Mortgage Loans Closing Procedure | Bank of America
What happens at Closing?
When you purchase a new home, closing day can be a whirlwind. Everything moves fast and there are a lot of papers to sign. It’s a good idea to review what will happen ahead of time, so you can feel prepared and close your loan with confidence.
Who will be there?
The number of people who will attend your closing depends on many factors, including the state where the property is located, the property type, and more. At the closing, in addition to you, the people attending may include:
- your attorney (if you have one)
- the seller(s) or the builder's representative (if you've bought a brand new home)
- the seller’s attorney (if they have one)
- both real estate professionals (yours and the seller’s)
- a lender's representative or your Glossary Term:title company layer (in some cases)
- the closing agent (which could be a representative from the title company or a real estate attorney)
- a notary public
What happens at closing?
- The closing can be held at the title company’s office, your lender’s office, a real estate attorney’s office, or other agreed upon location, depending on the circumstances. Here’s a review of what will happen at closing: you’ll review and sign all of your loan documents. Make sure that each document is explained clearly and that you understand the Glossary Term:term layer to which you are agreeing. If something is different than what you expected or agreed to, don’t sign until the issue is resolved to your satisfaction.
- You’ll provide evidence of required homeowners insurance and inspections (if applicable)
- You’ll give a certified or cashier’s check to cover your down payment (if applicable) closing costs, prepaid interest, taxes and insurance.
- Your lender will distribute the funds covering your home loan amount to the closing agent.
- Depending on your loan terms, you may also be required to set up a new escrow (or impound) account with your lender, so you can pay your property taxes and homeowners insurance along with your monthly mortgage payment.
What are you signing?
The main focus at a closing is to sign the final paperwork. The four main items to review and/or sign during closing are:HUD-1 Settlement Statement: The itemized list of the final credits and charges, for both you and the seller, based on the terms of the contract. You should receive a copy of the HUD-1 at least one day prior to the closing for your review.
Homeowner tip:
Do not sign your Glossary Term:HUD-1 Settlement Statement layer if it’s significantly higher than your Glossary Term:Good Faith Estimate layer (see the Understanding the closing costs section of the article for more about the Good Faith Estimate), if you see a different rate on your loan than you agreed on, or if there are any additional clauses in your paperwork that weren’t explained to you. Don’t sign anything until you can resolve these issues with your lender and are satisfied with all the terms of your loan. If you can’t resolve these issues and you haven’t signed anything, you are free to walk away. Don’t feel pressured—after all, it is your money.
Deed of trust or mortgage: The documents in which you agree to a Glossary Term:lien layer on your property, as security for repayment of your home loan.
The promissory note: The mortgage (or Glossary Term:promissory note layer) is a legal “IOU” that represents your promise to pay the lender according to the agreed terms, including the dates on which you must make your mortgage payments and where they must be sent.
Clarity Commitment® documentFootnote1: As a Bank of America customer, in most cases you will have the advantage of reviewing this one-page summary, written in plain language, highlighting key terms of your loan.
Estimating closing costs
You will also pay Glossary Term:closing costs layer when you sign your final mortgage loan documents. Typically, you can expect to pay about 3% of the total loan amount in closing costs, although that number will depend on the state you are purchasing in and the type of loan you choose.
Understanding the closing costs
You will receive a Good Faith Estimate (or GFE) several days after submitting your loan application. The GFE is an estimate of your loan’s costs.There are many elements that may go into your total closing costs, including: discount Glossary Term:points layer, recording fees, Glossary Term:origination fees layer, appraisal, notary fees, attorney fees, Glossary Term:title insurance layer, and more, depending on your loan program and where you live. Ask your lender to give you an overview of all the fees in your mortgage and to explain any you don’t understand.
Prior to closing your loan, you’ll receive your final HUD-1 Settlement Statement listing your final closing costs. Many of these costs you’ll know ahead of time, as they were listed in your GFE.
Once you’ve determined your closing costs, be sure to bring a certified or cashier’s check for the amount of your closing costs. You’ll need to provide those funds at closing. Typically personal checks aren’t accepted, so make sure to check with your closing agent about which form of payment is acceptable.
Homeowner tip:
Some fees on your Good Faith Estimate and HUD-1 Settlement Statement are paid outside of closing (or “POC”). This means the fees have been paid or must be paid separate from your closing costs. This commonly includes fees for credit reports and appraisals that you will usually pay in advance. Other POC fees may include those paid by your lender to a mortgage broker, but these are usually included in the interest rate or other settlement charge and are not an additional cost to you.
Closing on a home is exciting—whether it’s your first or your tenth. With the right amount of preparation, you’ll enjoy the experience even more.
Reviewed by BARI.0492
on
January 08, 2015
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