Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions most people in North Cork will ever make. Whether you are purchasing your first house in Charleville or moving to a larger property near Mallow, understanding the conveyancing process helps everything run more smoothly. Here is a plain-English guide to what happens once your offer is accepted.

1. Sale agreed and booking deposit

Once your offer is accepted, you usually pay a refundable booking deposit to the estate agent. Nothing is legally binding at this stage - it simply takes the property off the market while your solicitor and lender do their work.

2. Contracts and searches

The seller's solicitor issues contracts and the title documents. Your solicitor reviews the title, raises pre-contract queries, and carries out searches to confirm there are no judgments, planning issues or rights of way that could affect the property. If you are buying with a mortgage, your lender's loan offer and conditions are also reviewed at this point.

3. Signing and exchange

When your solicitor is satisfied and your mortgage is in place, you sign the contract and pay the balance of the deposit (usually 10% of the price, less the booking deposit). Contracts are then exchanged and a closing date is agreed. From this point the sale is legally binding on both sides.

4. Closing and registration

On the closing date the balance of the purchase price is transferred, you receive the keys, and the property becomes yours. Your solicitor then attends to stamp duty and registers your ownership with the Property Registration Authority so that your title is protected for the future.

Talk to a local solicitor

Every purchase is different, and local knowledge of North Cork property matters. If you are buying or selling in Charleville, Mallow, Buttevant, Kanturk or the surrounding area, Yuli O'Grady Solicitors can guide you through the process from start to finish. Call us on 022 80024 or email y.ogrady@yuliogradysolicitors.ie to get started.