Closing the deal on your Brampton house

Posted by Vic

December 28, 2008

Your negotiations were successful and you have a legally binding agreement. But, is the house truly sold? Not quite yet. It’s time for the vital final steps known as “closing”.

Your REALTOR® and lawyer will do most of the work

Thank goodness. Closing a deal involves many, many complicated and time-consuming legal maneuvers. That’s why you’ve hired pros.

Canada’s Money Laundering Reporting Requirements

By the time you accept an offer, your REALTOR® will also advise you of reporting requirements by FINTRAC, the federal agency responsible for administering Canada’s Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing legislation and regulations. Your REALTOR® is required by federal law to complete a client identification form, and must ask you as the vendor or seller for verified ID such as a drivers licence or passport. You can find out more on the FINTRAC web site www.fintrac-canafe.gc.ca/

Your closing checklist.

You still have plenty to do yourself, and here’s a comprehensive list.

Contact your lawyer and notify them that an Agreement has been signed. Make sure they’re ready to close the transaction.
Immediately begin satisfying any conditions of the agreement that require action on your part. They have definitive dates for completion and failure to do so can result in a lot of hassles, or even spoil the whole deal.
Notify your lawyer and lending institution if the buyer is assuming your mortgage.
Contact the utilities, telephone and cable companies about transfer or removal of service. Note: Your lawyer will often handle the transfer of utilities.
Call your insurance agent and arrange cancellation or transfer of your homeowner’s insurance.
Contact a moving company to arrange your move on or prior to closing date.
Send out your change of address notices and advise the post office. Notify the Ministry of Transportation about your new address for driver’s license and registration.
Notify your REALTOR® immediately if anything changes about your property or your situation.

Contact with your lawyer.

If you plan to “discharge” or pay off your mortgage with proceeds of the sale, your lawyer will obtain a statement from your lender showing your outstanding balance on the mortgage, and any penalties you’ll have to pay to discharge the mortgage.
A few days before closing, your lawyer will ask you to sign the paperwork that enables the title to be transferred to the buyer.
On closing day, your lawyer will receive and distribute the proceeds from the sale, pay off your mortgage and other costs, and give you a cheque for the net proceeds.

Congratulations!I hope this was helpful. For more information on the Brampton real estate market or selling your Brampton house drop me an email.