How Long Does a House Closing Take?

June 22, 2018

The process of buying a house can be long, drawn out, and even overwhelming for the first-time homebuyer. Even seasoned homeowners undertaking the process again can find the process stressful and draining. That's because a lot goes into finding the right home, making offers on the property, and finally entering the closing phase, which can be confusing for new homebuyers. By the time a homebuyer reaches this part of the process, he will no doubt want to ask, how long does a house closing take? Most homebuyers are ready by this time to be finished with the process and get on with the business of settling into their new home.

How Long Does a House Closing Take?A house closing is when both buyer and seller meet to "close the deal." It sounds simple on the surface, but there are a few factors that could come into play that might delay the closing of the deal. Typically, when all goes according to plan and everything is in place, the buyer and seller meet at an agreed upon place and sign the deal, effectively closing the deal. It is not, however, necessary that both the buyer and seller be present at the same time. A closing agent, lawyer, or title insurance agent will be present at all times, ensuring that all the details of the closing are ironed out on both sides. The closing agent will facilitate the closing of the deal with both parties before the title, funds, and other pertinent documents are released from the escrow account. This process can go relatively fast or it can be a drawn-out process, depending on one or more factors that need to be satisfied before closing can occur.



How long does a house closing take? This is a tricky question to answer. The actual day of the closing can go quickly, in a couple of hours or less if everything is in place and all obligations have been met by the buyer and seller. Signing the papers is the biggest challenge at this point, and since you will have a title insurance agent, lawyer, real estate agent, or some combination thereof present to walk you through it, the process can be over before you know it. The time leading up to the actual day of closing can be several months, depending upon how quickly a loan is approved by the lender, how quickly the title search happens, and how fast the seller can vacate the property being sold. This is all worked out in advance, though it can be subject to change as issues arise along the way that need to be addressed.

Unfortunately, closing can be delayed, and in some cases, completely dropped for a variety of reasons. Some of these include problems found with the deed, missing documents, changes in marital status of the seller or buyer, discovery of previously unknow heirs to property, undisclosed debt found on seller's credit report, undisclosed information necessary for legal sale of a property, and a range of other issues that could cloud a title.

What happens at a Closing?The days and weeks before your closing will be hectic. You're ready to move. You will be packing your old house, making arrangements to move, and trying to get all of the utilities switched over. All of this will be going on with the upcoming closing on the horizon.

Maybe you have an attorney lined up to help you with negotiations and other things associated with closing on your property. Your attorney will be there to walk you through the details of the closing process, look over documents associated with the closing process, and let you know exactly what kind of money you'll need to bring. Your lender will let you know what needs to happen to ensure your loan is in place. If you haven't already walked through the house a final time, this can be scheduled by your real estate agent or an authorized party.

On closing day, you may expect to arrive at the agreed upon location, sign the papers, and walk away a new homeowner. If all goes well, that's the way it will happen. By the time you've reached the actual closing, many things will have had to happen. Some of these include title search, proof of at the minimum lender's title insurance, all inspections completed, property appraisal by the lender, loan approval (which can take 30 days or longer), seller obligations (proof of home inspections), deposit of the deed to the property, signed by seller and notarized, buyer's inspection, signed escrow instructions, notarized deed, signed and notarized deed of trust and promissory note from buyer, all funds deposited from lender, with remaining deposits from buyer, proof of home insurance, and any other items required from the buyer or seller. Once all of the obligations pertaining to the sale of the property have been met and all documents and funds have been deposited into an escrow account, closing will commence. Buyer and seller can sign papers together or separately. In Florida, closing is handled by a title insurance agent, lawyer, or even a notary. The final steps of a closing include signing a large stack of contracts and then making the exchange of funds and deed.

A Smoother Closing Experience in FloridaWhen you're ready to close a real estate transaction in Florida, Key Title & Escrow is the best title and escrow company in the state. Key Title & Escrow has been serving the real estate industry for more than 21 years. We've built a reputation for efficient closings statewide. At Key Title & Escrow, we take pride in our work and strive to provide top-notch customer satisfaction that we hold to a high level of standards. Our professionalism, fast and reliable service, and our commitment to getting the job done is the center of all that we do. If you need title and escrow services in Florida, make Key Title & Escrow your first choice. Our quality of service and our level of commitment to serving the needs of our clients, whether you are a buyer, seller, or a real estate professional, is beyond compare.


Once you place your order with us, we will go to work immediately to ensure everything falls into place so you're closing goes as stress-free and error-free as possible. We're big enough to do the job and small enough to give our clients the personal attention they deserve. We handle closings state wide and offer after-hours closings to meet the needs of our clients. Whether you are a lender, a realtor, a seller, or a buyer, Key Title & Escrow is the title and closing agency for you. We always have your best interests at the forefront of everything we do. Our goal will always be to provide you with the fastest, highest-quality closing possible. If you are in need of title insurance, title and escrow services, and closing services in Florida, contact Key Title & Escrow today and let us show you how we can work for you.

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