Share article
Share article
Summary: A purchase closing runs in seven steps: you send your agreement of purchase and sale, your lawyer takes the mortgage instructions, runs the title search, and walks you through signing about a week before closing, you provide the final closing funds, and on closing day your lawyer exchanges funds with the seller's lawyer and registers the home in your name before you get the keys.
Between an accepted offer and moving in, the legal side of a purchase follows a predictable path. Here is the whole journey, what you do and what your lawyer handles, so you know what to expect at each point.
How does the purchase closing process work, step by step?
The process moves from your accepted offer to the keys in seven steps:
Share your agreement of purchase and sale. Once your offer is accepted, send your lawyer the signed agreement of purchase and sale and related documents. At Ownright you also get a personalized dashboard, and your lawyer reviews the agreement and gets things moving.
Mortgage instructions. If you are financing, your lender sends the mortgage instructions to your lawyer directly while you complete the lender's requirements (documents, appraisal). Arrange financing early so the instructions arrive well before closing.
Title search and due diligence. Your lawyer runs a title search to confirm there are no liens, old mortgages, or other issues affecting your ownership, and resolves anything that comes up. Nothing is required from you here.
Signing your documents. About a week before closing, you meet your lawyer over video to review and sign your mortgage paperwork, transfer, and statement of adjustments, usually via DocuSign on any device with a camera.
Final closing funds. Your lawyer calculates the balance owing after your deposit and mortgage funds are applied, and you send the remainder, usually by wire transfer, following their instructions.
Closing day. You do not have to do anything. Your lawyer exchanges funds with the seller's lawyer and registers the property in your name; you can track progress on your dashboard. For the mechanics of the day itself, see what actually happens on closing day.
Welcome home. After closing, your lawyer prepares a final report with your signed documents in your account, and you move in.
What do you handle, and what does your lawyer handle?
Most of the work falls to your lawyer; your part is mainly providing documents and funds on time.
What you do: send the signed agreement, complete your lender's financing requirements, attend the signing call, and send the final closing funds by the date your lawyer gives you.
What your lawyer does: reviews the agreement, takes the mortgage instructions, runs the title search, prepares all closing documents, exchanges funds with the seller's lawyer, and registers the transfer.
A real estate lawyer's role in a purchase closing goes into this division of work in more detail.
How long does the purchase closing process take?
It tracks the time between your accepted offer and your closing date, often a few weeks to a couple of months. The early steps (sharing the agreement, mortgage instructions, title search) happen across that window, signing is usually about a week before closing, and the funds exchange and registration happen on closing day itself. The single most important timing factor is arranging financing early, so your lawyer receives the mortgage instructions with room to spare.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first step in a purchase closing?
Sending your lawyer the signed agreement of purchase and sale once your offer is accepted. From there your lawyer reviews it, sets you up, and starts coordinating the mortgage instructions and title search.
What do I actually need to do during closing?
Send your signed agreement, complete your lender's financing requirements, attend the signing call about a week before closing, and send your final closing funds on time. Your lawyer handles the title search, document preparation, and registration.
When do I sign my closing documents?
Usually about a week before your closing date, over a video call with your lawyer, signing electronically via DocuSign on any device with a camera.
How do I send my closing funds?
Your lawyer calculates the balance owing after your deposit and mortgage are applied and gives you instructions to send the remainder, usually by wire transfer, before closing day.
When do I get the keys?
Once your lawyer confirms the transfer is registered on closing day. At that point the purchase is complete and your real estate agent arranges to hand over the keys.
About the author
Joel Fox is a co-founder and COO at Ownright. He helps run the firm's day-to-day work on Ontario residential closings, refinances, and sales, and writes regularly to demystify the parts of a transaction that most homeowners only encounter once or twice in their lives.
At Ownright, we focus entirely on Ontario residential real estate law, and we guide buyers through every step of the closing with a simple online dashboard and a team that answers your questions along the way. You can start your closing online or get in touch with any questions.
Legal references: Land Titles Act (Ontario) (title search and registration of the transfer).
Important note: This article is not legal advice. No one should act, or refrain from acting, based solely on the information in this post or any linked materials without first seeking appropriate legal or professional advice.
