Close and move in.

Buyer journey · Step 6 · November 6, 2026

What are the closing disclosures and what should you read?

Before closing, your lender sends the Closing Disclosure, the final statement of your loan terms, interest rate, monthly payment, and every fee you pay at the table. Read it against the Loan Estimate you received early on: the numbers should match, and any change should have a reason you understand. You also receive the final settlement statement from escrow showing where every dollar goes. I review both with buyers before the appointment so the table is a formality, not a surprise.

What do you actually sign at closing?

At closing you sign the mortgage and the note, which are the promises to repay the loan, the deed that transfers the home into your name, and a stack of acknowledgments covering everything from the closing disclosure to the title commitment. It is a lot of paper, and most of it is confirmation of what you already agreed to. The title and escrow page on this site walks through each document in plain language. You should never sign something at the table that you have not seen before, and Paul makes sure you have.

How do you wire funds safely?

Wire fraud is real, and the rules are simple: only wire to the exact instructions your escrow officer provides in writing, verify those instructions by phone using a number you already have, and never trust a last-minute change of wiring instructions that arrives by email. Escrow will never ask you to wire to a new account without confirming it directly. If anything feels off, stop and call your escrow officer. A few minutes of verification is nothing compared to the cost of a misdirected wire.

What should you do in your first week as a homeowner?

Change or rekey the locks and update the codes on garage doors and smart locks. Confirm utilities are in your name and working. Find the water, gas, and electrical shutoffs, and test the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Then work through the relocation checklist at your own pace: unpack the essentials, set up the important rooms, and start the maintenance rhythm the inspection report handed you. The first week is about making the house yours, and the moving and home store on this site is a courtesy list of the gear that makes it easier.