Contract to Closing: A Transaction Checklist for New NJ Agents

The short answer: Between a signed contract and closing in New Jersey, a new agent's job is mostly tracking deadlines and paperwork. Get every party a signed copy right away (N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.2(a)). Get the deposit into the trust account within five business days (N.J.A.C. 11:5-5.1). Watch the three-business-day attorney review period (N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.2(g)). Then track the inspection, mortgage and appraisal dates in the contract, the town certificates, the title work, and the buyer's Closing Disclosure. That disclosure must reach the buyer at least three business days before closing (12 CFR 1026.19(f)).

Most of the other dates come from the contract itself, so read it first. Follow your broker's office procedures, and leave legal questions to the attorneys. For the bigger picture of year one, see your first year as a new NJ agent.

What happens the day the contract is signed?

The offer-day steps are covered in what a NJ agent does day to day. In short:

Copies. Each party gets a copy of what they sign, and every party gets a fully signed copy (N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.2(a)).
Deposit. Escrow money goes into the broker's trust account "promptly," which the rule defines as within five business days (N.J.A.C. 11:5-5.1). See our earnest money guide.
Seller disclosure. On a residential sale, the seller's property condition disclosure statement belongs in the buyer's hands before the buyer is bound (P.L.2024, c.32, s.2.e; our seller disclosure guide).
Pre-1978 homes. Lead-based paint disclosures come before the buyer is obligated. Buyers get a 10-day inspection opportunity unless they agree in writing to a different period or waive it (40 CFR 745.110; our lead paint guide).

What should you track during attorney review?

Attorney review lasts three days from delivery of the signed contract to the buyer and seller. Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays don't count. An attorney can disapprove the contract by certified mail, personal delivery or another method the rule allows (N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.2(g)). Our attorney review guide covers how it works.

Your checklist for this stage:

Write down when delivery happened and the day review ends.
Forward any attorney letter to your broker the moment it arrives.
Once the contract comes out of attorney review, any ad for the property must say "under contract" until closing. "Sold" waits until title transfers at closing (N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.1(o), as amended Jan 20, 2026).
Update the listing status according to your MLS's rules.

Back-up offers. Offers that come in after the contract survives attorney review are back-up offers. The listing side must advise the owner in writing to consult an attorney, and tell the person making the offer in writing that a contract is pending, without giving its price or terms (N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.4(h)).

Which contingency dates come next?

Once the contract is final, the deal runs on its contingency deadlines. Inspection, mortgage commitment and appraisal dates are set in the contract, not by a state rule. Put each one on your calendar with a reminder a few days early. Our contingencies guide explains what each one does.

New Jersey's state buyer guide lists other inspections and certifications that may be needed, depending on the property: termite (pest) inspection, flood search, land survey, radon testing, well testing, septic certification, smoke detector certification and a certificate of occupancy (NJ DOBI buyer guide). Older homes may also raise oil tank questions.

Item	Who usually handles it	Where the deadline comes from
Home inspection and any repair negotiation	Buyer's side	The contract's inspection clause
Mortgage application and commitment	Buyer and lender	The contract's mortgage clause
Appraisal	Lender	Lender's process, tied to the contract's dates
Title search and commitment	Buyer's attorney or title company	Before closing (title guide)
Town certificates	Seller's side	Town ordinance and the fire code

The DOBI guide also notes that if a buyer wasn't pre-approved, mortgage processing can take 30 to 90 days, which is worth knowing when a contract's dates look tight.

What does the seller's side need from the town?

Smoke and CO alarm certificate. One- and two-family homes need a certificate from the local enforcing agency on sale. It's valid for six months, so timing matters (N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3). See our certificate guide.
Town resale inspections. Some towns require their own resale certificate of occupancy. Rules and timing vary by ordinance. See resale certificates of occupancy.

Call the town early. Inspections can turn up repairs, and repairs take time.

What happens in the final week?

Closing Disclosure. The lender must make sure the buyer receives it at least three business days before closing. For this rule, a business day is every day except Sundays and federal legal public holidays (12 CFR 1026.19(f)). Our closing cost vocabulary guide explains what's on it.
Walk-through and closing logistics. If the contract provides for a final walk-through, confirm when and who attends. Confirm the closing time and place with the attorneys and title company.
Your commission. You're paid by your own broker, not by the buyer, seller or another brokerage (N.J.S.A. 45:15-16).

What happens after closing?

Now that title has transferred, ads can say the home was sold (N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.1(o)). Update the MLS. The transaction file stays at your broker's office. A licensee who leaves a brokerage can't take file contents with them (N.J.A.C. 11:5-5.5(c)).

What should your checklist look like?

A simple version to copy into your CRM or notebook:

Deadlines like these are a big part of NJ's licensing coursework. Business Elementary's 75-hour course is one place to learn them before your first deal.

Sources

N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.2 (copies; attorney review), 11:5-5.1 (trust deposits), 11:5-6.4 (back-up offers) via Cornell LII: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-11-5-6-2 ; https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-11-5-5-1 ; https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-11-5-6-4
N.J.A.C. 11:5 amendments effective Jan 20, 2026 (R.2026 d.020; 11:5-6.1(o) advertising "under contract"/"sold"; 11:5-5.5(c) files): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/proposed/aa260120njac11_5.pdf
P.L.2024, c.32, section 2.e: https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2024/PL24/32_.PDF
40 CFR 745.110 (lead inspection opportunity): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-R/part-745/subpart-F/section-745.110
N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3 (smoke and CO alarm certificate), via Cornell LII: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-5-70-2-3
12 CFR 1026.19(f) (Closing Disclosure timing), CFPB: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1026/19/
N.J.S.A. 45:15-16 (Justia): https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-45/section-45-15-16/
NJ Department of Banking and Insurance, buyer guide: https://nj.gov/dobi/division_consumers/pdf/buyingahome.pdf

Last reviewed: November 1, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to go from contract to closing in NJ?

No state rule sets the length. The contract sets the closing date. The state's buyer guide notes that mortgage processing can take 30 to 90 days for a buyer who wasn't pre-approved (NJ DOBI).

When can I advertise a listing as "sold"?

Only after the closing at which title transfers. Between the end of attorney review and closing, ads for the property must say "under contract" (N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.1(o)).

Can the smoke and CO alarm certificate expire before closing?

Yes, if it's ordered too early. The certificate for a one- or two-family home sale is valid for six months, so time the inspection with the expected closing date (N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3).

Who orders inspections and certifications?

It depends on the item and the contract. The state's buyer guide says the buyer, the seller and/or the agent's office may order them (NJ DOBI). Town certificates are usually handled by the seller's side.