What is the difference between an assignment and a double close?

An assignment transfers your right to buy to the end buyer, who closes with the seller directly. A double close is two closings: you buy from the seller, then sell to the end buyer, usually the same day.

Is an assignment or a double close cheaper?

An assignment. There is one closing and no funding cost. A double close adds a second set of closing costs and, unless you use your own cash, the cost of transactional funding for the first leg.

When should a wholesaler double close?

When the spread is large enough to upset the seller if they saw it, when the contract prohibits assignment, when the end buyer's lender will not accept an assigned contract, or when the title company will not handle assignments.

Do you need your own money to double close?

No. Transactional funding covers the A to B purchase and is repaid from the end buyer's funds at the B to C closing, usually within hours.

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Assignment vs double close: which one this deal needs

Assigning is cheaper and simpler. Double closing keeps your spread private and works where an assignment cannot. Four questions decide it.

September 26, 2026 · 3 min read

Every wholesale deal ends in one of two ways. You assign the contract, or you close on it twice. Most wholesalers default to one out of habit. The better approach is to decide deal by deal, because the right answer changes with four facts you can check before you ever talk to a buyer.

How each one works

Assignment. You sign a contract with the seller, then sell your right to buy to an end buyer for a fee. The end buyer closes directly with the seller. You never own the property. Your fee appears on the settlement statement.

Double close. You buy the property from the seller (A to B), then sell it to your end buyer (B to C), usually hours apart on the same day. You take title briefly. The seller and the end buyer each see only their own side. The mechanics are covered in detail in double close funding.

Side by side

	Assignment	Double close
Closings	One	Two
Your cash needed	Earnest money only	The A to B purchase, or transactional funding
Closing costs	One set, usually paid by the end buyer	Two sets
Your fee visible to the seller	Yes	No
Works if the contract bars assignment	No	Yes
Works with most financed end buyers	Often not	Yes
Speed	Fastest	Same day, if both legs are ready

The four questions

1. Would the seller object to your fee if they saw it? A seller who agreed to $140,000 and reads a $40,000 assignment fee on their settlement statement tends to start asking questions at the table. If the spread is large, double close.

2. Does the contract allow assignment? Bank-owned property, many estate sales and a growing number of ordinary listings prohibit it. If it is barred, the decision is made for you.

3. How is the end buyer paying? A cash buyer rarely cares. A buyer using a lender often does, because many lenders will not fund a purchase on an assigned contract. If your buyer is financing, confirm before you promise an assignment.

4. Will the title company handle it? Some title companies will not close assignments, and some will not do simultaneous closings. Ask this first. It is the fastest way to lose a deal at the last minute.

If every answer points to assignment, assign. It is cheaper and simpler, and simple closes. If any one points the other way, plan the double close from the start rather than switching on closing day.

What the double close costs

Two sets of closing costs, and the funding for the first leg. Transactional funding is priced as a flat fee for the transaction rather than an interest rate, because the money is outstanding for hours. Price it into your spread before you sign with the seller. The transactional funding calculator shows what is left after both closings.

A note on the rules

Several states now regulate wholesaling, and some treat marketing a contract you do not own differently from selling a property you do. The rules change often. Check your state and your title company's policy before you choose a structure, rather than after.

Where I fit

I fund the A to B leg of a double close the same day, priced before you commit, so your buyer and your seller both see a deal that is going to close. Details are on the transactional funding page.

Common questions

What is the difference between an assignment and a double close?: An assignment transfers your right to buy to the end buyer, who closes with the seller directly. A double close is two closings: you buy from the seller, then sell to the end buyer, usually the same day.
Is an assignment or a double close cheaper?: An assignment. There is one closing and no funding cost. A double close adds a second set of closing costs and, unless you use your own cash, the cost of transactional funding for the first leg.
When should a wholesaler double close?: When the spread is large enough to upset the seller if they saw it, when the contract prohibits assignment, when the end buyer's lender will not accept an assigned contract, or when the title company will not handle assignments.
Do you need your own money to double close?: No. Transactional funding covers the A to B purchase and is repaid from the end buyer's funds at the B to C closing, usually within hours.

Have a deal like this

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The calculators charge the costs this piece describes: points, interest over the hold, closing on both sides, carry, and the cost to sell. It takes about a minute.

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