The closing process is the last step to purchasing or selling a Knoxville home. The process can often be intimidating because of how much legal paperwork there is involved. In this article I'll walk you through the process so that the closing process will go much smoother for you.

1) Homeowner's Insurance

Insurance is always necessary to get the mortgage. Remember to get homeowner's insurance and bring proof to closing.

2) Gather All Your Paperwork

Make sure you have all your paperwork in place the day before closing. Review all your paperwork to make sure that everything is in order.

3) Have Your Inspections Completed

Have the property inspections completed when you come to escrow. If there are any repairs that are necessary, make sure they're in writing.

4) Have Title Insurance

It's important to get title insurance for your home purchase. Title insurance insures that the title on your property is clean.

5) Get Approval of Mortgage

At this point, your mortgage should be approved so that you can get your loan to pay for your new property.

6) Bring Your Cashier's Check

The amount necessary for closing the on the property should always be on a cashier's check.

7) Clear All Contingencies

At this point, all contingencies and clauses should be cleared so that you can go ahead with the transfer of the deed.

8) Understand Your Closing Costs

Before closing, it's important to have a good idea of what your closing costs are. It's also important to know who will pay the closing costs. Unless otherwise stated, usually the buyer pays the closing costs.

Following these tips should make the whole real estate closing process go much smoother for you. Remember to talk to your Knoxville real estate agent and your loan officer about the closing process, as they've both been through the process many times.