When is real estate conveyed?

Answer 1

Real property is conveyed when the owner signs a deed and hands the deed over to the grantee. This is technically distinguished from real property being "sold". A property is "sold" when the contract of sale is signed and becomes effective. It is conveyed when the deed is delivered to the grantee. In order to be effective against the world the deed must be recorded.

Clarification

However, if the sale is never completed by the execution of a deed, one cannot say the property was sold. Many, many property "sales" fall through due to contingencies and unexpected circumstances so the "distinction" made above is not the operative factor in the transfer of property.