What we verified in “Final walk-through and closing day: what to bring and check”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. According to the CFPB, at closing you sign legally binding documents in which you agree to pay back a loan and grant the lender the right to take back the house if you do not make the payments you agreed to; and once you sign, you are responsible for the mortgage loan.

   Sources 1 · Close the deal: 'you sign legally binding documents in which you agree to pay back a loan and grant the lender the right to take back the house if you do not make the payments you agreed to'; Closing on your new home: 'Once you sign, you’re responsible for the mortgage loan' · Checked October 31, 2026

2. According to the CFPB, before you sign any papers you should do a final walk-through of the home to make sure everything you and the seller agreed would be repaired has been repaired and anything the seller agreed to leave is in place; if not, contact the seller immediately; and sometimes, instead of making a repair, the seller gives you money toward your closing costs (seller credits).

   Sources 1 · Close the deal, 'Before you sign any papers, do a final walk-through of the home': 'Make sure everything that you and the seller agreed would be repaired has been repaired and anything the seller agreed to leave in the house is in place. If it isn’t, contact the seller immediately'; 'The seller might give you money to put towards your closing costs (known as seller credits) instead of trying to make the repair before closing' · Checked October 31, 2026

3. According to the CFPB, you have the right to take your time and review all the closing documents; do not sign until you are satisfied they match your expectations; ask your agent or settlement agent about the sale and your lender about the loan; do not be afraid to stop the closing if the answers do not add up; and never sign blank documents or documents that say something different from what you agreed to.

   Sources 1 · Close the deal: 'you have the right to take your time and review them all'; 'Don’t sign anything until you’re fully satisfied'; 'ask your real estate agent or settlement agent (title company, escrow officer, or attorney)'; 'you’ll need to talk to your lender'; 'don’t be afraid to stop the closing'; 'Don't ever sign blank documents or documents that say something different from the transaction you've agreed to' · Checked October 31, 2026

4. According to the CFPB, you are not committed until you have signed the closing documents and you can always walk away if you are not comfortable; but you might lose the deposit you gave the seller, face other consequences from breaking your purchase contract and lose application or appraisal fees you paid the lender; so know what your contract says before you walk into the closing.

   Sources 1 · Close the deal, 'You are not committed until you have signed the closing documents': 'You can always walk away at closing if you are not comfortable with the transaction. You might lose any deposit that you gave the seller, and there could be other consequences from breaking your purchase contract. You might also lose application or appraisal fees'; 'Know what your contract says and what your choices are before you walk into the closing' · Checked October 31, 2026

5. According to the CFPB, if something important changes about your loan you receive a new Closing Disclosure, and in limited circumstances the law requires that you get a full three business days to review it before closing.

   Sources 1 · Close the deal: 'If something important changes about your loan, you receive a new Closing Disclosure'; 'In limited circumstances, the law requires that you receive a full three business days to review the new Closing Disclosure before closing' · Checked October 31, 2026

6. Under Regulation Z (12 CFR §1026.19(f)(2)(ii)), the lender must give you a corrected Closing Disclosure with a new waiting period if, before closing, the annual percentage rate (APR) becomes inaccurate, the loan product changes or a prepayment penalty is added.

   Sources 5 · 12 CFR §1026.19(f)(2)(ii), 'Changes before consummation requiring a new waiting period': '(A) The annual percentage rate disclosed under § 1026.38(o)(4) becomes inaccurate'; '(B) The loan product is changed'; '(C) A prepayment penalty is added' · Checked October 31, 2026

7. Under Regulation Z (12 CFR §1026.19(f)(2)(i)), if the Closing Disclosure changes in other ways before closing, the lender must give you the corrected version at or before closing, and must let you inspect the disclosure, with what is known by then, during the business day before closing.

   Sources 5 · 12 CFR §1026.19(f)(2)(i), 'Changes before consummation not requiring a new waiting period': 'the creditor shall provide corrected disclosures reflecting any changed terms to the consumer so that the consumer receives the corrected disclosures at or before consummation'; 'the creditor shall permit the consumer to inspect the disclosures'; 'during the business day immediately preceding consummation' · Checked October 31, 2026

8. According to the CFPB, by law you must receive your Closing Disclosure three business days before closing; it helps to contact your lender or closing agent at least a week before to find out who will send it and how; and you can ask for the other key documents at the same time: the promissory note, the mortgage (security instrument or deed of trust) and the deed.

   Sources 2 · Review documents before closing: 'By law, you must receive a copy of your Closing Disclosure three business days prior to closing'; 'Contact your lender or closing agent (title company, escrow officer, or attorney) at least a week before closing'; 'Ask the lender or closing agent to send these documents to you in advance, at the same time as the Closing Disclosure'; 'Promissory Note Mortgage (also known as the Security Instrument or Deed of Trust) Deed' · Checked October 31, 2026

9. According to the CFPB closing checklist, you bring to closing a cashier's check or proof of wire transfer for the exact amount you need, the list of people to call, your Closing Disclosure to compare one more time, your checkbook in case of last-minute changes, your driver's license or ID, your co-borrower or co-signer, and, if you want, a trusted friend, advisor or lawyer.

   Sources 3 · Your mortgage closing checklist, p. 4, 'At closing', '1. Bring these things or people with you to closing': 'A cashier’s check or proof of wire transfer for the exact amount of money you need to close'; 'The list of people to call'; 'Your Closing Disclosure'; 'A trusted friend, advisor, or lawyer'; 'Your co-borrower or the person who is co-signing your loan'; 'Your check book, in case there are any last minute changes'; 'Your driver’s license or ID' · Checked October 31, 2026

10. According to the CFPB closing checklist, at closing you should ask how you will pay property taxes and homeowners insurance (in your monthly payment or on your own), where to send monthly payments, how to pay HOA dues if any and whom to call with questions afterward; and before closing it helps to ask the person conducting it what to bring, how much you will pay, how, and whether you would owe the seller money if you decide not to close.

    Sources 3 · Your mortgage closing checklist, p. 2 and p. 4: 'What do I need to bring to my closing?'; 'About how much will I need to pay at closing? How do I pay? Cashier’s check Wire transfer'; 'If I decide to walk away at closing, will I still owe the seller money?'; 'How will I pay my property taxes and homeowner’s insurance? Included in my monthly payment. I have to pay them on my own'; 'Where will I send my monthly payments?'; 'If I have Homeowners’ Association dues, how do I pay?'; 'Who should I call if I have questions after closing?' · Checked October 31, 2026

11. The CFPB warns that scammers send spoofed emails posing as the real estate agent, settlement agent or another trusted person, with false instructions for wiring closing funds; it recommends identifying two trusted individuals to confirm the closing process and payment instructions in person or by phone, never following instructions contained in an email, and verifying the account name and number in person or by the phone number you agreed on earlier; and if it happens, contacting your bank immediately to ask for a wire recall and filing a complaint with the FBI at ic3.gov.

    Sources 6 · Mortgage closing scams: How to protect yourself and your closing funds: 'scammers send spoofed emails to homebuyers – posing as the real estate agent, settlement agent, legal representative'; 'Identify two trusted individuals to confirm the closing process and payment instructions'; 'Never follow instructions contained in an email'; 'including the account name and number'; 'using the phone number you previously agreed to'; 'Contact your bank or wire-transfer company immediately. Ask for a wire recall'; 'www.ic3.gov' · Checked October 31, 2026

12. According to the CFPB, after closing you should save your whole packet of documents in a safe place and check that it has these four: the Closing Disclosure, the promissory note, the mortgage (or deed of trust) and the deed; your Closing Disclosure helps with taxes, refinancing and selling.

    Sources 4 · After closing: 'Save all your final loan and purchase documents in a safe place'; 'Double-check to make sure you have these four key documents: Closing Disclosure Promissory Note Mortgage (also known as the Security Instrument or Deed of Trust) Deed'; 'You’ll need your Closing Disclosure to complete your tax return accurately'; 'helpful for tax purposes when you sell your home' · Checked October 31, 2026

13. According to the CFPB, after closing your deed and other mortgage information are filed as a public record, with your name, lender, loan amount and address; some companies use that information to send you advertisements or even scams, sometimes with your lender's name at the top and phrases like 'urgent message', so do not assume mail with your lender's name is from your lender.

    Sources 4 · After closing, 'Beware of junk mail': 'your deed and other mortgage related information are filed as a public record'; 'your full name, mortgage lender, loan amount, and address become publicly available'; 'to send you advertisements or even scams'; 'Don’t assume that mail with your lender’s name, or other mortgage related information, is affiliated with your lender'; 'Use your mortgage lender’s name at the top of the letter'; 'urgent message' · Checked October 31, 2026

14. According to the CFPB closing checklist, after closing you change your address with your banks, cards, the Department of Motor Vehicles, your insurance, your other bills and the Postal Service; revise your budget for HOA fees and, if you do not have an escrow account, property taxes and homeowners insurance; and if the company you pay (the servicer) changes, you will get a change-of-servicer notice in advance.

    Sources 3 · Your mortgage closing checklist, p. 5, 'After closing': '2. Change your address'; 'Department of Motor Vehicles and car insurance'; 'US Postal Service'; '3. Revise your budget'; 'if you don’t have an escrow account, property taxes and homeowner’s insurance'; 'Servicing changes'; 'you’ll get a change-of-servicer notice in advance' · Checked October 31, 2026

15. According to the CFPB, the counseling agencies in its search tool are approved by HUD and offer independent advice, often at little or no cost, on buying a home, renting, defaults, forbearances, foreclosures and credit; you search by ZIP code; and not every agency offers every service.

    Sources 7 · Find a Housing Counselor: 'approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'; 'offer independent advice, often at little or no cost to you'; 'buying a home, renting, defaults, forbearances, foreclosures, and credit issues'; 'Search by ZIP code'; 'Not every housing counselor offers all services' · Checked October 31, 2026