Articles

General Information for the Public

A Guide To New York Real Estate Closings

Are you considering buying or selling a property in New York? If so, you’ll need to understand the process of real estate closings. This process can be complicated and lengthy, but it is essential to ensure that all parties involved are protected from potential risks. In this blog post, we will discuss what a typical closing looks like in New York.

The Closing Process Overview

A typical closing for real estate transactions in the State of New York involves three main steps: signing documents, exchanging funds, and obtaining title insurance. Before any of these steps take place, however, both the buyer and seller must have satisfied all conditions outlined in the contract of sale (e.g., inspections, appraisals). Once these conditions have been met and all requirements are satisfied, the closing process can begin.

Signing Documents

The first step in any real estate closing is signing documents. The documents involved will vary depending on the type of transaction being conducted. Generally speaking, though, buyers will need to sign paperwork such as loan applications and mortgage notes while sellers will need to sign a deed transferring ownership of the property from one party to another. Both parties will also need to sign various other documents related to taxes and other legal matters before they can move on to the next step in the process — exchanging funds.

Exchanging Funds

Once all necessary documents have been signed by both parties, it is time for them to exchange funds. Typically speaking, buyers will be responsible for paying their down payment as well as closing costs associated with purchasing the property (e.g., attorney fees). Sellers may also need to pay certain fees if applicable (e.g., transfer tax). All funds exchanged during this step must be verified prior to proceeding with the next step — obtaining title insurance. 

Obtaining Title Insurance 

The final step in any real estate closing is obtaining title insurance for both parties involved in the transaction. This type of insurance protects buyers from financial losses due to issues with title or ownership of a property that may arise after closing has taken place (e.g., liens or undisclosed heirs). It is important that buyers obtain title insurance prior to completing their respective obligations under the purchase agreement — otherwise they may face serious financial consequences down the road if something goes wrong with title or ownership after closing has taken place!

A real estate closing involves many steps that must be completed properly and efficiently by both parties involved before anything else can happen — this includes signing documents, exchanging funds, and obtaining title insurance for protection against future losses due to issues with title or ownership of a property that may arise after closing has taken place. That’s part of the reason why it’s important to have experienced legal counsel representing you during the buying and selling process. If you are considering buying or selling a property in New York, it's important that you understand what a typical real estate transaction looks like so you can make sure everything goes smoothly! Call or email Stephen Donaldson, Esq., at The Donaldson Law Firm, PLLC, and we will be happy to guide you through the process.

Stephen Donaldson