Get Downpayment Ready

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 1-3% of the purchase price on top of the down payment available in cash for the closing costs.   Click here to read more about closing costs in CO.

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 he or she 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 him or her know this is the account you’re going to be using for the down payment as the funds have to be tracked.

One business day before your closing date, both your mortgage lender and title company will email you a close estimate of the amount of money needed to close. IMPORTANT: Wire transfer instructions will only come from title and will require you calling the title company to set this up.  Unfortunately, the total amount usually is not available more in advance as the title company needs to receive final figures from both your lender (if utilizing a mortgage). Amounts under $25,000 and $50,000 can sometimes be paid for with a cashier’s check, however, pending the title company amounts over $25,000 may need to be wire transferred. Title could request 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 in regards to the numbers, which happens frequently.  You’ll wire transfer these funds in one lump payment 1-2 DAYS BEFORE CLOSING. Note: Some wire transfers can take up 24hrs to clear.  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 title company is unable to give you the exact amount due by 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 in Colorado it’s around 2pm due to our timezone.  That means you’ll have to do the wire transfer by that time the day before closing in order for it to go into the title company’s account on time. Once you’ve done the wire transfer, email your agent and the 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 (ie. steal) closing funds to their personal accounts and away from the title companies. Generally, the wire transfer instructions will be communicated to you directly from the title company. DO NOT FOLLOW WIRE TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS SENT FROM ANYONE ELSE. ONLY FOLLOW WIRE TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS SENT TO YOU BY THE TITLE COMPANY WE ARE UTILIZING. If you want to verify that the wire transfer instructions you received are legit, call the title company and they can verify them with you via phone.

Questions about home buying in Colorado? Reach out to the Appreciate Realty CO to work with a top Boulder real estate agent. Call/Text us at (303)956-4948 or email us at hello@appreciaterealtyco.com