The whole process usually takes 30 to 60 days from when your offer is accepted.

Lots of paperwork? Yes. Confusing terms? Maybe. Worth it when you're holding those keys? Absolutely.

Here's what actually happens when closing on a house, explained in terms that won't make your head spin.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Quick Closing Process Checklist

• Get a home inspection scheduled and completed early
• Lock down homeowners insurance quotes from at least three companies
• Read your closing disclosure at least three days before signing
• Arrange a cashier's check or wire transfer for closing costs
• Schedule the final walk-through the day before closing (or on the way to the closing location)

What Does Closing on a House Actually Mean?

Closing is when ownership transfers from the home seller to you. That's it. Everything else is paperwork to make that transfer legal and protect everyone involved.

Closing usually happens at a title company office or an attorney's office. You'll sign documents. Pay the remaining costs. Get your keys.

Before Closing Day: What You Need to Handle First

Get a Home Inspection (And Know What to Do With the Results)

A home inspection aims to spot problems before they become your responsibility.

The inspector checks the home’s structure, plumbing, and electrical system, and looks for pests. They're basically finding all the things the seller hoped you wouldn't notice. Foundation cracks. Leaky pipes. Faulty wiring. Termites partying in the basement.

Now what?

You have options. You could ask the seller to fix it before closing, or negotiate the price down to cover repair costs. Worst case, you could walk away from the deal if it's bad enough.

Schedule your home inspection early. You need time to negotiate if problems show up.

Lock Down Your Homeowners Insurance

Lenders won't give you the money without proof of homeowners insurance. They're protecting their investment. And yours, really.

Don't wait until the day before closing to shop for insurance. Give yourself time to compare.

The cost will depend on your home's condition, how much coverage you want, and what deductible you're comfortable with. Make sure to get quotes from at least three or four insurance companies—the prices can vary a lot.

Before you pick up the phone, make a list of details about the house. When you request a quote, insurers will ask you questions like:

• What's the address? (They check for distance to fire stations, crime rates, flood zones, etc.)
• What year was the house built?
• What's the home's square footage? How many rooms?
• Number of bathrooms and fireplaces?
• How old is the roof, and what's it made of?
• How old is the water heater?
• What kinds of safety devices are in place? (security, fire sprinklers, etc.)
• Has the current homeowner recently done major renovations or replacements? (new roof, basement finishing)

Having these answers on hand will make getting multiple quotes much easier.

Review Your Closing Disclosure (Really Read It)

Your mortgage lender must send you a closing disclosure at least three business days before closing. This document breaks down your final loan terms and all the costs.

Read every line. Boring? Yes. Important? Very.

Compare the closing disclosure to the loan estimate you got when you first applied. The numbers should be pretty close. Small changes to taxes or insurance are normal.

But if the fees jumped significantly or the loan terms changed, that could be a red flag. Don't sign until you understand why things changed.

Arrange Your Closing Funds

You'll need a cashier's check or wire transfer for your down payment and closing costs. Personal checks don't count.

Closing costs typically run 2–5% of the purchase price. On a $300,000 house, that's roughly $6,000 to $15,000 you'll need to bring.

Arrange this a few days before closing. Wire transfers need time to clear.

Scam warning: Fraudsters send fake wire instructions that look surprisingly real. Always verify wire details directly with your title company by phone. Use a number you look up yourself, not one from an email.

Do Your Final Walk-Through

Schedule your final walkthrough the day before closing or the morning of. This is your last chance to make sure everything's in order before you sign.

What to check:

• Repairs from the inspection were actually done
• Nothing got damaged since your last visit
• The seller moved out completely
• All agreed-upon items are still there

Bring your inspection report and repair agreement with you. If something's wrong, document it with photos. You can negotiate before signing or hold money in escrow until it's fixed.

Understanding the Money: What You're Actually Paying For

Closing Costs Breakdown

Closing costs typically total 2–5% of your home's purchase price. On a $300,000 house, that would be roughly $6,000 to $15,000.

So what are you paying for, exactly?

• Lender fees: Origination fee, underwriting fee, application fee (if you haven't paid it already), appraisal fee.
• Title fees: Title search, title insurance, recording fees.
• Escrow costs: Setting up your escrow account for taxes and insurance.
• Prepaid costs: First year of homeowners insurance, property taxes, prepaid interest.

Some of these fees are negotiable. If a charge seems vague or excessive, ask about it.

What Are Junk Fees?

Junk fees are unnecessary charges that some lenders sneak into closing costs. Things like administrative fees, document prep fees, and courier fees could qualify.

These fees are often just profit padding. They might be listed with official-sounding names, but they're basically made up.

Question anything that seems vague or unnecessary. If the lender can't explain what a fee covers, push back. Many buyers successfully get these fees reduced or removed just by asking.

Do this before closing day. Once you've signed, those fees are locked in.

Can the Seller Help Pay Closing Costs?

Yes! These are called seller concessions.

In this situation, the seller agrees to cover some of your closing costs. This works best in competitive markets where sellers want to close the deal quickly.

Typical limits are 3–6% of the purchase price, depending on your loan type. FHA loans allow up to 6%. Conventional loans usually cap it at 3%, but it depends on how much money you’re putting down.

You negotiate this when making your offer. Add it to your purchase agreement: "Seller to contribute $X toward buyer's closing costs."

Key Documents You'll Sign on Closing Day

The Closing Disclosure

This document shows your final loan terms and all costs. You should have received it at least three days before closing.

As mentioned earlier, it should match your loan estimate pretty closely. Small adjustments to taxes or insurance are fine. Major fee increases or different loan terms? Not okay.

If something doesn't match, don't sign until you get an explanation.

The Promissory Note

This is your promise to pay back the loan. Simple as that.

It lists the loan amount, interest rate, and payment schedule. Once you sign it, you're legally obligated to make those payments.

This isn't like clicking "I agree" on a website popup. This is real debt you're taking on.

The Mortgage/Deed of Trust

This document gives the lender the right to take your house if you stop making payments. It's called foreclosure, and yes, they can actually do it.

The house is collateral for the loan. As long as you make your payments on time, you keep the house. Stop paying? They can eventually take it.

The Deed

This is the legal document that transfers ownership from the seller to you.

After closing, it gets recorded with the county. That recording makes your ownership official and public. Anyone can look it up and see that you own the property.

Other Important Papers

• Title insurance documents: Protect you if someone claims they own your house or part of it.
• Initial escrow statement: Shows what gets paid from your escrow account in the first year—things like property taxes and insurance.
• Seller's disclosure: Lists any known problems with the property. Read this carefully.
• Proof of insurance: Shows your homeowners insurance is active and meets the lender's requirements.

What Actually Happens on Closing Day

Who Shows Up

You'll definitely be there. So will the closing agent, who coordinates everything. Your real estate agent usually attends.

The seller might show up. Or their agent. Sometimes lawyers for both sides. Maybe a lender rep.

Some closings happen with everyone around a table. Others happen in stages or virtually.

Don't be surprised if you and the seller never cross paths, though. Often, the seller can finish their half of the closing before closing day.

The Timeline (How Long This Takes)

Plan for one to two hours if everything goes smoothly. You'll review documents, sign papers, ask questions, and make final payments.

Block off your whole afternoon anyway. Issues can pop up that take time to resolve. You don't want to be rushing because you have another appointment.

Reading and Signing Closing Documents

You could be looking at 100+ pages of paperwork. Every page matters.

Don't sign anything you don't understand. Not because you feel dumb. Not because everyone's waiting. If something confuses you, ask the closing agent to explain it.

Many signatures need to be notarized. The notary will check your ID and watch you sign.

Take your time. This isn't a race.

Making the Final Payments

You'll pay your remaining closing costs and down payment with a cashier's check or wire transfer.

The closing agent will tell you the exact amount needed. Double-check this number a day or two before closing. Make sure your check matches perfectly.

If you wired money, bring confirmation of the transfer.

Getting Your Keys

After all documents are signed and everything's recorded, you get your keys!

You'll receive house keys, garage door openers, gate codes, mailbox keys—whatever gives you access to your new home.

Congrats! You're officially a homeowner.

Common Problems That Delay Closing

Low Home Appraisal

The appraiser says your house is worth less than the purchase price. This happens more often than you'd think.

Why it's a problem: Your lender won't loan more than the appraised value. If you're buying a house for $350,000 but it appraises at $330,000, you have a $20,000 gap.

Your options:

• Renegotiate a lower price with the seller
• Bring an extra $20,000 in cash (i.e. a cashier's check/wire, not actual bills) to cover the difference
• Walk away from the deal (if you have an appraisal contingency)

Financing Falls Through

What if your loan approval gets pulled at the last minute? This happens when your finances change between pre-approval and closing.

Common causes:

• You changed jobs or switched from a salary to commission
• You took on new debt (car loan, credit cards, furniture on credit)
• Your credit score dropped
• You made a large withdrawal from your bank account

Big warning: Don't change jobs, take on new debt, or make unusual financial moves during the home-buying process! Lenders check everything again right before closing.

Keep your finances stable and boring until after you have the keys.

Title Issues Pop Up

If the title search reveals problems with ownership, there could be liens, claims, or disputes about who actually owns the property.

Examples:

• Unpaid contractor bills
• Old mortgages that weren't properly released
• Boundary disputes with neighbors
• Clerical errors in previous deeds

These issues take time to resolve. Sometimes days, sometimes weeks. It depends on how complicated the problem is.

This is why you pay for title insurance. It protects you if title problems surface after you buy the house.

Missing or Incorrect Documents

Your lender asks for additional paperwork, and you don't respond quickly enough. Or more commonly, documents have errors that need to be corrected.

Common problems:

• Bank statements with wrong dates
• Tax returns missing pages
• Proof of insurance with the incorrect property address
• Names are spelled differently on various documents

Respond immediately to any lender requests. The longer you wait, the longer closing gets delayed.

Seller Isn't Ready

The seller hasn't moved out yet. Or repairs aren't done. Maybe they can't find the title or have their own closing delays.

Your purchase agreement should cover this situation. You may have options:

• Delay closing until they're ready
• Rent-back agreement where they stay in the home and pay you
• Escrow holdback where money is kept until repairs are done

After You Sign: What Happens Next

Recording the Documents

The closing agent sends your deed, mortgage, and other ownership documents to the county registrar's office.

This usually happens the same day or within 24 hours. Once recorded, your ownership is official and public.

Anyone can look up property records and see that you own the house.

Setting Up Your Mortgage Payments

Your first payment is usually due 30 days after closing. The lender will send you information about how to pay.

Payment options include online payments, automatic withdrawal from your bank account, or mailing a check.

Consider setting up autopay. You never want to miss a mortgage payment. Late payments hurt your credit score and can cost you hundreds in late fees.

Your payment includes principal, interest, property taxes, and homeowners insurance. This is often called PITI.

Handling Post-Closing Tasks

Change your address with the post office, banks, credit cards, subscriptions, and anyone else who sends you mail.

Transfer utilities into your name. Electric, gas, water, internet, and trash collection. Do this before closing if possible, so everything's on when you move in.

Change the locks immediately. You don't know how many copies of the keys exist or who has them. Better safe than sorry!

Meet your neighbors. Introduce yourself. Building good relationships now makes life easier later.

Review HOA rules if your property has a homeowners association. Know what's required and what's prohibited, though ideally you would have done some research before buying the home.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Home Closing Like a Pro

Closing on a home might feel overwhelming, but thousands of people do this successfully every single day. With the right preparation and help, you'll be holding those keys before you know it.

The whole process usually takes 30 to 60 days from when your offer is accepted to when you get the keys on the closing date. Stay organized. Ask questions. Read everything carefully.

Bottom line: Know what's coming, keep your finances stable, and don't be afraid to speak up if something doesn't look right.

Once you sign those papers and get those keys, all the stress is worth it. You own your home.

If the opportunities of Nashville excite you, contact The Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage with Nashville's MLS at (615) 603-3602 to get in touch with local real estate agents who can help find the perfect Nashville home for you today.