The Process
What happens at a mortgage closing?
Updated Jul 1, 2026
The short answer
At closing, you review and sign the final loan and transfer documents, pay your cash to close, and receive the keys once everything is recorded. Beforehand, comparing your Closing Disclosure to your Loan Estimate — you are entitled to it at least three business days ahead — shows exactly what changed, and confirms the funds and documents needed. After signing, ownership transfers and your loan officially begins.
Key points
- You sign final documents and pay cash to close.
- Review the Closing Disclosure at least three business days early.
- Bring valid ID and the required funds.
- Ownership transfers once documents are recorded.
Before you sign
Use the three-day window to verify the numbers match your expectations and question any changes from your Loan Estimate. Once you sign, the terms are locked in.
Put this to work
Sources
Every claim above traces to a public government source.