Steps to Buy a House: How Long Do They Take?

The process of buying a home can turn out to be quite the waiting game. It will consist of patience and maintaining an open line of communication from start-to-finish. Here is some valuable information on the steps to buying a house to help you prepare for what is to come.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET APPROVED FOR A MORTGAGE?

Answer: At least two weeks

Getting approved is no simple process. All information requested from your lender will go under thorough review. Help yourself out and make sure when your lender requests documentation that you get it over to them as soon as possible!

HOW LONG DOES A SHOWING TAKE?

Answer: 30 minutes to an hour

This one is up to you. There may be a home that you immediately dislike and you walk in the door only to turn around and walk back out. But for the homes that you have serious interest in, expect for it to be between the acknowledged 30-60 minute timeframe.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR AN OFFER TO BE ACCEPTED?

Answer: Less than three days

Unlike what you see on television, very rarely is an offer accepted immediately. Depending on what the strength of your offer may be (or competing offers), expect for there to be some taken up by negotiating and thinking it over.

HOW LONG DOES A HOME INSPECTION TAKE?

Answer: About 2-3 hours

The amount of time for an inspection can vary depending on the size of the estate. Expect for the inspection to take about 2-3 hours and the turnaround time for receiving your full report will typically be 24-48 hours.

HOW LONG DOES AN APPRAISAL TAKE?

Answer: Up to two weeks

An appraisal is performed by a licensed professional who estimates the home’s value on behalf of your lender. Similar to a home inspection, the appraiser might spend a few hours examining the property. After viewing the house, the appraiser will then look at comparable properties in the neighborhood to use as “comps”.

These reports are quite comprehensive and can take some time to put together. Expect for your lender to keep you informed and update you when the report with the appraised value of the home has arrived

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CLOSE ON A HOME?

Answer: 50 days

This is a national average according to Realtor.com. Yes, this does sound like forever! Your home purchase may be sooner than 50 days… And unfortunately, It may be longer than 50 days. What you can do to help expedite the process is make sure you respond quickly when a request for additional documentation or something of that sort is sent to you.