact me now to start the process immediately. Same day appointments are available on a case by case basis. I look forward to hearing from you.

About the Author: The above article was written by Abraham Walker, Your Northern Virginia Real Estate Agent, helping clients market their homes to achieve high sales with a quick closing time is my main priority. He’s the co-founder of Ask A Walker and can be found on YouTube, Facebook, and HERE on this blog.

I can be reached via email at info@AskAWalker.com or by phone at (703)539-2053. I’m happy to answer all your real estate questions.

I help people sell and buy real estate in the following Northern Virginia area cities & neighborhoods: Kingstowne, Island Creek, Cameron Station, Overlook, Alexandria, Old Town, Belle Haven, Fort Hunt, Mount Vernon, Springfield, West Springfield, Burke, Lorton, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Manassas, Annandale, Fairfax, Arlington, McLean, Reston, Herndon and of course Vienna.

Belle Haven

Fairfax Station

Kingstowne

Lorton

Mount Vernon

Old Town

Woodbridge

What to Expect on Closing Day