One of the best parts of my job is seeing the happy faces of home buyers when I hand them the keys to their new home after they close on their purchase.

Recently, I met a young couple at the title company who were anxious to move into their first home. They couldn’t wait to get the paperwork done so they could get the keys to their “dream home.” The title closer came in and set down her file that looked to be a mile high, and my clients lost the smiles on their faces.

If you are getting a loan to buy a home, there is much paperwork involved. Remember, your lender usually is lending you a lot of money, so it is only natural there would be plenty of paperwork involved to protect the lender’s interest and your family. You will want to allocate about an hour for the closing process.

Now I should point out that some lenders today have moved to electronic documents and electronic signatures; so instead of a mile-high stack of paper, your closer might seat you in front of a computer screen.

It is important that you review all the paperwork you are asked to sign. If you have questions, ask your Realtor, the lender or the title company closer. If you are a buyer, some of the forms you will be asked to sign include:

The note: This is usually a three or four-page document that is your agreement with your lender. It details all terms and conditions of your loan. This includes the loan amount, payment amount, when your first payment is due and when your last payment is due. It also states when your payments are due, any grace period for payments and what late charges you would incur if your payments are late.

Most of us will never pay off our mortgage during the life of the loan. Instead, the lender probably will receive the balance of the money owed them when you sell your home. It is, therefore, important to pay attention to the details in the note regarding your rights to prepay your mortgage. Depending on the type of financing you are getting, some lenders may charge a penalty if you pay off your loan in the first one to five years you own the home. You want to be sure you know what penalties, if any, you would have to pay if for some reason you are a short-term owner of your new home. Generally, most lenders will allow you to make partial prepayments without penalties.

Deed of trust: Generally 12 to 15 pages, this document is your lender’s security for the money being lent to you under the terms of the note. The deed of trust, which is recorded with the county recorder of deeds, gives your lender an interest in your new home to insure them that you will repay your mortgage. In addition to giving the lender an interest in your home, by signing the document you also agree to protect their investment in your home by keeping your home insured, paying your taxes and keeping your home in good repair.

The deed of trust is also the vehicle by which the lender can take action if you fail to make your mortgage payments. The document details the procedures they would follow to foreclose and take possession of your property.

Even if your spouse’s name is not on the deed to the home or the loan, she will still have to sign the deed of trust. Missouri is a community property state, and your spouse has a marital interest in everything you own. Your lender will insist that all owners pledge their interest in your home to secure the money they are lending you.

Verifications: You will be asked to sign several verifications of the information you have given your lender and the title company. These may include employment verification, on which you verify that your employment and income circumstances have not changed since you applied for the loan, and funds verifications, on which you verify there have not been significant changes to the money you have in the bank since you applied for the loan. You will also complete debt verifications, on which you verify you have not taken on new debts or other obligations since you applied for the loan. It is always best to not make any major purchases such as an automobile, new appliances or furniture until you have moved into your new home. Finally, you will be asked to verify your Social Security number and your identity by providing a picture ID and another form of identification.

If you are a seller, the process is much easier. You will generally only have to sign two documents. The first is an affidavit where you verify, among other things, that there are no unrecorded liens against you or your home, no unpaid bills for work done to your home, and that your ownership and marital status have not changed in relation to how you took ownership of the house. Finally, you will sign the warranty deed granting ownership to the new owners.

Your Realtor will be at your side, so be sure to ask him or the title company closer any questions that come to mind as you review the documents.

Call your St. Charles County Realtor today.

Frontier Park in St. Charles will be the place to be this Saturday when hundreds of people gather for the seventh annual Karen 4 A Cause 5k Fun Run/Walk.

Special guests, including Fredbird and Ruffy the Rascal, will be there to join the fun as the community gathers to celebrate life at this Mother’s Day weekend tradition.

The proceeds from Saturday’s race will help support the work of the Karen Weidinger Foundation, which provides assistance for those living with breast cancer in St. Charles County.

Many of us have a mother, daughter, wife, sister, friend or colleague who has battled this disease. Working with SSM St. Joseph Health Center, the foundation has touched the lives of more than 1,000 women and their families living with breast cancer.

Since its inception in 2004, the foundation has raised more than $300,000, all of which has gone to help women here in St. Charles County. The foundation provides products and support services, which are generally not covered by insurance, to women and their families. These products include mastectomy camis, puffs, wigs and hair pieces that help women deal with the physical limitations and changes caused by the cancer and its treatments and therapies.

The foundation and SSM recognize physical needs are only part of the healing process. To care for the individual and their families, the foundation has supported numerous programs for women and their families. These include support groups allowing breast cancer survivors to share their experiences, feelings and concerns and to gain strength from each other.

Other programs include yoga and tai chi classes, nutritional counseling, massage therapy and free educational materials. The foundation also supports breast cancer screening and counseling for at-risk patients.

The foundation was founded in memory of Karen Weidinger, who was born and raised in St. Charles County and graduated from Duchesne High School. Karen spent her professional career as a mortgage loan officer for Chase Mortgage. She was an affiliate member of the St. Charles County Association of Realtors and committed to helping the families of St. Charles County realize the American Dream of Homeownership.

In 2002, Karen was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. In March 2004, at age 38, Karen lost her brave battle with the disease. In June of that year, Karen’s friends and family came together to form the Karen Weidinger Foundation in her honor. The foundation is dedicated to helping women in St. Charles County and surrounding communities who are living with breast cancer.

This Saturday’s Fun Run/Walk is the foundation’s biggest fundraiser. In addition, the foundation sponsors the Got Pink Raffle in the fall and other events throughout the year. The foundation is staffed entirely of volunteers, and all funds raised go to help those in need.

The St. Charles County Realtor family is proud to be a supporter of the work of the foundation. We are proud to join many local businesses — including Continental Title, Coldwell Banker Gundaker, Allstate Insurance and Sam’s Club — in helping those in need through the foundation. Visit KarensFoundation.org for more information about the work of the foundation. You can still register for this Saturday’s Fun/Run either online or at the event.

I am proud of my St. Charles County Realtor family’s commitment to help those in need in our community. As keepers of the American Dream, we know our dreams extend beyond the walls of our homes or offices. We work hard to make St. Charles County an even better place in which to live, work and raise families. We know the American Dream will never be fully realized for any of us until we can meet the needs of all members of our community. This commitment has led us to support the work of numerous charities and organizations.

Recently, I had the honor of presenting a $1,500 check to the Realtor Housing Assistance Fund. This organization provides funding for a variety of organizations in the St. Louis region that help those in need of temporary or permanent housing in our area. In addition, the association is a proud supporter of Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service, Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army, as well as other organizations. Many of our member firms have adopted their own charities to support, including the Ronald McDonald House, Children’s Miracle Network and the MS Society.

As we get ready to come together as families this weekend to celebrate our mothers, I am proud of the role my fellow Realtors have played in making the dream of owning a home a reality for so many St. Charles County families. We continue to work hard to safeguard that dream and its future for our children and grandchildren.

I feel very blessed to have been born to a wonderful mother, Nancy Lanier. You were always there for me, with a kind word, a loving touch and stern discipline when I needed it! Mom, you taught me so much; and without you, I would not be the man I am today. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.