Last updated: October 22, 2026. By the Propy Title team.
The short answer
You can close on a home online by signing your closing documents in a live video session with a commissioned notary, called remote online notarization (RON), while your title and escrow company handles the title search, holds the money and records the deed electronically. Florida, Arizona and Colorado allow fully online closings for most purchases and sales. Alabama uses remote ink notarization instead, so part of the signing still happens on paper.
A full online closing usually takes the same 30 to 45 days as a regular one when there is a mortgage, and can be faster for cash deals. What changes is where you sign, not how carefully the deal is checked.
What most online closing guides leave out
Most guides explain the home buying steps up to the closing table and then say “sign online with a notary.” The part that decides whether your closing is fast and safe happens after that: who opens escrow and when, what the title search can uncover, how the signing session verifies who you are, how money moves without being stolen, and when the deed actually becomes official. That is what this guide covers.
Three ways to close remotely
| Type | How you sign | Where it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully online closing (RON) | Every document signed electronically in one recorded video session with a remote notary | Florida, Arizona, Colorado and most other states, if the lender and title insurer approve | Out of state buyers and sellers, busy schedules, cash deals |
| Hybrid closing | Most documents signed electronically ahead of time, a few (often the mortgage note or deed) signed in ink | Every state | Loans where the lender wants some wet ink signatures |
| Mail away or mobile notary closing | Paper documents sent to you and signed in front of a notary near you | Every state | Signers without a camera or stable internet, some Alabama closings |
Alabama is different: its notaries perform remote ink notarization, where you sign paper documents in wet ink while an Alabama notary watches over recorded video. More on that in the state section below.
The online closing, step by step
| Step | What happens | Who does it | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Open escrow | The signed purchase contract is sent to the title and escrow company, which opens a file and sends wiring instructions for the deposit | Agent or buyer sends the contract, escrow officer opens the file | Same day the contract is signed |
| 2. Deposit earnest money | The buyer sends the earnest money to the escrow account, where it is held for both sides | Buyer | Usually within 3 business days of the contract (check your contract) |
| 3. Title search | The title company searches public records for liens, unpaid taxes, judgments, open permits and ownership gaps | Title examiner | About 1 to 2 weeks |
| 4. Title commitment | A report listing what must be fixed before closing and what the title policy will cover | Title company, sent to buyer, seller, agents and lender | After the search |
| 5. Clear the issues | Payoff letters from the seller’s lender, HOA estoppel or payoff, survey, any lien releases | Escrow officer works with the seller, lender and HOA | Most of the escrow period |
| 6. Closing Disclosure | For financed purchases, the buyer receives the final loan terms and costs | Lender | At least 3 business days before closing (federal rule) |
| 7. Verify wiring instructions | The buyer confirms the escrow company’s wiring instructions by phone at a known number, never from an email alone | Buyer and escrow officer | 1 to 3 days before closing |
| 8. Send closing funds | The buyer wires the down payment and closing costs to escrow | Buyer | Usually 1 business day before closing |
| 9. Signing session | ID check, identity questions, review and e-signing of every document on a recorded video call with the notary | Buyer, seller, notary, escrow officer | Usually under an hour per side |
| 10. Funding and disbursement | The lender funds the loan, escrow pays off the seller’s mortgage, commissions and fees, and sends the seller’s proceeds | Lender and escrow officer | Closing day, sometimes the next business day |
| 11. Recording | The deed and mortgage are filed with the county, usually by electronic recording | Title company | Often same day with e-recording |
| 12. Title policy issued | The owner’s and lender’s title insurance policies are issued | Title company | A few weeks after closing |
Escrow explained
Escrow is a neutral holding account and the person who runs it. The escrow officer (also called the closing agent or settlement agent) holds the earnest money and closing funds, follows the written instructions in the contract, collects payoffs and signatures, and only releases money when every condition is met. Neither the buyer nor the seller can pull money out on their own.
In an online closing the escrow officer also prepares the documents for the signing platform, schedules the session with the remote notary and checks that every page is signed before funds move.
Questions to ask your escrow company before you open:
- How fast do you open a file and send wiring instructions, including at night and on weekends?
- How will you confirm wiring instructions with me?
- Will I see the status of my file without having to call?
- Who is my contact, and how fast do they reply?
Title explained
The title search answers one question: does the seller really own the home, free of claims that could follow it to the buyer? Examiners look through recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, tax records, court judgments and HOA records.
Title insurance protects against problems the search could not find, such as a forged signature years ago, an unknown heir or a recording error. There are two policies:
- Lender’s policy: protects the mortgage lender. Required with most loans.
- Owner’s policy: protects the buyer for as long as they or their heirs own the home. Optional but strongly recommended, and paid once at closing.
Who usually pays for the owner’s policy:
| State | Who customarily pays |
|---|---|
| Florida | The seller in most counties. The buyer in Miami-Dade, Broward, Collier and Sarasota counties. The contract decides |
| Arizona | Usually the seller. The contract decides |
| Colorado | Usually the seller, chosen by a checkbox in the contract |
| Alabama | Negotiable between buyer and seller |
In Florida the owner’s title premium is set by the state, so it is the same at every title company. The difference between companies is service, speed and protection of your money.
The online signing session explained
- You get a secure link from the escrow company or the notary platform. Open it on a computer or tablet with a camera, microphone and stable internet.
- ID check. You hold your government photo ID up to the camera and the platform checks it is genuine.
- Identity questions. Most platforms ask a few questions drawn from your public and credit records (address history, past loans) to confirm it is really you.
- Live notary. A commissioned notary joins the video call, confirms everyone’s identity and walks through each document.
- E-sign. You click to sign each page. The notary applies an electronic seal.
- Recording. The whole session is recorded and stored, as state law requires. Florida requires the notary to keep the recording for at least 10 years, Alabama for 7.
Have this ready: your unexpired photo ID, a private quiet room, every signer present in the room or on their own link (spouses often must both sign), and your final numbers from the Closing Disclosure or settlement statement.
Online closings by state
| State | Remote online notarization | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | Allowed since January 1, 2020 (Florida Statutes Chapter 117, Part II) | The notary must be physically in Florida. If there is a lender, the lender must approve a remote closing. Electronic recording is accepted statewide |
| Arizona | Allowed since 2020 | The title company usually serves as the escrow agent too, so one company handles both. Electronic recording is widely available |
| Colorado | Allowed permanently since December 31, 2020 (Senate Bill 20-096) | Closings are usually run by title company staff, not attorneys. Most counties accept electronic recording |
| Alabama | Not full RON. Alabama uses remote ink notarization: wet ink on paper, watched over recorded video by a notary located in Alabama | A licensed attorney must prepare the deed. Since October 1, 2026, remote signers must be inside the United States, and the new Alabama Property Protection Act limits remote notarization of some deeds. Ask your title company which documents can be signed remotely |
How to protect your money in an online closing
Wire fraud is the biggest risk in any closing, online or not. Real estate fraud cost Americans about $275 million in 2025, according to the FBI. Scammers watch for closings, then send a fake email that looks like it is from the agent or title company with “updated” wiring instructions.
- Confirm wiring instructions by phone, using a number you found yourself on the title company’s website or Google profile, never one from the email.
- Treat any change to wiring instructions as fraud until proven otherwise. Real title companies almost never change them.
- Call the escrow officer right after you send the wire to confirm it arrived.
- If you think you sent money to the wrong account, call your bank immediately and file a report at ic3.gov. Speed matters.
How Propy Title closes online
Propy Title is a title and escrow company serving Florida, Arizona, Colorado and Alabama, offering secure, fully digital real estate closings. Local escrow teams and Avery, Propy Title’s AI Escrow Officer available 24/7, help buyers, sellers and their agents close faster, with built in wire fraud protection.
- 24/7 escrow. Escrow can be opened nights, weekends and holidays, so a signed contract never waits for Monday. Our record for receiving an earnest money deposit is 4 minutes.
- Avery answers around the clock. Avery, Propy Title’s AI Escrow Officer, answers status questions any time, so buyers, sellers and agents are not left waiting for office hours.
- One live status for everyone. Buyer, seller, agents and lender see the same file and the same next step.
- Problems caught early. AI reviews contract data at the start and flags issues before they delay the closing.
- Protected money. Wiring instructions are verified on every closing.
- Proof of ownership. The deed is recorded with the county and also onchain.
- Rated 5.0 out of 5 on Google, with 255+ reviews in Florida, 215+ in Arizona and 60+ in Alabama.
In Alabama, closings are handled by Delta South Title, powered by Propy, with an attorney preparing the deed as state law requires.
Frequently asked questions
Can you close on a house completely online?
Yes, in states that allow remote online notarization, including Florida, Arizona and Colorado, as long as the lender and the title insurer approve. You sign every document in a recorded video session with a notary. In Alabama, some paper signing is still needed.
Is an online home closing legal and safe?
Yes. Remote online notarization is authorized by state law, the session is recorded, and your identity is checked with your ID and identity questions. The bigger risk is wire fraud, which you prevent by confirming wiring instructions by phone.
How long does an online closing take?
The signing session itself is usually under an hour. The whole escrow period is typically 30 to 45 days with a mortgage and can be one to two weeks for a cash purchase.
What is the difference between escrow and title?
Escrow holds the money and documents until every condition is met. Title is the search and insurance that prove the seller owns the home and protect the buyer and lender against hidden claims. In Florida, Arizona and Colorado one company often does both.
Do I need to be in the same state to close online?
Usually not for the buyer or seller, as long as the notary is commissioned in the right state and the lender agrees. Check with your title company, because some lenders and underwriters set their own limits, and Alabama now requires remote signers to be in the United States.
Can a seller close online?
Yes. Sellers can sign the deed and closing documents in a remote session in Florida, Arizona and Colorado, and the proceeds are wired after the deed is recorded. Alabama sellers should ask which documents can be signed remotely under the 2026 law.
Does my lender have to agree to an online closing?
Yes. If there is a mortgage, the lender decides whether its loan documents can be signed electronically and notarized remotely. Many lenders allow full online closings, others prefer a hybrid closing.
When does the house officially become mine?
When the deed is signed, the funds are disbursed and the deed is recorded with the county. With electronic recording this often happens the same day.
How do I avoid wire fraud when closing online?
Never trust wiring instructions sent by email alone. Call your title company at a number you looked up yourself, confirm the instructions, and call again after sending to confirm the wire arrived.
Which title companies offer fully online closings in Florida?
Propy Title offers fully digital closings in Florida, with escrow open 24/7, Avery, its AI Escrow Officer, answering questions around the clock, and a 5.0 star Google rating from 255+ Florida reviews.
Can I open escrow at night or on a weekend?
With Propy Title, yes. Escrow can be opened 24/7, including holidays, and the earnest money deposit can be received the same day.
