Stages of a Mortgage: 6. Deed Signing
The deed is the end of the line: the moment the loan is formally contracted, ownership changes hands, and the process that started with six documents comes to a close.
When it starts and when it ends
The deed stage starts as soon as you receive the approval letter, at the end of loan formalization. It ends on the day of the deed itself — the notarial act where the loan is formally contracted and ownership of the property transfers to you.
It's the shortest stage of the process, but also the one that pulls together the most loose ends: booking a date with the notary or solicitor, confirming all the property's paperwork is still valid, and making sure the funds — yours and the bank's — are available on the right day.
What happens on the day
At the notary's office (or with a solicitor, depending on the route chosen), the buyer, the seller, and bank representatives (where applicable) come together. The purchase deed is signed, along with the mortgage contract itself — the document that formalizes the loan. At that point, the bank releases the funds, the seller receives payment, and the property is registered in your name.
After the deed
Once the deed is signed, the mortgage process is complete — but a few administrative steps remain in the following days: the property's final registration in your name, and setting up the direct debit for the first loan installment.
We've walked through six stages, from the first document to this day. If you're just starting your own process, the first step is still the same: document collection.
