Closing Disclosure: What to Check Before Closing
October 20, 2026
A Closing Disclosure is the five-page form that shows the final terms and costs of your mortgage, and your lender must make sure you receive it at least three business days before closing. Use those three days to compare it line by line with your most recent Loan Estimate, confirm the loan terms and cash to close, and ask about anything that changed. The forms use the same section letters, so the comparison is straightforward.
What's on each page. Page 1 shows the loan terms (loan amount, interest rate, principal and interest, and whether any can increase), projected payments, and costs at closing. Page 2 itemizes loan costs in Sections A through D and other costs in Sections E through I, with Section J showing total closing costs and any lender credits. Page 3 has the Calculating Cash to Close table, which puts the Loan Estimate and final figures side by side with a Did this change? column, plus a summary of the transaction. Page 4 covers loan disclosures, such as assumption, late payment terms, negative amortization, partial payment policy and your escrow account. Page 5 has loan calculations (total of payments, finance charge, amount financed, APR and Total Interest Percentage), other disclosures, and contact information for the lender, brokers, real estate agents and settlement agent.
What to check, and when changes restart the clock. Confirm your name, the property address and the loan type and term. Make sure the rate matches your lock confirmation. Compare Section A with your Loan Estimate, since the lender's own fees generally can't increase without a valid changed circumstance, and check that lender credits haven't shrunk. Review the escrow figures and the cash-to-close amount. Look for a prepayment penalty or balloon payment you didn't expect. If the APR becomes inaccurate beyond a small tolerance, the loan product changes, or a prepayment penalty is added, the lender must give you a corrected Closing Disclosure and a new three-business-day waiting period. Other changes can be corrected at closing without a new wait. If a fee went over its tolerance limit, the lender must refund the excess, generally within 60 days after closing.
Wire fraud and quick answers. Criminals target closings with fake emails that change wiring instructions. Never wire money based on an email alone. Confirm the instructions directly with your settlement agent using contact information you verified independently, and call your bank right away if something seems wrong. Can you get the Closing Disclosure earlier? Ask your lender, since earlier delivery gives you more review time. What if numbers are wrong? Ask the lender and settlement agent to correct them before you sign. Can you waive the three-day wait? Only for a bona fide personal financial emergency, with a signed written statement. Who prepares it? The lender is responsible, though the settlement agent often helps. Should you keep it? Yes. Keep the final signed Closing Disclosure with your records, because you may need it for taxes, a future refinance, or if you sell the home.
Your Closing Disclosure arrives at least three business days before closing and shows your final terms and costs. Compare it with your Loan Estimate, focusing on the rate, Section A, lender credits and cash to close, and know which changes restart the waiting period. Verify wiring instructions independently. Sources: CFPB Closing Disclosure explainer; 12 CFR 1026.19(f) and 1026.38. General education only. LoFi Rate is an independent matching service, not a lender.