The clear benefit of closing later in the month is that you won't need to bring as much cash to closing. That's because mortgage interest accrues from the date of closing through the last day of the month. So, with an end-of-month closing, there'll only be a small window for interest to accrue, and less for you to pay.
When purchasing a new house, it's best to close as late in the month as possible if low closing costs are your goal. You don't make your first house payment at closing, but the lender wants you to pay interest for each day you own the home. ... If you close on the 1st, you have to pay interest for every day in that month.
The fewer days left in the month, the less upfront interest that's due at settlement. That's why perhaps 95 percent of all real estate closings, “take place during the last week of the month,” many on the last day, says Joe Drum, a senior vice president at the Financial National Title Group in Santa Barbara.
The best day to close a home purchase, or a mortgage refinance, is on the last business day of the month, unless it falls on a Monday. Then you should close on the preceding Friday so you don't have to pay interest over a weekend. Here's why. Mortgage interest is paid in arrears.
Since mortgages are paid in arrears and on the first of the month, your first mortgage payment comes at the start of the new month after you've lived at your home for 30 days. This means that if you close on your house in May, your first payment is due July 1, whether you closed on May 1 or May 31.
Here's the gist: Closing costs consist of a variety of charges for services and expenses required to complete your mortgage. These costs may include property fees (appraisals and inspections), loan fees (for applications, attorneys, and origination), insurance fees, title fees, property taxes, and even postage fees.
What Happens at Closing? On closing day, the ownership of the property is transferred to you, the buyer. This day consists of transferring funds from escrow, providing mortgage and title fees, and updating the deed of the house to your name.
Your closing date is the day you become the legal owner of your new home. During the contract negotiation phase, you (the buyer) and the seller set a closing date, which must be listed on the purchase agreement contract.
In most cases, the buyer chooses a tentative closing date and makes it part of the offer. The contract usually states that closing will occur "on or about" that date.
Mortgage Closing Date: Does it Matter? On a purchase transaction, there is no financial advantage in closing on any day of the month, as compared to any other day. On a refinance, however, it is a good idea not to close on a Friday.
A closing deal might fall through if the buyer and seller can't agree on who handles problems that arose during an inspection. ... For instance, if an inspection shows that the roof needs to be replaced, a seller might not want to invest in a large update before leaving.
Sellers receive their money, or sale proceeds, shortly after a property closing. It usually takes a business day or two for the escrow holder to generate a check or wire the funds.
Because your first mortgage payment is always due the first full month after you close, it will usually fall between one and two months after you finalize the purchase of your house.
What to expect from your first mortgage payment. First payments can be higher than your ongoing monthly payment. This is because it'll include interest from the date we released the funds, up to the end of that month, plus your payment for the following month.
Keep your lender in mind
Unless you're paying cash for the home, choose a closing date that's convenient for you, the seller and your mortgage lender. Most people schedule the closing date for 30–to–45 days after the offer has been accepted – and they do this for good reason.
Typically, the best time of year to buy a home is in the early fall. Families have already settled into new homes before the school year started. But the number of properties on the market is still relatively high compared to other times of the year, and sellers can be eager to sell.
The short answer. Homeownership officially takes place on closing day. ... Fortunately, closing day usually only takes a few hours, and if everything is wrapped up before 3 p.m. (and not on a Friday), you will get your new keys at closing.
In California, when a buyer doesn't keep timelines set out in the sale contract – including the closing date – the seller can issue a Notice to Perform to the buyer. ... If the buyer can't come through, the seller could cancel and accept the backup offer.
Closing dates can be flexible, depending on the parties involved and the required timeline. It is not unusual for a closing date to change, especially if the buyer is financing their purchase, as their loan process must be finalized and all funds in place before closing is possible.
Pest damage, low appraisals, claims to title, and defects found during the home inspection may slow down closing. There may be cases where the buyer or seller gets cold feet or financing may fall through. Other issues that can delay closing include homes in high-risk areas or uninsurability.
Back Out of the Sale
Unless your sales agreement grants automatic extensions or sets an “on or about” closing date, you're out of contract if the closing date passes without a closing or a signed extension. With no contract, you're free to walk away -- and you may be entitled to the buyer's earnest money deposit.
Sellers often prefer to close on the first of the month and receive their sales proceeds early on in order to accommodate their purchase of a replacement house or moving plans. ... The seller may need to allow time to settle any outstanding liens on the property or deal with estate or probate issues.
How long does closing day take? Closing day — that is, the day you go to the closing agent and sign your final paperwork to buy the home — typically takes between 1.5-2 hours if everything goes smoothly, but you'll want to leave ample time in your schedule in case it takes longer.
If you don't have enough funds to Close then it won't close. You'll lose any earnest funds you might have put up. It will also depend on the terms of the contract as to what might happen next. You could be sued for non-performance or the Seller could just release everything and move onto the next seller.