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If it's in the pipeline it can still close but what if it's not? What if the offer is being accepted Monday ... or Tuesday? Get your documents ready! Regardless of where you are closing and who your lender is there are many documents you may need.

Most importantly don't leave yourself or your client in a situation where there will be a per diam penalty for not closing or the old "five other closings are contingent on this one and twelve families with children are living in U-Haul trucks" scenario.

In case you've never had a closing this close to the end of the year keep in mind that this is no normal week. Chances are the lender, the insurance company, the appraiser, and the closing agent are closed or at the very best short staffed the week of Christmas.

We, for example, are closing around 3:00PM on Friday the 22nd and not re-opening until Tuesday, January 2nd. While there will still be a skeleton crew in and out of the office to check emails, faxes, post and parcels, there will not be enough staff to handle a closing. And, let me add, it is not just us ... we are closed because the best thing we could do that week is take applications. The industry is probably no more than 25% in business that week.

To see what steps you can do to help expidite see my blog and reader's comments at  Five Keys to Quick Closings from the Lender's View