Now that we’re getting closer to your closing date, it’s time to get your down payment ready!  Remember that in addition to the down payment you need approximately 3% of the purchase price on top of the down payment available in cash for the closing costs 

If any of these funds are going to be gifted to you from a family member, you need to let your mortgage lender know right away so he or she can get approval from the underwriter for the funds.

It’s best if the down payment and closing cost funds are transferred into one account.  This account must be disclosed to your mortgage lender and you need to let him or her know this is the account you’re going to be using for the down payment as the funds have to be tracked.

Three business day before your closing date, your mortgage lender will email you the closing statement to sign which will have funds needed at settlement.  Unfortunately, the total amount usually is not available farther in advance as the title company needs to receive final figures from your lender (if utilizing a mortgage).  He or she will also ask you to transfer extra money, usually a few hundred on top of the estimate, just in case there are any surprises or mistakes found at closing in regards to the numbers.  You’ll wire transfer these funds in one lump payment or you can bring certified funds to settlement. 

While it would be nice to wire transfer the funds several days in advance, often the title company doesn’t have the exact figures until the day before.  Therefore, call your bank now and find out what you need to do to make a wire transfer. Most of the time you have to go into the bank personally to initiate the wire transfer.  Also, find out what their cut off time is for wire transfers. Usually it’s around 4pm.  That means you’ll have to do the wire transfer by that time the day before closing in order for it to go into the title company’s account on time. Once you’ve done the wire transfer, email myself as well as your mortgage lender so we can make sure the title company received the funds.

Lastly, explain to your work that you need to leave for a little while the day before closing in order to initiate the wire transfer and make sure that is OK with them.

At closing, any overage/extra money you paid will be refunded back to you at the very end of the closing via a check.

PLEASE NOTE: There have been a number of hackers and scammers lately trying to divert (ie. steal) closing funds to their personal accounts and away from the title companies. Generally, the wire transfer instructions will be emailed to you from the title company or myself. DO NOT FOLLOW WIRE TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS SENT FROM ANYONE ELSE. ONLY FOLLOW WIRE TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS SENT TO YOU BY ME OR THE TITLE COMPANY.  If you want to verify that the wire transfer instructions you received are legit, call the title company and they can verify them with you via phone.

Please let me know at [email protected] if you have any questions.