Make closing week a review, not a rush
An accepted offer and a scheduled signing appointment are important milestones, but there is still work between now and the keys. Use this checklist for a VA-backed home purchase secured by real estate. It focuses on the final handoff: checking the loan you are about to accept, protecting your money, and making sure the property and moving arrangements are ready. If you are coordinating a PCS, leave, or a long-distance move, keep one written list of open questions, the person responsible for each answer, and the date you need it. Share that list with your agent and lender.
1. Put the document review on your calendar
VA says your lender must provide your Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing. Reserve time to read it when it arrives, not just on the morning you sign. Ask your lender to confirm the earliest permitted signing date based on your actual receipt and delivery method; do not assume that three calendar days will always work. Request other closing documents in advance too. A practical question is: “What still needs to be completed before my loan can close?” Keep track of the answer separately from your appointment confirmation.
2. Compare the final loan with the offer you accepted
Set your most recent Loan Estimate beside the Closing Disclosure. Check your name, loan amount, loan term, interest rate, and loan type. Compare the estimated total monthly payment, not just principal and interest. Identify taxes, insurance, or association charges you must pay outside escrow. Review lender charges, points, and credits. Ask for an explanation of every unexpected difference and a corrected document where necessary. For a rate you locked, ask why any change appears. Use the CFPB explainer below to work through the form.
3. Recheck the VA funding fee and cash needed
Ask the lender to confirm your verified funding-fee status and whether any applicable fee is being paid at closing or financed. If you believe an exemption applies, resolve the question through the lender and VA using secure document channels. A VA purchase loan can include the funding fee in the loan, but other purchase closing fees and charges cannot simply be rolled into it. Check that this matches your financing plan. Your final cash requirement deserves a separate review even if your purchase requires no down payment.
4. Trace deposits and credits through the final figures
Find the Cash to Close figure and compare it with the earlier estimate. Ask the closing team to show where your earnest-money deposit and agreed seller contributions appear; some seller-paid items appear beside individual charges. Check that any lender credits are included. If a number changed, ask what caused it. For example, an illustrative $2,000 deposit already delivered should be accounted for in the final calculation rather than forgotten when you plan the remaining transfer. Do not send funds based only on an old estimate.
5. Keep the lender’s final requests moving
A lender may still need updated records before closing. Confirm the requested documents, the secure upload method, and who will acknowledge receipt. Send complete documents and retain your copies. If funds have moved between accounts or a large deposit appears, ask what evidence is needed to document the source. Coordinate the acceptable payment method with the settlement agent; “cash to close” usually means a bank wire or cashier’s check, not currency. If you will be overseas or on duty, agree on a reachable contact window and allow time for bank processing.
6. Verify wiring instructions through a trusted number
Before closing week, establish trusted phone contacts for your settlement team. Before sending money, call a number you independently verified earlier and confirm the receiving account name, account number, and instructions. Do not rely on a number or link supplied in an email announcing a last-minute change, even if the message looks familiar. An urgent request to redirect funds is a reason to stop and verify. If you discover a fraudulent transfer, contact your bank or wire company immediately, ask for a recall, and report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Recovery is not guaranteed.
7. Resolve repairs and signing logistics before moving day
Arrange a final walk-through with your agent and check agreed repairs. Raise unresolved property issues before signing. For a remote purchase, ask who will attend and how you will review the findings. Confirm the identification and other items required for your signing appointment. If military duties prevent attendance, discuss the arrangements with your lender and settlement team early rather than assuming a spouse can sign for you. Ask when possession and keys are available under your contract, and plan utilities, travel, and movers around that answer.
8. Ask whether a late correction changes the timeline
Not every correction restarts the waiting period. CFPB guidance identifies three types that require a new three-business-day review: an APR that becomes inaccurate under the applicable rules, a change in the loan product, or the addition of a prepayment penalty. Other changes generally still require a corrected disclosure, but not a fresh three-day wait. This is a general disclosure rule, not permission to add a prohibited loan term. Have your lender explain the actual change and its effect on your signing date before rearranging travel or accepting a rushed decision.
CFPB: When a corrected disclosure requires another waiting period
Keep a clear handoff after signing
Save your signed documents securely. Confirm the first payment date, amount, and payment recipient, and budget separately for property bills outside escrow. Keep a small follow-up list for utility transfers, address updates, and outstanding questions. For help finding local support, request a VA-experienced real estate agent, with a military veteran when available. Introductions depend on local availability and do not guarantee coverage or loan approval. Your agent can help coordinate the property and contract process; your lender remains responsible for loan approval and the financing terms.
Check the official guidance
Program rules can change. Confirm your circumstances with VA and your lender.
VA.gov: Homebuying processVA.gov: Funding fees & closing costsCFPB: Closing Disclosure explainerCFPB: Corrected disclosures and waiting periodsCFPB: Final lender documents and closing fundsCFPB: Protect yourself from closing scamsCFPB: Before, during, and after closingGeneral education only. Loan approval, property eligibility, costs, and contract rights depend on individual circumstances. We are an independent resource, not VA or a lender.
Keep exploring the VA loan guide