RealOpen Certified · Lesson 6 of 6

The RealOpen workflow

After this, you can take a buyer from first conversation to a funded closing on RealOpen.

By Johnny Schiro, licensed real estate broker in Texas, New York and Florida. Updated 2026-10-09.

First, which route is this?

This module covers the route RealOpen runs: the buyer converts at closing, either for an all-cash purchase or for the down payment on a financed one. Start by asking how the buyer plans to use the crypto, as in Module 2.

If they have already sold, or they are borrowing against it, the conversion steps below do not apply, and you run the deal the way you would for any cash or financed buyer. A financed buyer can still use RealOpen for verification alone, to document holdings for the lender.

The sequence

StepThe buyerRealOpenYouTypical time
1. IdentityCreates an account, submits ID and a selfieVerifies identityInvite the buyer from your dashboardMinutes
2. WalletShares their wallet address and proves ownershipScreens the address and reads the balanceCheck the funds are in a wallet the buyer controlsMinutes
3. Proof of FundsRequests a letter for the amount neededIssues the letterAttach it to the offerImmediate, once verified
4. ContractSignsNothingWrite and negotiate your standard contractYour normal timeline
5. QuoteSends the signed contract and escrow's wiring instructionsQuotes the exact crypto amount, fee included, and provides a deposit addressMake sure the wiring instructions are verifiedWhen the buyer is ready to fund
6. FundingSends the cryptoConverts it, locks the rate, wires dollars to escrowConfirm with escrow that the wire arrivedHours

Then you close the way you always do.

Start verification on day one

Steps 1 to 3 do not need a property. A buyer can be verified and holding a Proof of Funds before the first showing, and a new letter can be issued for each deal.

So the day a buyer mentions crypto, send them to get verified. It costs them about 15 minutes. It tells you whether the money is real before you spend weekends on showings, and it means your offer goes out with proof attached.

Connect the buyer to you

In your Pro Dashboard, open My Clients. You can invite a buyer by email, or share your referral link. When the buyer signs up through either one, they appear in your client list and the introduction is tracked to you.

If a buyer already has a RealOpen account, tell your RealOpen contact that you are their agent.

What to have ready when you go under contract

  • The executed contract.
  • The title or escrow company's contact and wiring instructions, confirmed by phone with a number you already trust.
  • The cash to close figure and the date you want funds in escrow.
  • Which asset the buyer will fund with, and which network it is on.
  • Whether any of the buyer's holdings are staked or locked.
  • On a financed deal, the loan officer's contact, and a RealScore Report requested early.

Funding

  • Timing. Aim to have funds in escrow at least one business day before closing. Same-day funding is possible, but a late wire can land the next business day.
  • The right network. The funding instructions give a deposit address and name the network. The buyer sends that asset on that network, includes any tag or memo the instructions show, and keeps enough of the network's coin in the wallet to pay the fee. If the buyer's asset is on a different network from the one in the instructions, they stop and ask RealOpen for instructions that match. They do not send.
  • More than one transfer. A buyer can split the amount into several transfers, and can fund with more than one asset. Each transfer is priced on its own when it confirms.
  • The fee. RealOpen's processing fee is 1% for assets like Bitcoin and Ether and 2% for stablecoins. The quote includes it. The buyer also pays the network fee on each transfer.
  • Where the crypto comes from. At funding, the buyer can send from their own wallet or directly from an exchange account. Exchanges can cap how much leaves in a day, so a buyer funding from an exchange should check the limit well ahead.
  • After the transfer. Check with escrow that the wire arrived. RealOpen's compliance process also needs a copy of the closing statement.

When something looks wrong

Slow down and stop showing homes if an unverified buyer says any of these:

  • "I have crypto coming in."
  • "Once my tranche unlocks."
  • "It's locked up right now."
  • "My advisor manages it," or "I'll check with my trader."

Each one usually means the buyer does not control the funds. Either they are not being straight with you, or someone has scammed them. A real holder knows what they hold and where it is, and treats verification as a normal step.

This is different from a verified buyer whose assets are staked. Staking shows up during verification and has a known unlock time. The red flag is money the buyer cannot show you at all.

Stop and contact RealOpen if:

  • Anyone asks your buyer for a private key or seed phrase. RealOpen never does.
  • Your buyer is told to send crypto to an address that did not come from their RealOpen account.
  • Wiring instructions change by email. Confirm by phone with escrow at a number you already trust before anyone acts on them.

RealOpen support is at [email protected] and (310) 910-1722.

Workflow checklist

  1. Buyer mentions crypto: ask how they plan to use it, and invite them from My Clients that day.
  2. Confirm their funds are in a wallet they control. If the funds are on an exchange, they withdraw first.
  3. Get the Proof of Funds. Check the name, the date and the amount.
  4. Write your standard contract, cash or financed, and attach the letter.
  5. Under contract: buyer sends RealOpen the contract and verified wiring instructions. Flag any staked assets, and confirm the asset and network the buyer will send.
  6. Financed deal: bring RealOpen and the loan officer together before the buyer moves anything.
  7. Fund at least one business day before closing.
  8. Confirm the wire with escrow, then close.

RealOpen Certified is a private designation issued by RealOpen. It is not continuing education credit and is not issued or endorsed by any state licensing authority. How certifying works.