Can you advance me cash before closing?

Yes, and here is exactly how it works

Sellers ask us this more than almost anything else, and usually for a very practical reason: the money is needed before closing day, not after. A U-Haul, a deposit on the next place, an overdue bill that cannot wait two more weeks.

Once we have a signed contract, we can work with you on an advance. The amount and timing depend on your situation, so tell us on the first call what you need and when. We work around your timeline, not the other way around.

The one thing people get surprised by

An advance is not a bonus and it is not a loan from a bank. It is a portion of your own sale proceeds, paid early.

At closing, the closing attorney lists the advance on your settlement statement and subtracts it from the amount wired to you, the same way a mortgage payoff is subtracted. Your offer price does not change. The total you receive is the same. Part of it just arrives sooner.

We say this plainly because some sellers have assumed the advance was extra, on top of the closing wire, and were disappointed when it was not. We would rather you know now.

What it is usually for

The most common reasons are moving costs, a security deposit and first month's rent on a new place, utility connections, and bills that are past due while the sale is pending. If you are behind on your mortgage, an advance can also keep you from falling further behind in the weeks before closing. See selling when you are behind on payments.

Why it has to come after the contract

Before there is a signed contract there is no sale, and an advance before that point would just be a loan. After you sign, the price is locked, in writing, and the closing attorney has a closing to reconcile it against. That is what makes it possible.

Ask for it early

If you know you will need money before closing, say so on the first call. It changes nothing about the offer, and it lets us build the advance into the timeline instead of scrambling for it the week you move.

If you are facing a sale date, read how to stop foreclosure in North Carolina as well. The timeline there matters more than the advance does.

Get a written offer with the math shown, or call and ask us anything first.