Most states require wet closing by law; only a few allow its opposite, which is called dry funding:
AlaskaArizonaCaliforniaHawaiiIdahoNevadaNew MexicoOregonWashington
Alternate names: wet funding, wet settlement, table funding
How Wet Closings Work
If you’ve sold a home, you may have already experienced a wet closing, since they’re mandated in most states. Let’s say that you’re selling your property in Georgia, which is a wet funding state. You’ve already gotten an offer on your home and accepted it with a 30-day escrow. This means your buyer has 30 days to complete all their inspections, loan paperwork, etc. After a home inspection turns up an issue, you agree to amend your contract to repair a leaking faucet. You do so quickly to avoid any delays, and as the close approaches, everything seems to be going well. Unfortunately, the day before you’re meant to close, your realtor calls you to let you know that the buyer’s loan paperwork isn’t completed, and it looks like the loan won’t be funded on time. Since Georgia requires a wet close, the buyer is now asking for an extra couple of days. You grant it, and a few days later, everyone manages to sign all their paperwork and complete the transaction. Because the loan is already funded, you’ll receive the disbursement the day you complete your paperwork. Once you’ve received your money, you can relinquish possession of the property. In states where both wet and dry closings are allowed, you may prefer to complete a wet closing. This is because a wet closing guarantees that the transaction is completed and you receive your funds immediately. In the case of a dry close, you may sign everything only to find out later that the funder—the person who reviews the funding package once it’s signed—has added a new funding condition that the buyer is unable to meet. Even though you thought you’d already completed the transaction, there are no guarantees until the loan is actually funded.
Wet Closing vs. Dry Closing
We mentioned above that dry closings are the opposite of wet closings, and that they’re only legal in a handful of states. Now let’s take a look at the major differences between these two types of closing: A dry closing, meanwhile, may mean that all the documentation has been signed but needs to be reviewed. Since it can take up to four days for this to occur and for funds to be disbursed, this gives the ink time to “dry.”
