Refinance Loan Signings: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

A refinance closing typically has 80–120 pages, but only a handful of those actually need your wet signature. Knowing what you are looking at makes the appointment shorter and a lot less stressful.

The key documents

Here are the heavy hitters in most refinance packages:

• Closing Disclosure (CD): your final terms, costs, and cash to/from closing.
• Promissory Note: your written promise to repay the loan.
• Mortgage or Deed of Trust: gives the lender a lien on the property.
• Notice of Right to Cancel: gives you three business days to rescind (primary residence refinances only).
• Affidavits: occupancy, name affidavit, signature affidavit, etc.
• Tax and insurance authorizations.

What gets notarized

Generally the Mortgage/Deed of Trust, any affidavits, and sometimes the signature/name affidavit. The Note itself does not get notarized.

The three-day rescission period

Federal Truth in Lending gives you three business days after signing to cancel a refinance on your primary residence with no penalty. The loan does not fund until that period ends. I will walk you through the Notice of Right to Cancel and make sure you have copies for every borrower.

What to ask before I arrive

Confirm your final cash to close, how you will deliver it (wire vs. cashier's check), and that the names on your IDs match the names on the documents. Five minutes of prep saves hours of back-and-forth later.