Preparing for your home loan settlement

Once your home loan is approved and you’ve signed the contract of sale, all that’s left to do is settle. Property settlement is a legal process of transferring the ownership of the property from the seller to you. It usually takes around 45 to 90 days, but it could be longer depending on what you and the seller agree on. Understanding what is involved in the process will help you tackle the unexpected hurdles and take the stress out of the home loan settlement process.

Final inspection

Often known as the pre-settlement inspection, this is your last chance to look around the property and make sure everything is in good shape.

While you may be more excited about what colour you’ll paint the walls, make sure you check that the home is in the agreed-upon condition, all appliances and fittings are working and no significant damage has occurred since your last inspection.

Issues with the final inspection can delay your home loan settlement. While you want to avoid that, it’s important to check for any damage and have it fixed before finalising the biggest purchase of your life.

Adjustment statement

Before the official settlement, your conveyancer or solicitor will provide you with a settlement adjustment statement. This document acts as a balance sheet of any remaining costs. It includes stamp duty and any related concessions, the First Home Owner Grant, any adjustments for council rates, water, and body corporate fees already paid for by the seller.

If you don’t have enough funds to cover the total sum, your settlement will be delayed. So make sure you factor in the additional costs of buying a home, like insurance and government fees before you sign. Have your deposit ready a few days before settlement to help move the process along.

Settlement day

It’s the big day! Today all you have to do is chill the champagne and get ready to celebrate – your solicitor will take care of the rest.

This is the day that solicitors and conveyancers exchange the final payment and transfer documents, so the transfer of ownership can be officially registered. It’s also the day you can pick up the keys, and invite your friends over to celebrate!

But paperwork issues such as inaccurate information or a missing signature can delay settlement. To avoid this, check the details carefully and return all the documentation to your lender on time. Many lenders also ask for your home insurance details, so organise that in advance.

Sometimes delays are completely out of your control – there could be an administrative error, or complications for the seller such as tenants not moving out on time. So have a backup plan in case you can’t get into your new home on time.

Take a moment to soak it all in. Settlement is a fantastic feeling, and after all the effort and thought you’ve put into buying a house, you deserve to enjoy it.

If you’d like to learn more about the home loan settlement process, talk to your friendly and trusted Mortgage Broker today.

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