10 common closing delays (and how to avoid them)

Closing day is supposed to be a celebration, not a scramble to fix last-minute issues. But as any experienced real estate professional knows, even the best-managed transactions can hit snags once escrow begins. From missing paperwork to financing hiccups, the slightest delay can ripple out and create frustration for everyone involved.

Fortunately, many typical escrow slowdowns can be preventable with the right preparation and communication. In this article, you’ll discover the top causes of closing delays and what you can do as a real estate professional to stay one step ahead. Whether you’re working with first-time buyers or seasoned investors, these tips will help you guide clients through the closing process with more confidence and fewer surprises.

Financing hiccups that throw off your timeline

Even when buyers are pre-approved, financing-related delays remain one of the biggest disruptors to a smooth closing. Lenders may request last-minute documentation, run additional credit checks, or face backlogs that push timelines unexpectedly.

Common financing delays include:

• Underwriting slowdowns: The underwriting process can uncover issues with debt-to-income ratios, credit anomalies, or employment verification, all of which take time to resolve.
  

• Appraisal gaps: When a home appraises below the contract price, the buyer may need to renegotiate or come up with more cash, both of which stall momentum.

• Loan denial: Even after pre-approval, changes in the buyer’s financial profile, such as job loss or new debt, can lead to a last-minute mortgage denial, forcing a cancellation or complete restart.

What real estate professionals can do:

Set realistic timelines, communicate regularly with the buyer’s lender, and remind clients to avoid big purchases or credit changes during escrow. Encouraging your buyers to submit paperwork early and follow up proactively with their lender can help prevent many surprises. ‍

Pro tip: Add a financing checkpoint to your transaction checklist, a midway nudge for buyers to confirm that all lender documentation is in and verified.

‍How Endpoint helps:
The Endpoint app and email notifications help keep buyers, real estate professionals, and lenders in sync and informed of key milestones throughout the closing process helping to avoid unpleasant last-minute surprises that can stall momentum. By opening orders quickly, Endpoint also gives buyers more time to submit their earnest money deposit—one of the earliest and most time-sensitive steps in the process—helping to keep the transaction on track from the start.

Property red flags that slow things down

The most motivated buyer or seller can hit pause when the property itself raises questions. From inspection concerns to title defects, these delays often crop up mid-escrow and require swift, informed handling to keep the deal moving.

Key culprits include:

• Home inspection surprises: Major findings like roof damage, mold, foundation cracks, or outdated electrical systems can trigger renegotiations, repair demands, or cause buyers to rethink their purchase.

• Final walkthrough issues: If a seller fails to complete agreed-upon repairs or removes appliances without notice, escrow could be delayed while the parties resolve the discrepancy.

• Title defects: Common title and escrow issues, such as liens, unpaid taxes, missing heirs, or ownership disputes uncovered in the title search, must be cleared before closing, and that often takes time.

• Survey discrepancies: Boundary disputes or unpermitted structures identified in a land survey can cause additional legal review and delay closing until resolved.

What real estate professionals can do:
Set expectations early. Encourage buyers to schedule inspections right away and help sellers prepare by addressing known issues before listing. Review title commitments thoroughly and stay in close contact with the escrow team if defects arise.

Pro tip: Partner with a title company that proactively flags and works to clear title issues early in the process; it’s one of the best ways to keep transactions on track.

How Endpoint helps:

When property issues threaten to delay closing, having the right team makes all the difference. Endpoint’s title and settlement services are handled by a team of seasoned professionals who proactively identify and help resolve potential red flags — like title defects or documentation gaps — early in the process. Their expertise, combined with real-time updates, helps keep transactions moving forward and prevents surprises from becoming deal-stoppers.

Paperwork problems and crossed wires

In a transaction with dozens of moving parts and multiple parties, even a small documentation error or lapse in communication can stall everything. These types of delays are common, but often avoidable with the right systems and habits in place.

Top issues to watch for:

• Missing or outdated documents: Delays happen when essential paperwork (like trust certificates, powers of attorney, or death certificates) is incomplete, outdated, or missing required signatures is incomplete, outdated, or missing required signatures.

• Errors in loan documents: Typos in names, incorrect loan terms, or mismatched figures can cause last minute corrections that delay closing.

• Disjointed communication updates: When real estate professionals, escrow officers, lenders, buyers, and sellers fail to align on next steps or timelines, they risk overlooking key details.

• Slow response times: When one party is slow to respond, whether it’s a buyer delaying document review or a lender waiting on final conditions, it impacts everyone downstream.

• Bank transfer delays: Earnest money deposits or final funds wired late, often due to cutoff times or incorrect instructions, can stall funding and push back closing.

How real estate professionals can stay ahead:
Keep a close eye on document checklists and timelines, and encourage your clients to do the same. Review everything carefully before submission. If you’re waiting on someone else, a polite, proactive nudge can make all the difference.

Pro tip: One of the best ways to prevent communication delays is to confirm everyone’s preferred method of contact early (text, email, phone) and establish a cadence for status updates throughout escrow.

How Endpoint helps:

Endpoint's real-time status updates makes it easier for agents, buyers, and lenders to track what’s completed and what still needs attention. Backed by a team of experienced professionals, Endpoint helps ensure that critical documents are submitted on time and that everyone stays informed, reducing the risk of last-minute delays.

When the unexpected happens: external delays

Factors outside anyone’s control can throw off the best-planned real estate transactions. Issues such as natural disasters, wire fraud attempts,  and unrealistic closing timelines may be unpredictable, but they’re not impossible to prepare for.

Common external delay triggers:

• Natural disasters or local emergencies: Fires, floods, or storms can halt inspections, delay funding, or shut down county offices.

• Wire fraud or seller impersonation scams: Fraud attempts are on the rise. If flagged mid-transaction, they require immediate investigation and can put the whole deal on hold.

• Overly ambitious timelines: Everyone wants to close fast, but if the timeline doesn’t allow for appraisal turnarounds, lender conditions, or post-inspection repairs, delays become inevitable.

• Regulatory changes: Especially in commercial real estate, unexpected changes in zoning, environmental review requirements, or tax codes can stall or reroute transactions.

• County office closures for holidays or tech outages: This is a very real and often unplanned issue that affects document recording timelines.

How real estate professionals can stay ahead:
Set realistic expectations from the start. Talk clients through potential roadblocks early and have a backup plan for document delivery, funding delays, or rescheduling. Your role as a steady guide is invaluable when emotions run high.

Pro tip: Add a calendar buffer of one to two days around closing, especially during peak seasons or in high-risk regions. That extra time can mean the difference between a delayed deal and an on-time celebration.

How Endpoint helps:
Endpoint’s digital-first model is built for flexibility, helping transactions stay on track even when the unexpected happens. With tools for eSigning, progress tracking, and remote collaboration, Endpoint makes it easier to adapt to last-minute changes. And with flexible signing options—including mobile notary coordination and remote online notarization (RON) where permitted— Endpoint helps reduce back-and-forth and keeps deals moving forward. Backed by a team of seasoned professionals, Endpoint provides the support and agility needed to navigate external challenges with confidence.

Even with all the proper steps in place, delays can still arise, and how you handle them can make all the difference.

Navigating delays with empathy and professionalism

Closing delays can quickly create stress or even distrust among buyers and sellers, especially when communication is unclear. As a real estate professional, your ability to stay calm, offer clear updates, and focus on solutions goes a long way. Empathy builds trust, whether you’re helping a first-time buyer understanding a delayed wire or guiding a seller through a renegotiation.

Let your clients know you’re on top of things and remind them that these issues are common and solvable.

Keeping transactions moving

Real estate professionals know how quickly a deal can shift, and how important it is to stay flexible. While delays can be frustrating, they are often preventable with the right tools, partners and communication strategies.

When you work with an experienced, tech-enabled title and escrow team like Endpoint, you gain real-time visibility into the process, faster updates, and expert support to help you keep deals moving—even when the unexpected happens. Discover how Endpoint can help streamline your closings and minimize delays. Visit endpoint.com/real-estate-professionals to learn more.