What happens if the bank wiring my funds is slow and the money doesn't arrive on time?

Closing generally can't actually complete — meaning documents and possession aren't released — until the buyer's lawyer confirms the funds have actually landed, cleared, in trust. A slow wire simply pushes the practical completion of closing later that same day, or in a worse case to the next business day, rather than anything happening on the strength of funds that are merely "on the way."

Whether that delay causes a bigger problem depends on the purchase agreement's own wording and how the parties choose to respond. Some agreements build in a short grace period for exactly this kind of banking delay without treating it as a breach; others are stricter. In practice, lawyers on both sides usually try to bridge a short delay with a brief undertaking or agreed extension rather than treating a same-day wire delay as grounds to unwind the deal. To avoid this altogether, initiate your wire well before the closing morning and confirm directly with your bank what its typical processing time actually is, rather than assuming instant transfer.