Whether you’ve found the perfect house or the site for your next storefront, understanding the Mississippi real estate closing process is necessary. Once you understand the steps, you can make sure they’re being followed properly. While much of the process might be out of your hands, it helps to know what lawyers and other parties are doing to support your closing.
With decades of experience practicing law in the Hospitality State, the team at the Law Offices of Perry W. Phillips knows how important it is to get real estate closings right. They bring their knowledge and experience to help each client through the closing process so that they can get the most out of their new purchase.
Steps of the Real Estate Closing Process
The Hattiesburg area can be a popular one for buying and selling real estate, especially homes. In November 2025 alone, 87 homes were sold in Forrest County. For each of these sales to finalize, they had to follow these closing steps.
Title Search
Once an offer has been made and agreed to, an attorney will begin the title search, or title abstract. This involves searching the history of the property, making sure that its current ownership is correct, and checking that there are no liens or other legal measures against the property. This step is necessary to be able to issue title insurance, and will often be performed by the agency issuing that insurance.
Title Commitment
If the title is cleared, then the title commitment will be sent to the lender. This title insurance helps protect the lender against possible issues that come up later.
Closing Disclosure
If you’re a buyer, this is where you’ll be more involved in the closing process. The closing disclosure provides final details about the term of the mortgage you’d be taking out from the lender. This disclosure is considered the final terms of the lending agreement, unless further changes are made to it, which may introduce more complications.
Cleared to Close
If the buyer and lender agree to the terms of the CD, then the case will be cleared to close! This means the sale is close to being finalized, and you’re that much closer to your new property.
Final Walkthrough
In many cases, especially with homes, a final walkthrough will be scheduled to inspect the property and check that it is in the same condition as when the agreement was made. Some closing agreements stipulate this as a requirement, but not all do.
Closing Day
With all these steps out of the way, a date and time will be set for the final closing to take place in Mississippi. At this stage, all parties will gather to sign the required documents, and the buyer will provide any remaining payment necessary to complete the closing agreement. This process is typically overseen by an attorney or a notary agent in Mississippi.
Final Details
While the process for the buyer may now be over, a legal official still needs to wrap up the final steps. They will record the transaction, process any necessary payments, and double-check that all legal filings are in order. The buyer may not see this process, but it’s essential to finalizing the closing and keeping it legitimate.
Why You Should Hire a Real Estate Lawyer for Closing
As a buyer, lender, seller, or other party, having a real estate lawyer can improve your confidence and protection during a real estate closing. Complex real estate laws must be followed to protect the validity of high-value transactions like the sale of a home or business space.
With over 350 homes for sale in Hattiesburg in January of this year, real estate transactions are happening frequently. Each one of them can benefit from a trained eye and the experience that comes with practicing law for decades.
From initial title searches to the final signing, protect your interests by working with a Hattiesburg real estate closing attorney. You’ll thank yourself later.
FAQs About Real Estate Closing Process
How Long Does It Take to Close on a House in Mississippi?
Each closing is unique, and there is no specific time to expect. Unfortunately, MS is one of the slowest states when it comes to selling homes, so a few months is a common timeframe. The right lawyer might be able to help speed up this process while still meeting all the requirements.
What Is the 3-3-3 Rule in Real Estate?
The 3-3-3 rule in real estate is a general rule of thumb that provides guidance for real estate purchases, especially homes. It states that before purchasing, you should have three months in emergency savings, three months of mortgage payments, and look at at least three relevant properties. This is a guideline, and some people might find different numbers work better for them.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Perform a Real Estate Closing?
It isn’t required to hire a real estate lawyer for every part of the closing process, but it often improves your situation to do so. In most cases, an attorney must review the issuing of the title, and sometimes certain closing documents. Working with a lawyer helps give you peace of mind that things are being handled properly.
What Happens 7 Days Before Closing?
Closing timelines can look different based on the agreement and situation. However, this is a common timeframe for the closing disclosure to be sent to the buyer. This is also when the sellers should start getting in place transfers of utility services and other necessary elements of transferring a property.
Get Experienced Guidance from the Law Offices of Perry W. Phillips
Perry W. Phillips is local to Hattiesburg, as is much of his team. We all care about the residents of this area and understand the concerns important to them. Whether you’re moving here for the first time or have lived here all your life, our team can bring compassion and understanding to your case.
Real estate closings can cause a headache for folks unfamiliar with the law, or in very complex situations. Take some of that stress off yourself by working with someone from our office. Contact us today to tell us more about your situation and find out how we might be able to help you.
