Documents You Receive After a Real Estate Transaction in Massachusetts
Closing day is exciting and sometimes a blur. Between the signing, the wire transfers, and the key exchange, it’s easy to forget what paperwork you should receive and what arrives later.
Here’s what buyers and sellers in Massachusetts can expect.
Documents Buyers Should Receive
On the Day of Closing
If you are obtaining a mortgage, you should receive: Copies of your loan documents (many may be unsigned copies for your records)
Your Closing Disclosure (CD) or settlement statement
After the Closing (Mailed by Your Attorney)
Once the deed has been recorded at the Registry of Deeds, your closing attorney will typically mail you:
The recorded deed
Your owner’s title insurance policy
The title certification
Declaration of Homestead (if filed highly recommended in Massachusetts)
The recorded deed is usually returned weeks after closing, once the Registry processes it.
Buyers should also retain:
Their home inspection report
Any warranties or manuals received at closing
Documents Sellers Should Receive
On the Day of Closing
Sellers should receive:
The Closing Disclosure (CD) or settlement statement
Confirmation of mortgage payoff
Final closing figures showing proceeds
Sellers should keep their CD for tax and record-keeping purposes.
Documents Both Buyers and Sellers Should Keep
Both parties should retain copies of:
The fully executed Offer to Purchase
The Purchase and Sale Agreement (P&S)
All addenda, riders, and amendments
Even though the deed transfers ownership, certain provisions in the P&S may survive closing. Keeping these documents protects you if questions arise later.
Massachusetts closing attorneys are generally required to retain closing files for at least 7 years, but homeowners should also keep their own records.
Final Thoughts
A real estate transaction involves more than just keys and moving trucks; it creates important legal and financial documents that should be stored safely.
If you ever have questions about your closing paperwork, what it means, what to keep, or what you might be missing, call me. I’m happy to help.