How to Wire Funds from Abroad for a Miami Real Estate Closing

An international wire that arrives late — or short — can delay or collapse your closing. Here is how the money actually moves, how long it takes, and what the title company needs from you.

Published October 9, 2026

Two wires, two deadlines

Most Miami purchases involve two separate transfers. The first is the earnest money deposit, wired to the title company's escrow account within a few days of executing the purchase contract — typically three to five business days, though your contract specifies the exact deadline. The second is the cash-to-close wire, which covers your down payment, closing costs, and any prepaid reserves your lender requires. This larger wire must clear escrow before the deed can record.

If you are financing the purchase, your lender also wires loan proceeds into the same escrow account, often on the morning of closing. The title company reconciles all incoming funds against the Closing Disclosure before disbursing anything. A shortfall of even a few hundred dollars holds the closing.

Why international wires take far longer than domestic ones

A domestic wire sent before the bank's afternoon cutoff — most US banks set this between 2:00 and 4:00 PM Eastern — arrives the same business day or the next. International SWIFT wires move differently.

Transit through correspondent banks

Your wire leaves your home-country bank and passes through one or more correspondent banks in the SWIFT network before reaching the US receiving bank. Each correspondent may deduct a flat fee or a percentage, so the amount that lands in escrow can be less than the amount you sent. Confirm the net delivery amount with your bank before sending, or wire slightly more than required to absorb transit fees. The title company's Closing Disclosure states the exact amount needed; any shortfall requires a supplemental wire that can delay recording by one to three days.

Anti-money-laundering review

US banks conduct AML screening on all incoming international transfers. For large real estate transactions, enhanced due diligence commonly adds five to ten additional business days on top of transit time. A wire flagged for additional documentation can take three weeks or more to clear. "Sent" confirmation from your home bank is not the same as "cleared" in escrow.

Transit plus AML review puts the realistic minimum at eight to fifteen business days. Attorneys experienced with cross-border closings routinely advise initiating the cash-to-close wire at least 30 calendar days before your closing date. If the purchase requires moving reserves into a US account during mortgage underwriting, plan to do that 60 to 90 days before closing — underwriters flag recently deposited funds as unseasoned and may require a letter of explanation or delay approval.

What the title company sends you — and what you must include

Your closing agent or title company will provide written wire instructions containing:

• The receiving bank's name and US routing number (ABA)
• The SWIFT/BIC code for international transfers
• The title company's escrow account number
• A file reference — typically a file number, closer's name, and property address

Include the file reference in the wire's memo or reference field. Without it, the receiving bank may hold the funds while staff manually match them to your file, adding one to three business days. After initiating the transfer, call the title company's closing team directly to confirm the wire is on its way.

Currency conversion: convert to US dollars before you wire

If your funds are in Brazilian reais, euros, British pounds, Canadian dollars, or any other currency, convert them to US dollars before initiating the wire. Sending in a foreign currency adds a conversion step at the receiving bank, introduces exchange-rate uncertainty at a critical moment, and requires your lender to document the final USD amount received. Pre-converting to USD lets you know exactly what will land in escrow and gives you a conversion receipt for the underwriting file.

Wire fraud is the leading financial crime in US real estate closings

Real estate wire fraud — in which a scammer intercepts email communications and substitutes fraudulent account details for the title company's — caused more than $145 million in reported losses in 2023, according to FBI data. International buyers are disproportionately targeted because they may be less familiar with US closing norms and more likely to conduct the transaction by email across time zones.

Before sending any wire, call the title company at a number you obtain independently — from the company's official website or the phone number on your title commitment, not from any email you received. Read back every digit of the account number and routing number to a live person. Wire instructions never legitimately change at the last minute; a "change of banking details" message received days before closing is the clearest warning sign of fraud.

If you believe you have wired to a fraudulent account, contact your sending bank immediately to request a SWIFT recall. Recalls are not guaranteed and each hour of delay reduces the probability of recovery, so act within minutes, not hours.

FinCEN reporting: current status

FinCEN's Residential Real Estate Rule — which would have required the closing agent to collect and report beneficial ownership information for non-financed transfers of residential property to LLCs and trusts — took effect March 1, 2026, but was vacated by a federal court in the Eastern District of Texas on March 19, 2026. FinCEN has appealed. As of this writing, reporting is not required, and FinCEN has stated it will not seek retroactive reports for transfers that close while the vacatur order remains in force. Monitor FinCEN's official FAQ page for updates, particularly if you are purchasing through an LLC or trust.

Separately, some title companies continue to collect beneficial ownership information voluntarily to maintain AML compliance practices or to prepare for potential reinstatement of the rule. If your title company requests this documentation before closing, expect to provide your name, date of birth, residential address, citizenship, and a government-issued ID number.

Questions people actually ask

Can I use a foreign bank account to fund a Miami closing?

Yes. You initiate the wire from your home-country bank using the SWIFT-formatted instructions your title company provides. The funds travel through the international banking network and arrive in the title company's US escrow account. You do not need a US bank account for a cash purchase, though some lenders require one for mortgage proceeds or post-closing rental income.

My bank shows the wire as "completed." Why hasn't the title company confirmed receipt?

"Completed" in your home-bank system means the wire left your account. It does not mean the funds have cleared in escrow. The wire must still pass through correspondent banks, SWIFT routing, the US receiving bank's AML screening, and the title company's internal reconciliation before it counts as available. Call the title company the day after initiating the wire and ask them to confirm the funds are in the file; do not wait for them to call you.

What happens if I wire too little?

The title company will notify you of the shortfall. You will need to initiate a supplemental wire for the difference, which resets the timing clock. Even a domestic supplemental wire can take one business day to clear, potentially pushing your recording date. For international buyers, a shortfall can delay closing by a week or more.

Do I need to document where the money came from?

Yes. Lenders require source-of-funds documentation for all funds entering the transaction, whether the purchase is financed or cash. Expect to provide bank statements covering two to three months, documentation of any large deposits, and — for funds converted from another currency — the conversion receipt. Title companies and lenders apply AML procedures and may request additional documentation without detailed explanation; the best practice is to prepare a clean paper trail before the transaction starts.

Stefania Riverin, Licensed Real Estate Sales Associate, FL SL3620067, brokered by NB Elite Realty. General information about how the wire-transfer process works, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Procedures vary by institution and transaction; confirm all details with your title company, lender, and legal counsel before initiating any transfer.