After the searching for a home is done, the negotiations have been completed, the house has been inspected, and the mortgage has been applied for and committed to, the focus suddenly turns to the Closing, Settlement, or Escrow as it is known in some localities.

What is involved?

It is the proverbial "signing on the dotted line:" the process of which will put the title to the house in your name, verify homeowners' insurance on the property, commit in writing to the terms of the mortgage, and usually, put the keys to the house in your hands. In general, you will leave the closing and go to your new home as a homeowner. The weeks and months of anticipation are all settled in the short amount of time that you spend at the closing.

Closing procedures will vary from locality to locality. In some areas, the buyers and sellers (as well as their Real Estate Agents) will all attend the closing. In other areas, only the buyers will be present. The closing will take place at the office of an Attorney, a Title Company, or an Escrow Company (again, there is some variance here based on your local laws and tradition). In general, though, the closing will be attended by all of the buyers involved and their Real Estate Agent, as well as the Closing Agent, who has reviewed all of the components of the house sale.

What forms are involved?

Although there may be additional documents involved, the primary items which are dealt with at the Closing are: The Settlement Statement The Contract The Loan Papers Title Insurance Homeowners' Insurance The Title or Deed The Down Payment and Closing Costs The Closing is your final opportunity to make certain that everything related to the purchase of your home is correct. It is important, therefore, that you do adequate preparation prior to the day of Closing.

The following are the most important items that you will need prior to or at closing and some hints regarding them:

A Closing cost estimate: This should first be given to you by your Agent at the time of the contract, and then given to you by the Lender, a Good Faith Estimate, shortly after the application for the loan. This should give you a reasonably close estimate of funds you will need at the time of closing.

Homeowners' Insurance Policy: This must be secured prior to the date of closing.

Settlement Statement: You or your agent should have a copy of the Settlement Statement before the date of Closing. Generally this will not be available until one or two days prior to the actual Closing, but it is important to have it because it gives you the total amount of cash you will need at Closing and also how those various funds will be dispersed. In addition, it gives you an opportunity to iron out any discrepancies prior to sitting down at the Closing table. Your Agent should also have a copy for review.

Certified Funds: On the day of Closing you will need certified funds for closing costs and down payments. This is an important reason for needing a copy of the Settlement Statement a day or two in advance--so you know the amount of funds needed and so that any problems can be handled in advance.