| Close the Loan |
After your loan is approved, it will take at
least a week or two to complete the transaction. The lender
will draw up formal loan documents and handle the details. Whether
you're buying or refinancing, the closing itself will probably
take less than an hour.
Closing procedures vary throughout the country. If you're
buying a home, the closing will likely take place in the office
of the escrow agent or attorney who oversees the transaction.
If you're refinancing a loan, the lender will probably call
you into the office to sign the documents. If you're buying
a home, the closing will likely take place in the office of
the escrow agent or attorney who oversees the transaction. |
If you're buying a home, be prepared
to:
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Bring a certified
check or money order for your down payment and closing costs.
The seller won't exchange the house keys for a personal check.
The escrow officer or closing attorney will have a check from
the lender for the amount you have agreed to borrow. |
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Review the final loan documents.
Don't be afraid to ask questions, or to refuse to sign them
if they contain an error. Once your signature is on the loan
papers, you're committed to abiding by their terms for the
next 15 or 30 years. |
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Sign the note and trust deed.
After they're signed, you'll endorse the bank's check and give
it to the seller in exchange for the deed or mortgage to the
property. |
Celebrate!
Enjoy the feeling of owning your own home-and try to remember
that sensation each time you write your monthly mortgage check.
Learn more about your closing responsibilities in Roles and Responsibilities.
Then start thinking ahead. |