Round Table: In a round table closing the Buyer, Seller, Realtor, Attorneys, Title Company and Lender may all gather around a table to complete the transaction. Thus the Term “Round Table”. The documents are passed around the table for the appropriate parties to sign. The Lender rarely attends these types of closing and instead relies on the Title Company to protect their interest. Remember the Title Company is an agent for the Lender. Their job is to close the transaction. They are not there to give legal advice to the buyer or seller. The buyer or seller, if they choose, may bring legal council with them. Once the documents are signed, the title agent may be required by the lender to fax certain documents to the lender for their review. Because it is very hard to track people down and people are not as motivated after the closing, Lender’s want to make sure that their documents are signed properly. Once the Lender is happy with the documents they release the funds via a wire to the Title Company who disbursed the funds to the Sellers and Realtors. They also are required to payoff any underlying loans or liens.
With round table closings everything takes place at once. Because multiple things are happening at one time it is not uncommon for these transaction to cause more stress to the parties involved, require last minute changes, or take several hours to complete. Some of the common delays that can occur are last minute conditions that need to be signed by an underwriter, delay in wires from lenders, delays in time for lenders to review the documents, and others items. In all cases remember that everyone is trying to do their jobs and close the transaction. Do not let the process frustrate you or let you get aggravated. It’s better to have a small delay and get the job done right the first time then to have problems later on.
On occasion with a round table closing you might have a situation come up called a “Dry Closing”. This term generally mean that all of the documents are going to be signed but for one reason or another the seller will not receive their money while at the table. This condition is most often caused by a wire from a lender not reaching the title company prior to signing all of the documents or the lender wants to review all of the documents before sending their money. While it might irritate the seller who is expecting his money right away, it should not bother you as the buyer. Once again everyone is working to make sure everything is correct. Usually this delay is resolved by the end of the day or by the following day. The one downside for the buyer on a “Dry Closing” is the seller will probably not allow you to take possession until they have their funds. If you are expecting to take possession of the property the day of closing, ask your lender the chances that you will have a “Dry Closing” so you can plan accordingly.
Now that you transaction is closed, the joy of homeownership can begin.
Keywords:
VA loan closing, VA home purchase, inspections, VA loan closing cost, VA loan, VA home loan, VA home loans, VA closing, VA home ownership, military loans, veteran
Loan Process