You've made it! The offer, inspection, Purchase and Sale Agreement, appraisal, mortgage process, title work and final walk-through are behind you. It's closing day.

So you sit down at the closing table, sign some papers, get handed the keys and head directly to your new house, right? Maybe. But in Massachusetts, there's usually one more important step. Signing your closing documents and officially owning the property aren't necessarily the same moment.

What Does a Closing Look Like?

If the last time you bought a home was years ago, you may remember a closing where everyone gathered around one table. The buyers and sellers were there. Both real estate agents were there. The attorney was there. There were handshakes, keys changed hands, and everyone went their separate ways. We rarely see that kind of closing anymore.

Today, the different parties often sign their documents separately. The seller may sign documents ahead of time at the seller's attorney's office, with the necessary originals sent to the closing attorney. The buyer usually meets separately with the closing attorney. Whenever possible, we like to accompany our buyers too.

Exactly how your closing will be handled depends on the transaction and the attorneys involved, so we'll make sure you know where you need to be and when.

What Will I Do at the Closing?

Mostly? Sign your name. A lot. Your attorney will go through the documents necessary to complete your purchase and, if you're financing the home, your mortgage. Some documents may be available for electronic signature ahead of time. Occasionally, we'll see buyers electronically sign part of their package on the morning of closing to make the in-person appointment a little shorter.

But don't expect to buy a house with a few clicks on your phone. There are still documents that generally need to be properly executed, witnessed, notarized or acknowledged as required. Massachusetts law also requires substantive attorney involvement in residential real estate closings, including ensuring that documents necessary to transfer title are properly executed and acknowledged.

Your attorney will explain the documents and answer legal questions as you work through the package. Take your time. If you have any questions, now's the time to speak up! Closing day is not the day to become embarrassed about asking what you're signing.

What Happens to All That Paperwork?

Once the necessary documents have been signed and everything is ready to proceed, the closing attorney has additional work to do. Among the most important documents is the deed, which transfers the property from the seller to you. Massachusetts has both recorded land and registered land, and the mechanics differ somewhat between the two. Most Massachusetts property is recorded land, and a transfer of recorded land is typically completed by recording the new deed at the appropriate Registry of Deeds.

So after you finish signing, you may hear something along the lines of: "Now we wait for it to go on record." And that's exactly what we're doing.

Wait. I Signed Everything. Don't I Own the House Yet?

This is where Massachusetts can surprise buyers who have purchased homes in other states. Don't assume that signing the documents at the closing table means you can immediately move into the property. The deed still needs to be recorded or registered as applicable to complete the transfer.

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue describes a deed as the legal instrument necessary to transfer ownership of real estate, and Massachusetts guidance describes transfers of recorded land as typically being completed by recording the new deed at the Registry of Deeds. That's why we wait for confirmation that the transaction has gone on record before treating the house as yours.

So When Do I Get My Keys?

Usually, after we receive confirmation that the deed has been recorded. Sometimes that happens fairly quickly. Sometimes it takes a few hours, or rolls over to the next day.

So if you sign your documents at 9:00 in the morning, don't necessarily schedule the moving truck to pull into the driveway at 9:15. There can be a waiting period between signing and recording.

And even if someone physically hands you the keys earlier, wait for confirmation from your closing attorney that the transaction has been completed before entering the property as its new owner. Having a key in your hand and having legal ownership of the house are two different things.

What Is Everyone Doing While I Wait?

More behind-the-scenes work. The closing attorney needs to make sure the transaction is ready to record, that the necessary documents and funds are in place and that the appropriate documents are submitted to the Registry of Deeds or registration district.

Massachusetts law treats a real estate closing as more than simply the signing appointment. The statutory definition includes execution of the documents necessary for a valid transfer of title and transfer of the consideration for the conveyance, whether those things happen simultaneously or at different times.

So while you're staring at your phone wondering whether you can go to your house yet, people are still working on your closing. Eventually, we get the message we've all been waiting for: We're on record. Now you can go home.

Will I Receive Copies of Everything I Signed?

Your closing attorney should provide you with a package or access to copies of your closing documents. Please keep them.

Your closing package contains important records relating to your purchase and mortgage that you may need later. Depending on your transaction, you may also receive a mortgage plot plan or other property-related documents through your closing attorney.

We also retain as much of your transaction documentation as we can in your online client portal, so if you're looking for something later, reach out. We may have a copy. You can also obtain recorded property documents through the Massachusetts Registries of Deeds. Massachusetts provides online access to deed records throughout the Commonwealth.

Quick note: once the deed is recorded, you should go to your Registry of Deeds and sign up for alerts against your property. This helps cut down on fraud.

One Last Wire Fraud Reminder

If you need to wire funds for closing, never rely solely on wiring instructions received by email. Wire fraud involving real estate transactions is very real.

Independently verify the instructions using a trusted telephone number before sending money. If you receive a last-minute message telling you that the wiring instructions have changed, stop and verify it. Closing day is exciting. It is not a good day to become trusting of unexpected emails involving large sums of money.

And Then It's Yours!

Most closing days aren't dramatic. You sign documents. The attorneys finish their work. The deed is sent for recording.

And you wait.

Then your phone rings or a message arrives: You're on record. That's the moment we've been working toward since we first started looking at homes together.

Now you can take the keys, unlock the door and walk into your home for the first time as its owner. And after everything it took to get there, we hope you take a minute before the moving boxes arrive to enjoy it.