You’re ready to buy a new home, and want to have an idea of how long it might be before you’re actually able to occupy your house. It’s a common and complex question, and we’re here to give a few guidelines as to what you may expect. 

Closing on a home typically takes several weeks from the time your offer is accepted to the day you get the keys. In most U.S. markets it averages about 4–8 weeks (roughly 30–60 days). All-cash sales can be much faster – often 10–14 days – because they skip the mortgage process. 

Exact timing depends on many factors (loan type, the buyer’s and seller’s situations, local title processing speeds, etc.). Below is a typical timeline of steps after your offer is accepted, with approximate durations. Remember that every purchase situation varies, so your results may as well. 

Step-by-Step Closing Timeline

1. Offer accepted & purchase contract signed (1–3 days): Once your offer is accepted, you and the seller sign the purchase agreement. This usually takes just a few days (often 1–3 days) to finalize all the terms and signatures. At this point you’ll also deposit the earnest money and formally open escrow. (In many places, this happens immediately on contract signing and adds no extra delay.) The signed agreement sets the official “closing date” and the deadlines for remaining steps. 
2. Home inspection period (about 1–2 weeks): After signing, the buyer typically has a week or two to complete inspections. Contracts usually allow around 7–10 days (with up to 15 business days in some states) for the buyer’s home and pest inspections. The inspector then does their evaluation (often 2–4 hours on site), and the report is usually ready the next day. If the inspection turns up issues, you may negotiate repairs or credits with the seller. Resolving inspection issues can add more time, but these steps normally finish well before closing unless major repairs are needed. 
3. Appraisal (about 1–2 weeks): If you’re financing the home, your lender will order an appraisal after inspection. An appraiser will visit the property (about 1–3 hours) and produce a report usually within 1–2 weeks. High market demand can stretch this out, so expect this time to expand or contract accordingly. If the appraisal comes in below the contract price, you and the seller must negotiate (e.g. price reduction or extra cash from the buyer). This issue occurs in almost a quarter of closings and can delay the process if not resolved quickly. 
4. Loan processing and underwriting (3–6+ weeks): Meanwhile, your lender is processing your mortgage. Underwriting involves verifying your income, credit, debts, and the appraisal, among other things. This can often be the longest step. Typically, it takes 3–4 weeks to get a final loan approval, but it can stretch to 6 weeks or more with strict lenders or if problems arise. Big banks or risk-averse lenders often take longer, whereas local lenders or smaller banks may be faster. The exact loan type also matters: conventional loans and FHA loans often close in roughly 43–44 days on average, but VA loans tend to take longer (see below). Note that your lender must also give you a Closing Disclosure with final loan terms at least 3 business days before closing. That mandatory waiting period means no signatures can occur until 72 hours after you get the Closing Disclosure, so budget that into your timeline. 
5. Title search and insurance (2–4 weeks): During underwriting, the title company conducts a title search to confirm the seller’s ownership and find any liens or claims. They typically issue a preliminary title report in about 2–4 weeks after contract. If there are liens (tax debts, contractor bills, previous mortgages, etc.) or other issues (such as an heir claims the property or unpermitted renovations), those must be cleared before closing. Clearing minor title issues often adds days, while major ones (e.g. an undisclosed lien or title defect) can add weeks. In many markets, title work overlaps with loan processing, so by the time underwriting finishes the title is also often clear or nearly clear. 
6. Closing Disclosure delivered (3 days before closing): By law, your lender must deliver the final Closing Disclosure at least three business days before your scheduled closing date. This document itemizes all loan terms and closing costs. The 3-day “cooling off” period gives you time to review the numbers and compare them to your Loan Estimate. If any fees or terms change significantly, the lender must reissue the Disclosure and restart the 3-day clock. In practice, this step is automatic during underwriting and rarely adds extra days if there are no surprises. 
7. Final walkthrough (day before closing): Just before closing, the buyer typically does a final walkthrough of the home (often the day before or the morning of closing) to ensure the property is in the agreed-upon condition. This is usually quick – only about 30 minutes – since at this point all agreed repairs should be done. If the walkthrough uncovers a problem (like damage or unfinished repairs), you can ask the seller to fix it or credit you at closing. However, walkthrough issues are relatively rare when sellers have been transparent. 
8. Closing day (1 day): On closing day, you and the seller (or your representatives) meet to sign the final paperwork. For the buyer, this appointment often takes 1–2 hours, because there is a “mountain of paperwork” for the mortgage lender. The seller’s portion is typically shorter (they may pre-sign many documents or use a power of attorney to save time). When all documents are signed, the lender funds the loan, the seller receives payment, and the title company records the deed. Once everything is official, you get the keys and become the new owner. 

Each of these steps can run in parallel (for example, the appraisal and title work often happen at the same time), but any one step can hold up the timeline if it encounters problems. Nationally, about 20% of closings end up delayed at some point, most often due to loan or appraisal issues (see below).

Closing Timeline by Buyer/Loan Type

• All-cash buyers: Cash sales are the fastest. With no mortgage underwriting, these closings can happen in 1–2 weeks if nothing goes wrong. An appraisal can often be waived if the buyer has other reasons (though some title insurers still like a value opinion). Because you skip the lender and appraisal delays, an all-cash offer can sometimes close in as little as 10–14 days. This estimate assumes the buyer has proof of funds ready and the seller has no title issues. 
• Conventional mortgage buyers: These loans follow the standard path described above and typically close in around 6–7 weeks. Current data show conventional purchases averaging 40-50 days to close. Conventional loans generally have the least extra requirements, so they often close slightly faster than government loans (if all paperwork is ready). 
• FHA borrowers: FHA loans tend to close on a similar schedule to conventional loans – around 6–7 weeks. Current data show FHA purchases averaging 45-55 days to close. However, FHA appraisals must be done by approved appraisers and require that any health/safety or major fix issues be resolved before closing, which can add more time. 
• VA borrowers: VA loans usually take the longest to close. Current data shows VA purchases averaging 50-60 days. The extra time comes from stricter VA appraisal and underwriting requirements, and the fact that many lenders must submit the loan to the Department of Veterans Affairs for approval (unless the lender has VA automatic authority). In short, if you’re using a VA loan, budget at least 7–8 weeks for closing.
  

(Note: USDA and other specialty loans also tend to run on the slower side, similar to FHA/VA, due to extra approvals.)

Common Causes of Delays (and How to Avoid Them)

Even a well-planned closing can hit snags. The most common hold-ups are:

• Financing hiccups: If the buyer has trouble getting their loan finalized, the closing can stall. For example, about 22% of delays are due to mortgage approval problems. Common issues include missing documentation (tax returns, bank statements, etc.), a drop in the buyer’s credit score, or the buyer making a big purchase (new car) during processing. To minimize this, it’s smart to be fully preapproved before you submit an offer and respond quickly to any lender requests. 
• Appraisal problems: If the appraisal comes in below the contract price, the deal can be delayed or renegotiated (nearly a quarter of delays involve appraisals). To prevent this, sellers can pre-listing appraise or price competitively, and buyers can try to waive the appraisal if they really want the deal (though that’s risky). 
• Title issues: Hidden liens, name discrepancies, survey disputes or unpermitted work can delay the title search. A thorough preliminary title report can catch most problems early. If something shows up (say an old contractor’s lien or a missing heir), it must be cleared – which can add days or weeks. Sellers can help by resolving known issues (paying off small liens, getting building permits, etc.) before listing the home. 
• Inspection disputes: Major repair requests during the inspection period can slow things down. (Fortunately, inspections themselves rarely delay closing once the contract is signed, because they usually happen first.) If the seller has to arrange significant repairs, it can push the schedule. A good way to avoid this is for sellers to fix known problems upfront or offer a credit in lieu of repair. 
• Buyer/seller scheduling: Sometimes delays are simply coordination issues. If the seller hasn’t found their next home, or the buyer is waiting on relocation, the closing date may move. Vacation schedules, illness, or legal issues (bankruptcy) can also cause last-minute shifts. 
• Legal waiting periods: Remember the 3-day Closing Disclosure rule. Even if everything else is ready, if the lender issues a new Closing Disclosure within 3 days of closing, the clock resets by law. That requirement alone means you can’t close immediately upon loan approval. 

On the other hand, you can often speed up closing by being prepared. Get a loan pre-approval, submit all documentation promptly, and use a lender experienced with your loan type. Choose a local lender if possible (they often close faster than big out-of-state banks). If time is really tight, an all-cash sale or iBuyer solution (companies that make quick cash offers) can cut the timeline drastically.

Final Thoughts

In summary, most homes close in about 6–7 weeks after contract. But the process is a chain of many steps, so one slow link (financing, appraisal, title, etc.) can add time. Understanding each stage’s role and staying on schedule will help you close your home sale as quickly as possible.