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Buyer contract-to-close checklist
Every step on the buyer's side from executed contract to keys, with who owns it, when it is due and what proves it is done.
Buyer contract-to-close checklist
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For buyer's agents and transaction coordinators. Opens in Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers.
What's in it
Each row is one step, with the phase it belongs to, who owns it, the contract or lender basis for its timing, what evidence closes it and what to do when it slips.
The checklist was written for our article Buyer contract-to-close checklist for agents and coordinators, which explains each item and where its clock comes from.
Every row
The full checklist, as it is in the file. Scroll sideways on a small screen.
| Id | Stage | Buyer side obligation or right | Owner | Depends on | Deadline basis | Proof of completion | If it fails | Varies by state | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | Bind the deal | Receive complete executed contract and confirm Effective Date / Acceptance with buyer | Buyer's agent then buyer | Executed contract | Eff + 0 | Buyer acknowledges the date set in writing | Date dispute: agents resolve in writing before deadlines run | yes | TREC 20-19 execution block; CAR 12/18 para 30A |
| B2 | Bind the deal | Deliver earnest money (and option fee in Texas) to escrow agent named in contract | Buyer | B1 | TREC 5A: within 3 days after Eff (roll to next non-weekend/holiday day); CAR 3A: 3 business days after Acceptance; other states vary | Escrow agent receipt in file; buyer told amount, payee, method | Late: TREC 5C seller may terminate before delivery; 5D no option fee on time = no unrestricted termination right; CAR 14D(2) NBP then cancel | yes | TREC 20-19 para 5A-5E; CAR 12/18 para 3A, 14D(2) |
| B3 | Bind the deal | Verify wire/payment instructions by phone to a known number before sending any funds | Buyer (agent reminds) | B2 | Before each transfer | Buyer confirms call-back done | Changed instructions: stop, call known number, report | - | CFPB review-documents page; ATG Title client roadmap |
| B4 | Bind the deal | Make formal loan application and give lender the executed contract | Buyer | B1 | TREC 40-11 para 1 apply promptly; CAR 3J(1) pre-approval letter within 3 days after Acceptance | Lender confirmation; Loan Estimate received (within 3 business days of 6-item application) | No LE in 3 business days: buyer asks lender | federal (LE) | TREC 40-11 para 1; CAR 12/18 para 3J(1); CFPB TRID FAQs; CFPB Ask CFPB |
| B5 | Bind the deal | Deliver verification of down payment/closing funds to seller where required | Buyer (lender may send) | B4 | CAR 3H: within 3 days after Acceptance | Delivered verification in file | CAR 14D(2): NBP then cancellation | CA | CAR 12/18 para 3H, 14D(2) |
| B6 | Bind the deal | Review lead-based paint disclosure (pre-1978) and decide on lead inspection within 10-day window unless changed in writing | Buyer (agent explains) | B1 | Federal 10-day opportunity before buyer is obligated unless parties agree otherwise in writing | Signed lead disclosure/addendum; decision noted | Missing disclosure on pre-1978 home: escalate to broker before proceeding | federal | EPA lead disclosures page; 24 CFR 35 Subpart A; TREC 20-19 para 7C |
| B7 | Inspection period | Schedule inspections immediately so the report lands with time to negotiate | Buyer's agent schedules; buyer attends/approves | B2 | Inside TREC Option Period (5B, 5:00 p.m. local cut-off) / CAR investigation period (14B(1), 17 days default); practice: report at least 5 days before cut-off | Inspection appointment and report in file | Inspector unavailable: written extension before deadline, or proceed without | yes | TREC 20-19 para 5B, 7A; CAR 12/18 para 14B(1) |
| B8 | Inspection period | Decide proceed / repairs or credit / terminate, and deliver the written instrument on time | Buyer decides; agent drafts; TC tracks | B7 | Before cut-off (TX 5:00 p.m. local; CA end of last Day under para 30) | Executed amendment or Request for Repair, or termination notice with delivery proof | Nothing delivered: TX 5B has no extension or removal step; CA buyer retains the right to remove or cancel until seller cancels (14B(4)); seller cancels only after NBP (14D(1)) of at least 2 Days (14E) | yes | TREC 20-19 para 5B, 7D; CAR 12/18 para 14B(3)-(4), 14D-E |
| B9 | Inspection period | Receive Seller's Disclosure Notice and act within 7-day window if not received at contract (TX) / review seller disclosures (CA) | Buyer | B1 | TREC 7B(2): terminate within 7 days after receipt or prior to closing, whichever first; CAR 14A seller delivers within 7 Days | Signed receipt of disclosures | TX 7B(2) not received: buyer may terminate at any time prior to closing | yes | TREC 20-19 para 7B; CAR 12/18 para 14A, 10A |
| B10 | Inspection period | HOA/subdivision documents: receive, review, exercise 3-day termination right if warranted (TX) | Buyer (agent orders if buyer's duty) | B1 | TREC 36-11 A: obtained within ___ days after Eff; terminate within 3 days after receipt or before closing; CAR 7F seller discloses CID status within 7 days | HOA package with receipt date; decision noted | Not received (TX 36-11 A box 1): buyer, as sole remedy, may terminate at any time prior to closing | yes | TREC 36-11 para A; CAR 12/18 para 7F |
| B11 | Inspection period | Investigate insurability early (quote, flood zone) | Buyer | B7 | Inside investigation period (CA); lender needs binder at least 7 days before closing (lender practice) | Quote/binder | Uninsurable or costly: decide inside the period | - | CAR 12/18 para 14B(1); RBFCU checklist |
| B12 | Financing and title | Appraisal ordered and received; evaluate value vs price | Lender orders; buyer pays; agent evaluates | B4 | TREC 40-11 2B: terminate on or before 3rd day before Closing Date with lender's written statement; CAR 3I: 17 days after Acceptance | Appraisal report date logged | Low appraisal: TX (Texas REALTORS FAQ) not a 2B right if the property meets the lender's underwriting requirements notwithstanding a low appraisal - any other exit is a broker question; CA remove or cancel by 3I deadline | yes | TREC 40-11 para 2B; Texas REALTORS FAQ; CAR 12/18 para 3I |
| B13 | Financing and title | Buyer Approval / loan contingency: confirm status before deadline; remove or terminate in writing | Buyer; agent drafts; TC tracks | B4, B12 | TREC 40-11 2A: within ___ days after Eff, notice plus lender letter; CAR 12/18 3J(3): 21 days after Acceptance (verify current form) | Written removal (CAR CR) or termination notice with lender letter; or note deadline passed (TX) | TX: no timely termination = contract no longer subject to Buyer Approval; CA: NBP then cancel | yes | TREC 40-11 para 2A; CAR 12/18 para 3J(3), 14D(1) |
| B14 | Financing and title | Respond to underwriting conditions promptly; avoid new credit | Buyer | B4 | Lender milestones: conditional approval then conditions cleared then clear to close | Lender status emails | CTC not issued by COE - 5: escalate; extension amendment if needed | lender | Advancial; RBFCU |
| B15 | Financing and title | Receive title commitment / preliminary report and exception documents; review with agent/attorney | Buyer (title delivers) | B1 | TREC 6B: 20 days after Title Company receives contract (auto-extension up to 15 days or 3 days before Closing Date, whichever earlier); CAR 13A review is a contingency under 14B | Commitment with delivery date | Not delivered within the time required (TX 6B): buyer may terminate | yes | TREC 20-19 para 6B, 6E(1); CAR 12/18 para 13A |
| B16 | Financing and title | Object to title/survey matters in writing by the deadline | Buyer (agent/attorney advise) | B15, survey | TREC 6D: earlier of Closing Date or ___ days after receipt; seller cure 15 days; buyer 5 days after cure period | Objection letter and delivery proof or no-objections note | Silence = waiver of objections (except Schedule C) | TX | TREC 20-19 para 6D |
| B17 | Financing and title | Survey: receive existing survey + T-47/T-47.1 or obtain new survey | Seller furnishes (TX 6C box 1) or buyer obtains (box 2) | B1 | TREC 6C: ___ days after Eff; box 1 fallback: buyer obtains new survey no later than 3 days prior to Closing Date | Survey + affidavit/declaration; lender/title acceptance | Rejected by title/lender: new survey per 6C(1) | TX | TREC 20-19 para 6C |
| B18 | Financing and title | Bind homeowners (and flood) insurance; send proof to lender | Buyer | B11, B14 | Lender practice: at least 7 days before closing | Binder/declarations; lender acknowledgment | No binder: no clear to close | lender | RBFCU checklist |
| B19 | Financing and title | Lender-required repairs: agree who pays or terminate | Buyer/seller decide; agent drafts | B12 | Before Closing | Written agreement | TREC 7E: no agreement to pay = contract terminates; cost exceeds 5% of Sales Price = buyer may terminate | TX | TREC 20-19 para 7E |
| B20 | Closing week | Receive Closing Disclosure and compare with Loan Estimate | Buyer (lender issues) | B14 | Buyer must receive CD at least 3 business days before consummation; corrected CD restarts the 3 days if APR becomes inaccurate, loan product information becomes inaccurate, or a prepayment penalty is added (CFPB TRID FAQs) | Buyer receipt confirmation date | CD late or restarted: closing date moves | federal | CFPB review-documents page; CFPB TRID FAQs; CFPB What is a Closing Disclosure |
| B21 | Closing week | Confirm cash-to-close and arrange funds; verify wire instructions by phone | Buyer | B20 | COE - 2 to - 1 | Wire confirmation or check; call-back note | See B3 | - | CFPB review-documents page; ATG Title client roadmap |
| B22 | Closing week | Final walk-through; confirm agreed repairs done and receipts received | Buyer with agent | Seller repairs (seller-side checklist) | CAR 15: within 5 Days Prior to COE, not as a contingency of the sale; TX: practice; seller completes agreed repairs before Closing Date and provides repair documentation (7F) | Walk-through note; repair invoices/warranties | Repairs incomplete: TX 7F - buyer may exercise Paragraph 15 remedies or extend Closing Date up to 5 days (broker decides); CA raise before close | yes | CAR 12/18 para 15; TREC 20-19 para 7F |
| B23 | Closing week | Bring photo ID; sign loan and closing documents; pay Buyer's Expenses | Buyer | B20, B21 | Closing Date (TREC 9A: stated date or 7 days after title objections cured, whichever later) | Signed closing package; funding confirmation | Party cannot attend: mobile notary / mail-away via title | - | TREC 20-19 para 9, 12A(2); ATG Title roadmap |
| B24 | Closing week | Take possession per contract; receive Smart Device access info (TX); keys after funding/recording | Buyer | B23 | TREC 10A: upon closing and funding (or temporary lease); CAR 9B: 6 PM on date of COE unless otherwise agreed | Key/possession confirmation; TREC 10B access codes list | Possession before funding without lease = tenancy at sufferance (TREC) | yes | TREC 20-19 para 10A-B; CAR 12/18 para 9B |
| B25 | Closing week | Deliver the buyer's file (contract, disclosures, LE, CD, receipts, inspection reports, warranty transfers) | Buyer's agent/TC deliver; buyer keeps | B23 | COE + 2 | File copy delivered | - | - | practice |
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