How long does it take to buy a house: 2 Major factors to know

by Bill and Aby Brooks, REALTORS® 10/01/2023

If you’re interested in purchasing property, you might be wondering, “how long does it take to buy a house?” Home buying is a lengthy process even when everything goes smoothly, and can easily become longer and more complicated with every potential hiccup.

To help you better prepare for the process and save time, here are some key tips for your home purchase:

Get preapproval for a mortgage loan

Obtaining full preapproval from a mortgage lender is essential to a smooth home buying process. Not only does preapproval show you’re highly motivated and qualified to buy a house, it helps you confirm how much you can afford to spend.

To get mortgage preapproval you’ll need to provide info about your assets, bank statements, income and credit history. The mortgage lender can provide a loan estimate within a few days.

A mortgage preapproval letter essentially locks in your financing, given that your financial situation doesn’t change drastically before you actually close on a house. Unless you are buying with a cash offer instead of a mortgage, it’s a good idea to avoid taking out additional loans or other activities that could affect your credit report until the purchase is final.

A real estate agent can speed up your search

A real estate agent can make your home search much easier and quicker. Using their unique resources, they can help you find the perfect house in your price range while allowing you to spend time on other important parts of the process.

Real estate agents have access to the local multiple listing service, which often includes listings that aren’t readily viewed by the public. They may also know of upcoming listings not yet on the market.

Hiring a real estate agent to help you buy a house has many advantages, but one of the most significant is saving you time on your house hunting. Once you find a listing you’re interested in, an agent can coordinate with the seller for open houses and next steps for moving forward.

These are only a few of the critical things to keep in mind when planning to buy a new home. The process can be long and complicated, but the more you know about the major steps, the better prepared you will be to handle any potential delays in your home buying timeline.

About the Author

Bill and Aby Brooks, REALTORS®

Aby’s understanding of excellent customer service stems from her extensive professional background. Prior to earning her real estate license in 2005, along with her college degree that focuses on business and engineering, Aby was the head of purchasing, inventory and quality assurance for an OEM medical and aerospace manufacturing company. Known by her clients and fellow realtors for her tenacity, honesty, integrity, and attention to detail, as a full-time realtor, she is also appreciated for her quick response to her client’s needs. Aby has been an avid horse rider and owner since the age of eight, with her husband Billas a local firefighter/EMT they are very active within the community. Bill served as a US Army Airborne Ranger in 75th Ranger Regiment, he is a combat-wounded veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart. Bill's background as facility Manager for an International metals company and as a firefighter/EMT gives him the experience, attention to detail and the desire to go above and beyond to serve his customers. The Brooks' serve on the board of a local non-profit (501c3) that gives back to the veterans, first responders and their families. The Brooks family resides on their small ranch in Manatee County. Aby& Bill excel in all types of real estate and their passion is helping people. “We genuinely like people, growing up in Sarasota and Manatee counties and now raising our own family here, it is an absolute pleasure to share our growing area with newcomers and reminisce with longtime residents. Our area has so much to offer and it is our business to help folks buy and sell their own piece of paradise.”