Can you close on a house on Columbus Day in Delaware?
Usually not. Columbus Day is a Federal Reserve holiday, so banks are closed and wire transfers don’t move. Your lender can’t fund the loan, and the seller can’t be paid. You may be able to sign documents, but the closing isn’t finished until the money moves on Tuesday. Columbus Day also doesn’t count as a business day for your Closing Disclosure’s three-day waiting period, which can push back a closing set for later in the week.
By David Sordelet | October 12, 2026
Today is Columbus Day — also observed by many as Indigenous Peoples’ Day — and if you’re under contract on a Delaware home, it can quietly affect your timeline.
Most people think of Columbus Day as a “minor” holiday. Delaware state offices are even open today. But for a real estate closing, what matters is whether the banks are open, and today they aren’t.
Here’s what that means if you’re buying or selling this week.
Why Columbus Day stops most closings
A closing isn’t just signing papers. It’s three things happening together:
Signing — you sign the deed, the loan documents, and the settlement statement
Funding — the lender wires the loan money to the settlement attorney’s escrow account
Disbursement — the attorney pays off the seller’s mortgage, pays the seller, records the deed, and you get the keys
Columbus Day is a Federal Reserve holiday, so the Fed’s wire system doesn’t run and banks are closed. Funding and disbursement can’t happen.
In practice:
Most lenders won’t schedule a funded closing today.
Some settlement attorneys’ offices are open, and in some cases you may be able to sign ahead. But the loan doesn’t fund, the seller isn’t paid, and you usually don’t get keys until the money moves on Tuesday.
Cash buyers face the same issue — their funds arrive by wire, too.
Because Delaware is an attorney state, your settlement attorney runs the closing. If your date lands on a bank holiday, they’ll tell you what they can and can’t do — but it’s better to plan around it than to find out the week of.
The three-day Closing Disclosure rule (and why Monday doesn’t count)
If you’re financing, federal law requires you to receive your Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing. For this rule, a “business day” is every day except Sundays and federal holidays — and Columbus Day is one of them.
So this week, the math shifts. For a closing on Wednesday, October 14, the three business days before it are:
Tuesday, Oct. 13 ✔️
Monday, Oct. 12 (Columbus Day — doesn’t count)
Sunday, Oct. 11 (doesn’t count)
Saturday, Oct. 10 ✔️
Friday, Oct. 9 ✔️
That means you needed to receive your Closing Disclosure by Friday, October 9. If it went out late, your Wednesday closing may have to move — even though nothing else is wrong with the deal.
One more wrinkle: if your lender mails the Closing Disclosure instead of sending it electronically with confirmation, you’re generally treated as receiving it three business days after it’s sent. That can add days.
If your closing is this week, call your lender today — or tomorrow, since many are closed — and confirm when your Closing Disclosure was delivered.
What’s open and closed in Delaware today
Closed: banks, the Federal Reserve, and post offices
Open: Delaware state offices, including the DMV (Columbus Day isn’t a Delaware state holiday)
Open: Kent County and Sussex County government offices
Delaware’s mismatch with the federal calendar is why people get caught off guard. State offices may be open, but your money isn’t going anywhere.
Planning a closing around a holiday
If you’re writing a contract now, here’s what I tell my clients:
If you’re buying:
Avoid scheduling settlement on a federal bank holiday — Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and so on.
Watch your rate lock expiration. If it expires on or near a holiday, a one-day delay can cost you an extension fee.
Don’t book movers for the morning of a closing that’s close to a holiday. Leave yourself a day.
If you’re selling:
Your proceeds are paid by wire after funding. A Monday holiday means Tuesday at the earliest.
If you’re buying your next home with the proceeds, don’t stack both closings on the day after a bank holiday without a cushion. Here’s what it actually costs to sell a house in Delaware, so you know what proceeds to expect.
Late-year deals have more holidays to plan around. Between Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and the December holidays, the last two months of the year have fewer business days. If you want to close before year-end, give yourself a few extra days.
A good agent and settlement attorney check the calendar before the contract is ever signed. That’s one of those small things that keeps a closing from slipping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you close on a house on a federal holiday?
You can sometimes sign, but a financed closing generally can’t fund on a federal bank holiday like Columbus Day because banks and the Federal Reserve’s wire system are closed. Funding, payment to the seller, and keys usually happen the next business day.
Does Columbus Day count as a business day for the Closing Disclosure?
No. For the three-day Closing Disclosure waiting period, business days include every day except Sundays and federal legal public holidays. Columbus Day is a federal holiday, so it doesn’t count.
Is Columbus Day a holiday in Delaware?
Columbus Day is a federal holiday, but it isn’t a Delaware state holiday. Delaware state offices and the DMV are open, while banks, the Federal Reserve, and post offices are closed.
When will a seller get paid if closing is near Columbus Day?
Seller proceeds are wired after the buyer’s loan funds. If funding can’t happen on Columbus Day, the seller is typically paid the next business day, Tuesday.
What if my closing date in the contract falls on a holiday?
Talk to your agent and settlement attorney right away. In most cases the parties agree in writing to move settlement to the next business day. Check your rate lock and any move-out or possession dates at the same time.
Columbus Day doesn’t stop real estate in Delaware — but it does stop the money. If you’re closing this week or writing a contract for later this fall, build the bank holidays into your timeline and confirm your Closing Disclosure date with your lender.
If you’re thinking about selling and want to know what you’d walk away with, request your free Home Equity Report — it’ll show you your home’s current value, how much equity you’ve built, and what’s happening with prices and inventory right in your neighborhood. Get your free report at search.teamsordelet.com/seller.
About David Sordelet
Looking for a trusted real estate professional in Delaware or Maryland who can help you make smart choices? Look no further than David Sordelet, Designated Broker of Real Broker Delaware and Team Leader of Team Sordelet.
With over two decades of experience, 1,000+ successful transactions, and 200+ five-star client reviews, David is recognized as one of the region’s leading real estate experts. Licensed as the Designated Broker in Delaware and an Agent in Maryland, he provides unmatched knowledge of Wilmington, Newark, Hockessin, Dover, Middletown, and the Maryland Eastern Shore.
David understands that in real estate, who you work with matters most. That’s why he combines personalized service, clear communication, and expert negotiation with the most modern marketing strategies and cutting-edge technology to achieve exceptional results for his clients.
Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, a move-up family, an investor, or a seller looking to maximize value, David Sordelet is the proven real estate professional you can count on.
License: RB-0031238-DE / 5013138-MD
Your lender and settlement attorney can confirm the timing for your specific transaction.
Team Sordelet and David Sordelet are licensed real estate professionals, not attorneys, accountants, or financial advisors. This article is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Every situation is different — consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or lender about your specific circumstances before making decisions.
