Your Closing Day: What to Expect at the Signing Table

Closing day is the finish line. After months of searching, negotiating, inspecting, and waiting, you are about to become a homeowner. In California, closing happens through escrow, so signing and getting your keys are usually separate days. Here is what to expect so you go in prepared.

Before escrow closes, you will do a final walkthrough of the property, usually in the last few days before closing. This is your last chance to verify that agreed-upon repairs were completed, the home is in the same condition as when you went under contract, and all items included in the sale are still there. Check that appliances work, run the water, flush toilets, and test light switches. If something is wrong, tell your agent immediately. It may delay closing, but it is better than discovering a problem after you own the home.

In California, you usually sign your loan and escrow documents a few days before closing, at the escrow office or with a mobile notary. Expect a thick stack. The key documents include your promissory note (your promise to repay the loan), the deed of trust (which gives the lender a security interest in the property), and the Closing Disclosure (your final statement of loan terms and costs, which you must receive at least three business days before you sign your loan documents — in California that signing usually happens a few days before the sale records). You will also complete a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report for the county assessor; the seller signs the grant deed that transfers ownership to you. The escrow officer or notary will walk you through each document. Do not rush — ask about anything you do not understand.

If travel, a deployment, or a medical issue keeps you from signing, ask your escrow officer and lender about your options as early as possible. A power of attorney lets someone you choose sign for you, but not every lender or title company accepts one. When they do, they usually want a specific power of attorney written for this one transaction, signed recently, and notarized, and they often review the document in advance. Start this weeks before closing, not days. A simpler route may exist: many escrow offices can send a mobile notary to you, or ship the documents for you to sign where you are, and some lenders accept remote online notarization. Ask which ones your lender and escrow office will take.

Bring a government-issued photo ID for everyone signing. Your down payment and closing costs go to escrow before closing, usually by wire; a cashier's check may need an extra business day to clear, and personal checks are not accepted for large amounts. Before you wire, confirm the instructions by calling your escrow officer at a number you already have — never rely on wiring details sent by email. Your escrow officer will give you the exact amount and deadline. Your lender also needs proof of homeowners insurance before funding, so arrange it early, especially in wildfire-prone areas where the California FAIR Plan may be part of your coverage.

• ✓Do your final walkthrough carefully — it is your last chance to catch problems
• ✓In California you usually sign a few days before closing; the sale closes when the deed records
• ✓Wire funds to escrow only after confirming the instructions by phone on a known number
• ✓Expect a supplemental property tax bill after you buy
• ✓Can't attend the signing? Ask your lender and escrow officer early whether they accept a power of attorney or remote signing