Most homebuyers close within 30 to 60 days after their offer is accepted.
Your offer has been accepted. Congrats! Whether you’re buying a home in Seattle, WA, or Atlanta, GA, you’re officially on the path to homeownership. But before you get the keys, there is a multi-step marathon ahead. From inspections and appraisals to title work and the final signing, how long it takes to close on a house typically depends on your financing, your location, and how quickly the paperwork moves.
If this is your first purchase, don’t forget to ask your lender about first-time homebuyer benefits, which can sometimes offer lower down payments or closing cost assistance to help you get across the finish line. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the 11 key steps between your offer and closing day so you know exactly what to expect—and how to stay on track.
How long does it take to close on a house?
The average closing timeline for a home purchase is about 42 days, but yours might move faster or take longer. That number reflects the typical timeline for purchase loans, not refinances, and includes everything from inspections and appraisals to mortgage underwriting and paperwork.
In a best-case scenario, closing can happen in as little as 30 days. But depending on your loan type, location, and how quickly closing documents are processed, it’s not uncommon for the process to take up to 60 days or more.
Factors that influence your timeline include:
- Loan type: Government-backed loans (like FHA, VA, or USDA) often provide significant first-time homebuyer benefits, such as lower down payments. However, they may also have extra requirements or stricter appraisal standards that can add time to your timeline.
- Market conditions: In busy areas like Seattle or Atlanta, again, delays in appraisals or title work can add days or even weeks.
- Your responsiveness: If your lender asks for documents, responding quickly helps keep everything on track.
- Issues with the home: A low appraisal or inspection problem could lead to renegotiations or additional approvals.
If you’re paying with cash, the average time to close can drop significantly, sometimes in as little as 7–14 days, since you’re skipping many financing-related steps.
>> Read: What is Due Diligence in Real Estate?
How long does each stage of a house closing take?
Closing on a home is a marathon, not a sprint. To stay organized, think of the 30-to-60-day window in these four distinct chapters.
Stage 1: The paperwork sprint and financial setup
Estimated time: Days 1–7
The clock starts the moment the seller signs your purchase agreement. This stage is high-energy and requires you to be at your most responsive.
- Finalizing the Loan: You’ll move from a “pre-approval” to a formal loan application. To satisfy federal requirements, your lender needs six key pieces of info: your name, Social Security number, income, property address, estimated property value, and the loan amount.
- Documentation: Your lender will request a “mountain of paper”—usually the last two years of tax returns, two months of bank statements, and your most recent pay stubs. If you’re self-employed, expect to provide extra profit-and-loss statements.
- The Loan Estimate: Within three business days of your application, your lender must give you a Loan Estimate (LE). This is a critical document that breaks down your interest rate, monthly payment, and estimated closing costs.
- Exploring benefits: If you are a new buyer, this is your window to secure first-time homebuyer benefits. These programs are often baked into the loan type you choose during this first week.
Phase 2: The “Due Diligence” and valuation gap
Estimated time: Days 7–25
This is often the most stressful phase because much of it is out of your hands. You are essentially “fact-checking” the home to ensure it’s a sound investment.
- The inspection: You hire a professional to crawl through the attic and basement. If they find issues (like a cracked foundation or old wiring), this is when you negotiate repairs or price credits.
- The appraisal: Your lender will order an appraisal to ensure the home is actually worth what you’re paying. Because current mortgage rates and market demand can fluctuate, appraisers in cities like Seattle or Atlanta are often backed up, which can stretch this phase to 14 days or more.
- Title search: While you’re inspecting the physical house, a title company is inspecting its “legal” history. They make sure there are no hidden owners, unpaid tax liens, or boundary disputes that could haunt you later.
Phase 3: Underwriting and final approval
Estimated time: Days 25–38
Once the appraisal and inspection are cleared, your file moves to the Underwriter. Think of the underwriter as a “financial detective.”
- The deep dive: They verify everything. They might call your employer to confirm you still work there or ask for a letter explaining a large deposit in your bank account.
- Conditional approval: It’s rare to get a “Yes” immediately. Can I close on a house quickly if I am a first-time homebuyer?
Closing on a house can still be done quickly as a first-time homebuyer, but it may depend on the specific requirements of the program you are using. It is important to stay organized, responsive, and proactive throughout the process to avoid delays and ensure a smooth closing.
Why is there a 3-day waiting period after receiving my Closing Disclosure?
The 3-day waiting period, mandated by the TRID rule, allows you to review your final loan terms without any pressure. This “cooling-off” period ensures that you have enough time to carefully go through all the details. In case there are major changes to your interest rate or loan type during this period, the clock may restart.
Does the closing date affect my expenses?
Choosing to close at the end of the month can lower your initial “cash to close” amount as you pay less upfront interest. On the other hand, closing at the beginning of the month can maximize your cash flow, giving you almost two months before your first mortgage payment is due.