Shipping and receipt
The signing agent ships the originals to the lender or title company. Often a scan of the signed pages is sent the same day so reviewers can start work. The originals arrive by overnight carrier or courier, and a tracking number lets the sender follow them.
Until the originals are received and accepted, the closing is not complete.
Document review
A reviewer checks the signed package for missing signatures, wrong dates, incomplete notary certificates, and initials. Errors lead to a request to re-sign pages, which the agent or the signer must handle quickly.
This is why a careful page-by-page review at the table matters. It saves days of correction.
Funding
For a purchase, the lender approves and sends funds to the title company, which then disburses to the seller, pays off prior loans and covers fees. For a refinance of a primary home, funding waits until the cancellation period ends. Timing depends on the lender and the day of the week.
The title company will tell you when funds have been disbursed. That moment is often when keys change hands on a purchase.
Recording
After funding, the title company submits the deed and the mortgage for recording with the county. Recording times depend on how the county accepts documents and how busy it is. The recorded documents are indexed in public records.
Recorded copies usually arrive weeks later, and the title policy is issued afterward.
Your to-do list
Set up the first payment, confirm the servicer's name and address, and make sure homeowners insurance and tax bills go to the right place. Keep copies of what you signed, in paper and in a secure scan. Watch for mail from the servicer and verify any change in payment instructions by phone, since fraudsters sometimes imitate servicers.
Timelines you can ask about and what a delay might mean
Ask the title company three questions: when will the originals be received, when is the loan expected to fund, and when will the deed and mortgage be submitted for recording. Their answers depend on the lender, the day of the week and the county.
Delays are not necessarily a sign of trouble. Weekends and holidays count against wire and recording schedules, and a Friday signing can slide to the following week.
Common reasons include a missing page found in review, an updated payoff figure, an insurance question, or a lender condition that was not cleared. Ask what is outstanding and whether you need to do anything. Provide documents quickly and by the route the title office prefers.
Borrowers sometimes ask whether they can use the home before funding. As a rule, do not move in or hand over money to a seller until the title company confirms the transaction is complete. On a refinance, keep paying your current mortgage until you have written proof it was paid off, because a payment missed during the gap can hurt your credit and trigger late fees that are hard to reverse.
Common questions
How long until the loan funds?
It varies by lender and loan type. Ask the title company for a target date, and remember cancellation periods can add time on refinances.
Why would I be asked to sign again?
Reviewers sometimes find a missing signature, date or certificate. The lender sends corrections that may need another notarization.
Who sends me the recorded deed?
Usually the county or the title company after recording. Timing varies.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change; check with the office involved or an attorney for your situation.