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What is the most important thing for me to do when I get my closing papers?

Carefully review all documents that you receive before the closing to make sure that all the terms match what you are expecting and that you understand what you are going to be asked to sign. 

The CFPB has resources to help you review your documents and prepare for closing:

Our interactive guide to the Closing Disclosure helps you double-check the details and get definitions for unfamiliar terms.

Our guide to closing forms helps you navigate the rest of your closing documents.

Our closing checklist helps you know what to expect at closing and suggests questions to ask.

Tip: Make sure you keep the Loan Estimate for the loan you select to compare it with your final closing costs. You should use the Loan Estimate to compare against the Closing Disclosure to see if there have been changes in fees. Ask your lender for an explanation of any changes you see and do not sign papers you do not understand.

Note: You will not receive a Loan Estimate or Closing Disclosure if you are shopping for:

For these kinds of loans, you should receive Truth-in-Lending disclosures. If you are shopping for a reverse mortgage, you will also receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and a HUD-1 or HUD-1A Settlement Statement.