Now that we’re getting closer to your closing date, it’s time to get your down payment ready! Remember that in addition to the down payment, you need approximately 3% of the purchase price on top of the down payment available in cash for the closing costs.
If any of these funds are going to be gifted to you from a family member, you need to let your mortgage lender know right away so they can get approval from the underwriter for the funds.
It’s best if the down payment and closing cost funds are transferred into one account. This account must be disclosed to your mortgage lender, and you must let them know this is the account you’re going to be using for the down payment, as the funds need to be tracked.
One business day before your closing date, either your mortgage lender or attorney will email you a close estimate of the amount of money needed to close, as well as the wire transfer instructions. Unfortunately, the total amount usually is not available farther in advance, as the title company needs to receive final figures from both your lender (if utilizing a mortgage) as well as both attorneys. Amounts under $50,000 can be paid for with a cashier’s check, however, amounts over $50,000 must be wire transferred. Your attorney or lender will also ask you to transfer extra money, usually $1,000 – $2,000 on top of the estimate, just in case there are any surprises or mistakes found at closing regarding the numbers, which happens frequently. You’ll wire transfer these funds in one lump payment the DAY BEFORE CLOSING. It is crucial that these funds be wire transferred the day before closing at the latest, as the title company cannot accept it the day of closing.
If the attorney is unable to give you the exact amount due by the end of the day, an estimate will be provided by your lender.
While it would be nice to wire transfer the funds several days in advance, often the title company doesn’t have the exact figures until the day before. Therefore, call your bank now and find out what you need to do to make a wire transfer. Most of the time, you have to go into the bank personally to initiate the wire transfer. Also, find out what their cut-off time is for wire transfers. Usually, it’s around 4 pm. That means you’ll have to do the wire transfer by that time the day before closing for it to go into the title company’s account on time. Once you’ve done the wire transfer, email both your attorney and mortgage lender so we can make sure the title company received the funds.
Lastly, explain to your work that you need to leave for a little while the day before closing in order to initiate the wire transfer and make sure that is OK with them.
At closing, any overage/extra money you paid will be refunded back to you at the very end of the closing via a check.
PLEASE NOTE: There have been a number of hackers and scammers lately trying to divert (i.e., steal) closing funds to their personal accounts and away from the title companies. Generally, the wire transfer instructions will be emailed to you from your mortgage lender. However, occasionally they will be sent to you from your attorney or from me. DO NOT FOLLOW WIRE TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS SENT FROM ANYONE ELSE. ONLY FOLLOW WIRE TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS SENT TO YOU BY ME, YOUR ATTORNEY, OR YOUR MORTGAGE LENDER. If you want to verify that the wire transfer instructions you received are legitimate, call the title company, and they can verify them with you via phone.