Once your home goes under contract, it can feel like things slow down. Showings stop, negotiations are complete, and now you’re waiting for closing day. But behind the scenes, this is one of the most coordinated phases of the transaction.

After inspections and appraisal are resolved, the buyer’s lender begins finalizing their loan approval. This stage is often referred to as working toward “clear to close.” Underwriting reviews the buyer’s final documentation, re-verifies employment and credit, and confirms all loan conditions have been satisfied.

If there were any appraisal-related issues or negotiations, those must be cleared during this time. From the seller’s perspective, this is primarily a monitoring stage — but it’s critical to ensuring the buyer’s financing stays on track.

At the same time, the title company is conducting the final title search. They confirm legal ownership, identify any liens that must be paid off, and request your official mortgage payoff statement. If there is an HOA, they may also gather required documentation and verify dues.

The title company then prepares the settlement statement, outlining your final proceeds after commissions, taxes, prorations, and payoff amounts. This document gives you a clear picture of your net proceeds before closing day.

Throughout this entire process, I’m communicating with the buyer’s agent, lender, and title company to confirm timelines remain aligned. If anything requires attention, we address it early rather than waiting until the last minute.