Preparing for Your Signing Appointment

There really is no better feeling than closing on a mortgage that gives you the opportunity to venture into home ownership for the first time. Once you have gone through the tedious and at times lengthy mortgage loan application process, it will then be time to meet with the lender in order to sign the final paperwork. If this will be the first time you have taken out a mortgage loan, here's a checklist of everything you need to consider when preparing for your signing appointment.

1. Obtain a Copy of Your Estimated HUD-1 Settlement Statement Prior to Your Appointment

You'll want to ask your escrow officer for a copy of your HUD statement days prior to your closing appointment. This document clearly discloses all of the fees associated with the transaction so you can know exactly what you will be paying for. Escrow officers will usually email this document to their clients a few days before signing, but it's important to let them know you'll want to review it before your appointment in case any situation arises that might delay the delivery.

2. Bring Along the Contact Information of Your Mortgage Originator

Before you set your closing appointment, you might want to ask your mortgage originator if they will be available during your signing and for the best way to reach them if you should have any questions. Most mortgage originators will try to attend closings if their schedule permits but if not, they should only be a phone call away. If you happen to have a question at any time during closing, you can pause the signing and call your mortgage originator so they can help to clear things up for you.

3. Bring a Copy of Your “Good Faith Estimate”

You also want to bring a copy of your GFE (Good Faith Estimate) in order to compare it to the Estimated HUD-1 Settlement Statement that will be provided to the buyer at the time of signing. In the best case scenario, the escrow officer will provide the loan originator with a copy of the HUD well in advance of the signing so they can review it before your appointment.

4. Bring Identification

The notary must prove that you are indeed who you say you are before they sign off on the paperwork, so be sure to bring proper identification to your appointment. Of course you will need to provide the notary with your driver's license, but some of them might actually require at least two forms of identity. It's best to contact your escrow officer before your appointment to ask what you should bring if you're not sure.

5. Make Financial Arrangements

The escrow company should notify you of the amount you will have to pay upon signing the loan agreement, so make sure you make arrangements to pay them before you head to your appointment. You can bring along a cashier's check for the final amount or contact the company to make arrangements to have the funds wired to them.

 After reading through the above checklist, you should hopefully now feel prepared for your singing appointment to finally close on your future home!