Sell early enough that the money is settled, documented cash before your loan documents go out, which in practice means at least a week before closing. Loan docs typically go out a few days before closing, and stock trades take a day or two to settle before you can move the cash, so a week's cushion gives the paperwork room to breathe. How much proof of the sale you need depends on the loan type: - Conventional (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac): if your account is worth at least 20% more than the funds you need to close, you can generally document the account value alone, with no advance proof of liquidation. If the account is tighter than that, expect to document the actual sale and the money arriving in your bank account. - FHA and VA: if any portion of the account is needed to close, plan on showing evidence of the liquidation and the deposit. On when to pull the trigger, there is a spread. More conservative buyers move to cash as soon as they have an accepted offer, so a bad market day near closing cannot derail the deal. More risk-tolerant buyers let it ride longer to stay invested. Our lean is to sell sooner rather than later once you are under contract: market swings show up at the worst times, and no rate of return is worth blowing up your closing. Sell early, let the funds settle and get documented, and take the timing risk off the table.