How Long Does It Take to Buy or Sell A House
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“So… how long is this going to take?”
It’s one of the first questions every buyer and seller asks—and one of the most frustrating answers to get.
Because the truth is…it depends.
But what makes that answer so annoying is that no one ever continues on to actually explain what’s happening during that time and why the timeline “depends”.
Let’s break it down simply so you know what to expect—and how to avoid costly delays.
How Long Does It Take to Sell a House?
Typical Timeline: 30–90 Days (But Here’s What That Really Means)
1. Preparation (1–3 weeks)
This is where most sellers underestimate the timeline.
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Decluttering, cleaning, and staging
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Minor repairs or touch-ups
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Professional photos & marketing prep
💡 Pro insight: Homes that skip proper prep often sit longer—and end up selling for less.
2. On Market (1–4 weeks average)
This depends heavily on:
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Pricing strategy
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Condition of the home
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Market demand in your area
Well-positioned homes can go under contract in days.
Overpriced homes? They linger—and lose leverage.
3. Under Contract to Closing (30–45 days)
Once you accept an offer, you’re not done yet.
This phase includes:
- Home inspection (repairs if necessary)
- Appraisal
- Buyer Financing
- Title Search
- Final Walkthrough
⚠️ This is where deals can fall apart or get delayed if issues come up.
Total Seller Timeline:
~45 to 90 days (start to finish)
How Long Does It Take to Buy a House?
Typical Timeline: 60–120 Days
Buying usually takes longer because of the search process.
1. Pre-Approval (1–7 days)
Before anything else, buyers need:
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Mortgage pre-approval
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Strategize budget
This step can be quick—but skipping it leads to major delays later.
2. Home Search (2–8+ weeks)
This is the most unpredictable phase.
It depends on:
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Inventory (how many homes are available)
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Competition
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Buyer decision-making speed
Some buyers find a home in a weekend…
Others take months.
Neither is right or wrong, it’s a very personal process.
3. Under Contract to Closing (30–45 days)
Same process as sellers:
- Inspections
- Appraisal
- Loan Application/Approval
- Title Search
- Final walkthrough
Total Buyer Timeline:
~2 to 4 months on average
What Causes Delays? (And for how long)
Here’s what most people don’t see coming:
1. Financing Issues
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Loan approval delays
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Changes in buyer’s income or credit
> These delays can range from hours to weeks.
2. Inspection Surprises
- Unexpected Repairs
- Renegotiation of contract
- FHA appraisal inspection
Renegotiations can be timely—or deals can fall apart entirely.
> These delays can be timely. Often upwards of a week due to the time needed to get contracts scheduled plus actually complete the work. Or they can cause one party to decide to walk entirely.
3. Appraisal Gaps
If the home doesn’t appraise at the contract price and the buyer has a loan, the lender will not close on the sale for a purchase price higher than the appraised value so…
- Sellers can elect to accept dropping the contracted purchase price to the appraised value
- Buyers can pay cash for the difference
- Both parties can renegotiate to meet in the middle
> These delays range from a day to a week. Most contracts allow 2-3 days of back and forth for negotiations on each side when appraisals fall short.
4. Chain Reactions (Contingencies)
If a buyer needs to sell their home first, timelines stack together—and delays multiply. Someone not even involved in your transaction can cause delays or even cause your contract to fall through altogether.
For example, if the seller of the house you are purchasing is under contract to buy their new home and that falls through, the sellers may need to cancel their contract with you because if they continue through with selling to you they would essentially be homeless.
> Be careful how many Home Sale/ Home Purchase contingencies you stack together. If one falls apart at the beginning of the line, it could cause a domino effect with all proceeding contracts.
How to Speed Up the Process (And Avoid Costly Mistakes)
This is where strategy matters most.
For Sellers:
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Price correctly from day one
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Prepare the home 100% before listing
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Review offers beyond just price (choose terms that are less likely to cause delays or cancellations.)
For Buyers:
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Get fully underwritten (not just pre-approved)
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Be decisive when the right home appears
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Understand your financing limits upfront
💡 Big takeaway:
The fastest transactions aren’t luck—they’re planned and strategic.
Basically…
We say “It depends” because;
Deals where the buyer is paying cash and not requesting many contingencies like inspections can take as little as two weeks, they just need enough time for the title company to complete their title search.
Deals with financing typically need 30 days minimum. Add multiple home sale contingencies, extra inspections like septic and well, and short sale situations (where the sellers mortgage holder is heavily involved) and you could be looking at 2-3 months or more.
The Bottom Line
Buying or selling a home isn’t just about how long it takes…
It’s about how smoothly it happens—and how much it costs you along the way.
Because the reality is:
👉 Poor planning = delays, stress, and lost money
👉 Smart strategy and decisiveness = faster timelines and stronger outcomes
If speed and minimal stress are important to you, you need an agent that plans ahead and has experience problem solving to keep contracts together. We should talk…
Feel free to reach out to me directly for no pressure, 1-on-1 personalized advice about your real estate goals. No committing, just consulting.
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