Step 11. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO WHEN CLOSING ON A HOUSE

When you are buying a home, you want to have a great experience with as little stress as possible. Being prepared when closing on a house and knowing what to do will help achieve these goals.

Final Walk-Through

The final walk-through of the home will take place before or during the closing. This is the final chance for you to make sure the home is in the condition you expect it to be. You can confirm that the seller has moved out and completed all repairs agreed to in the sales contract. Finally, you can make sure that all appliances and systems are working and that any items the seller agreed to leave behind are in the house.

Your Closing Appointment

In Arizona, it is customary for a title company to act as a neutral third party and handle the closing appointment. As part of this process, the title company will coordinate the signing of all closing documents, loan funds disbursement, escrow withholding and document recording with the county.

Know What You Need to Bring When Closing on a House

• valid photo identification
• wire transfer instructions so you can pay any money required to close as found on your Closing Disclosure

Note that any person who will be on the title of your home and/or is required to sign closing documents must attend.

Documents You Will Sign

• The final version of your loan application
• All required state and federal disclosures
• Closing Disclosure – List of all of the costs related to the purchase of the home and your loan application.
• Promissory note – The loan agreement between you and the mortgage company that contains the promise to repay the amount borrowed. The promissory note contains the name of all borrowers, the property address, the loan amount, the loan term, the interest rate and the late charge amount.
• Deed of Trust – Arizona is a deed of trust state. A deed of trust is a legal instrument that is used to create a security interest in real property. It transfers legal title to a trustee. The trustee will hold it as security for the loan. If you fail to pay your loan, the trustee will start the foreclosure process on behalf of the mortgage company.

The Last Steps – Funding and Recording

Once you have finished signing all of the closing documents, the title company will return the documents to the lender and request that the lender send the funds necessary to close your purchase transaction.

The title company will then send the deed of trust to the county recorder where the property is located. The county recorder will record the deed to provide the legally required public notice.

Things You Should Do After Closing On a House

Get Your Keys

Once you have signed all of the paperwork at the title company and it has been confirmed that your loan has funded, all monies have been accounted for and your deed has been recorded, you can get your keys.

You need to make sure that you get the keys to all doors. If it is applicable, you’ll want to make sure you get all keys to the mailbox, utility box, sprinkler system and shed. You’ll also want to make sure that you get all applicable gate codes, security codes and garage door openers. If you buy a smart-home, make sure that you change all of the system access codes.

Some people don’t take any chances and choose to replace all locks, garage door codes and other access codes.

Change Your Address

You need to change your address the following:

• the post office
• your driver license
• your bank
• your employer
• your creditors (auto loans, personal loans, student loans, etc.)
• and others.

Also, when closing on a house, you may want to send your new address to friends and family.

Get a Home Warranty

A home warranty is a must for any homeowner. It helps protect you from costly and unexpected repair bills.

So what is it? A home warranty is a one-year service contract that covers repairs and replacements of most major home appliances and system components due to failure, standard usage and other problems that happen due to age.

Moreover, a home warranty covers the things that your insurance doesn’t. A home warranty will typically cover most major components of large home systems, such as your HVAC (central heating ventilation air condition), water heaters, plumbing, electrical and more. It may also cover regular appliances such as washers, dryers, refrigerators and stoves. Other common systems for home warranty coverage include garage doors, ceiling fans, doorbells, and garbage disposals. Finally, some plans allow you to purchase optional add-on coverage for your spa, second refrigerator, swimming pool, pumps and more.

Don’t assume that a home warranty covers everything. You need to read your home warranty carefully and ask questions about the home warranty company to make sure that you are getting the right plan that includes all of the items you want to be covered.

The cost of an annual home warranty contract is usually between $300 and $800. When you sign your purchase contract, you completed a section that advised you to investigate the various home warranty plans available and you chose if the home warranty would be ordered and paid by you, the buyer, or the seller.

Many people incorrectly believe that a home warranty is the same as homeowners insurance. It’s not. Homeowners insurance covers you in the event of a disaster, such as a hurricane or a hailstorm that breaks windows, throws a tree on your house, or damages your roof. Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover repairs your home needs as a result of normal wear and tear.

A home warranty, on the other hand, provides the coverage you need for normal wear and tear. The right home warranty covers the major systems in your home as well as any appliances that you want to be covered. When these systems or appliances break down, a home warranty provides financial assistance to fix them.

Previous Step: THE LOAN PROCESS FROM APPLICATION TO CLOSING

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Legal Disclaimer

This home buyer series is intended to provide general information regarding the process of how to buy a house in Arizona. It is not intended to provide buyers with legal, accounting or financial advice. You are advised to seek the services of a skilled professional this those fields.

Additionally, this homebuyer series does not set forth all qualification criteria for any of the loans described herein; all interested persons must successfully meet qualification criteria and complete the application process to obtain such loans.