A Florida closing involves a lot of moving parts — title, lender, insurance, contract terms, and state-specific rules. The good news: the deals that fall apart or get delayed almost always trip on the same five mistakes. Avoid these and your closing goes smoothly.
1. Falling for a Wire Fraud Scam (the #1 threat)
This is the costliest mistake in real estate today. Scammers monitor transactions, then email you fake "updated" wiring instructions that look like they came from your title company. Wire the money and it's gone — often unrecoverable.
The fix: Never trust wiring instructions sent or "changed" by email. Before sending a single dollar, call our office at a known, verified number and confirm the wiring details verbally. We will never email you new instructions at the last minute.
🔒 Security rule: Atlantic Title Firm does not change wire instructions by email. If you receive any email changing where to send funds, stop and call us at (561) 396-2692 to verify before wiring.
2. Making Major Financial Changes Before Closing
Buyers often celebrate early — opening a new credit card, financing furniture, or changing jobs right before closing. Lenders frequently re-pull credit just before funding, and any change to your debt-to-income ratio can pause or kill the loan, even on closing day.
The fix: From contract to keys, make no major purchases, don't open new credit, and don't change jobs without talking to your loan officer first. Keep your finances frozen until after you close.
3. Forgetting to Secure Florida Homeowners Insurance Early
In Florida's volatile insurance market, waiting until the last minute is risky. When a tropical storm or hurricane enters the forecast "box" near Florida, insurers freeze writing new policies entirely — and no bound insurance means no loan funding.
The fix: Lock in a bound homeowners policy at least two weeks before closing, well ahead of hurricane season risk, so weather can't delay your deal.
4. Not Clarifying Who Pays the Title Fees in the Contract
Florida's standard contracts (like the FAR/BAR contract) include a section that designates whether the buyer or seller pays for the owner's title policy — and it often follows county custom. Misreading it causes real arguments at the closing table.
The fix: Before you sign, read the title-evidence / closing-costs section of your Florida contract (often around Section 9) closely, and ask us to confirm who's responsible for each fee so there are no surprises.
5. Not Clarifying Marital Status / Florida Homestead Rules
Florida has strict homestead protections. If the property is the seller's homestead and the seller is married, the spouse generally must sign the deed — even if that spouse's name was never on the title. Miss this and closing stalls waiting on an out-of-town spouse.
The fix: Sellers, disclose your marital status to the title company immediately. If a spouse is required to sign, we'll arrange it early (including remote online notarization if they're traveling).
📋 Free download: Grab our printable Florida Closing Day Checklist — everything to have ready so your closing goes off without a hitch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most common Florida closing mistake?
Wire fraud. Always verbally verify wiring instructions by calling your title company at a known number before sending money — never trust emailed changes.
Can opening a credit card before closing cancel my closing?
Yes. Lenders re-pull credit before funding; new debt or a job change can change your debt-to-income ratio and stop the loan, even on closing day.
Why get Florida homeowners insurance early?
When a storm enters the forecast box, insurers freeze new policies. Bind your policy at least two weeks before closing so weather doesn't delay funding.
Who pays for the owner's title policy in Florida?
It's set in your contract and often follows county custom. Read the title/closing-costs section before signing so it's clear who pays.
Does a seller's spouse have to sign in Florida?
Often yes, under Florida homestead law, even if not on the deed. Disclose marital status early so we can arrange signatures without delay.
General information, not legal advice. Florida contract terms and homestead rules can be nuanced — your title agent and, where needed, an attorney can confirm specifics for your transaction.
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