When do I get the keys to my new home?
Want the keys to your new home right away? Read this — the exact moment you get access is predictable and under your control.
The simple answer: keys come after possession is official
You get the keys on the possession date stated in your purchase agreement — but only after the legal and financial steps are complete. That means the seller’s title is transferred, your mortgage funds (if any), and lawyers exchange documents. Once your lawyer confirms registration and funds, the seller or builder releases the keys.
How the closing process controls the key handover
- Title transfer: Your lawyer registers the deed or transfer at the land registry. No registration, no keys.
- Mortgage funding: Lenders must fund the mortgage to your lawyer’s trust account. Delays here push the keys back.
- Clearance from sellers/builders: For resale, the seller or their lawyer confirms completion. For new builds, builders often require occupancy or closing clearances before handing over keys.
- Final walkthrough: Most buyers do a final walk-through hours before possession to confirm condition. If something’s off, possession can be delayed.
Common scenarios and timing to expect
- Resale home (typical): Keys on possession day, usually mid-afternoon after lawyers confirm registration and funds.
- Condo from builder: You might get an occupancy date before closing or a separate closing handover. Builders control the initial occupancy; keys can be given earlier under an occupancy period or at closing.
- Cash purchase: Faster — once lawyers exchange documents and register title, keys can be handed over the same day.
What can cause delays — and how to avoid them
- Missing documents: Ensure ID, insurance, and mortgage conditions are ready.
- Lender delays: Push your lender and lawyer for funding timelines; confirm cut-off times.
- Builder holds or municipal certificates: For new builds, confirm occupancy certificates early.
- Last-minute repairs or disputes: Do the final walkthrough and document issues immediately.
Actionable checklist for closing and moving day
- Confirm possession date in the purchase agreement.
- Confirm with your lawyer the expected time for registration and funding.
- Book movers for the afternoon of possession, not early morning.
- Do the final walkthrough the morning of possession; document and photo anything wrong.
- Ask for all sets of keys, fobs, manuals, and access codes.
- Change locks within a week.
Direct advice from a local closing & moving authority
This is what I tell every client: possession is a legal event, not a calendar rumor. Control what you can — paperwork, funding, and the final walkthrough. When those three are aligned, the keys come on possession day.
Need a smooth closing and stress-free move? Contact Tony Sousa for clear timelines, lender coordination, and a guaranteed plan to get your keys when you expect them.
Tony Sousa — Local Realtor
Email: tony@sousasells.ca | Phone: 416-477-2620 | https://www.sousasells.ca
