{"id":98344,"date":"2026-01-15T09:13:34","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T17:13:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=98344"},"modified":"2026-01-15T09:13:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T17:13:36","slug":"how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does It Take to Buy a House?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Buying a home can take anywhere from<strong> two weeks to three months\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If you\u2019re buying with cash<\/strong> &#8211; as little as two weeks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If you\u2019re buying with a mortgage<\/strong> &#8211; about 45-60 days<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If you\u2019re buying a short sale property<\/strong> &#8211; at least three months<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among all the excitement and anticipation that comes with buying a home, it&#8217;s important to keep a realistic timeline of just how long it takes to purchase a house. The truth is, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/timeline-guide-to-buying-a-house\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">timeline for buying a house<\/a> can vary due to a number of factors, like financing needs and the type of home you\u2019re searching for. However, in most cases, once a seller has accepted your offer, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/steps-to-closing-on-a-house\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">closing process<\/a> typically takes 30 to 60 days &#8211; unless you made an all-cash offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this Redfin article, find out how long it takes to buy a house based on the three most common scenarios &#8211; a cash offer, a mortgage, and a short sale. Whether you\u2019re buying a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/1826\/MA\/Boston\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">home in Boston, MA<\/a>, or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/35759\/WI\/Milwaukee\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">condo in Milwaukee, WI<\/a>, here&#8217;s what you can expect at each step of the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-to-do-before-buying-a-home\">What to do before buying a home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you start searching for a home, there are several steps you\u2019ll need to take to prepare. Getting your finances in order, saving for a down payment, and improving your credit score can all add to the time it takes to buy a house.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, it\u2019s important to know <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/how-much-house-can-i-afford\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">how much house you can afford<\/a>. Your budget will depend on your income, recurring expenses and debt, and available funds for a down payment. Some things to do are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check your credit score and credit report<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve your credit score and reduce debts if needed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Determine your monthly budget and household expenses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Save for a down payment and closing costs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collect paperwork for a mortgage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re planning on financing your home purchase with a mortgage, you\u2019ll likely need to save for a down payment. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-much-down-payment-for-a-house\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">How much a down payment is<\/a> depends on a variety of factors, such as how much you can afford, your credit score, what mortgage loans you qualify for, and whether you are eligible for down payment assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many homeowners think they need a 20% down payment to buy a home. However, there are many low- and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-to-buy-a-house-with-no-money-down\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">no-down payment loans<\/a> available, like FHA, VA, and USDA loans. Some conventional loans even offer lower down payment options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you can afford it, there are still benefits to a 20% down payment on a conventional loan. For example, you won\u2019t need to pay for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/what-is-pmi-insurance\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">private mortgage insurance (PMI)<\/a>. But if you are struggling to save money for a 20% down payment, a low down payment may be beneficial. Remember, you\u2019ll still have to save for closing costs, which can be as much as 5% of the purchase price.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"How Long Does it Take to Buy a House? | Redfin #realestate\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZGJ3pIPBnGs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. How long does it take to buy a house with a mortgage? 45+ days<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Buying a house with a mortgage usually takes longer than an all-cash purchase due to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/mortgage-loan-process\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">loan approval process<\/a>. Once an offer is accepted, the timeline involves securing financing, completing inspections, and meeting lender requirements before closing day. While the process often takes around 45 to 60 days, it can vary based on factors like lender speed, appraisal results, and the transaction\u2019s complexity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s a step-by-step look at the typical mortgage timeline:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A step-by-step process for buying a house with a mortgage:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Step<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Timing<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Description<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1. Do your research<\/td><td>1-14 days<\/td><td>Research the local market, find out how much house you can afford, and note your must-haves in a home.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2. Find a real estate agent<\/td><td>1-7 days<\/td><td>Your agent will support you through the homebuying process. Take advantage of their neighborhood expertise and industry knowledge. They\u2019ll be aware of housing market trends and potential red flags. They\u2019ll help you make a good offer and assist with the negotiating process.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3. Get pre-approved<\/td><td>1-3 business days<\/td><td>A mortgage pre-approval confirms that the lender or mortgage broker has reviewed your finances and is willing to lend a specific amount of money.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4. Begin touring homes<\/td><td>Few days to a few months<\/td><td>Start looking at homes in your budget and tour houses in your desired neighborhoods.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5. Make an offer and negotiate<\/td><td>A few days<\/td><td>Work with your agent to determine how much to offer and which contingencies, if any, to include. You can check the estimate of a home\u2019s value online and ask your agent for a comparative market analysis (CMA). This will show the list and final sale prices for similar homes that recently sold in the area. Some sellers will have an offer-review date while others will be open to any offers that come in.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6. Apply for a mortgage and begin the closing process<\/td><td>30-45 days<\/td><td>Once you and the seller agree on the terms, you\u2019ll enter the closing process or escrow. You\u2019ll officially apply for a mortgage loan. Expect to be in very close communication with your agent, lender, and escrow agency during this time.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7. Get a home inspection<\/td><td>3-7 days to schedule, few hours to inspect<\/td><td>If the seller accepts your offer the next step is to schedule a home inspection, which will identify any major issues with the property.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8.<strong> <\/strong>Have a home appraisal<\/td><td>15 minutes to 5 days<\/td><td>An appraisal will make sure that the home is worth the full purchase price. Your lender wants to be sure they aren\u2019t lending you more than the home\u2019s value.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>9. Conduct a final walkthrough<\/td><td>1 hour, the day before closing<\/td><td>A final walkthrough ensures the house is in the same condition as when they agreed to purchase it and any agreed-upon repairs to the property have been fulfilled. If something isn&#8217;t right, you should ask the seller to fix the problem before the sale is closed.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10. Close on the house and get the keys<\/td><td>A few hours<\/td><td>Closing day involves signing papers, transferring the deed, paying closing costs, and officially getting the keys.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house-with-cash-as-little-as-two-weeks\">2. How long does it take to buy a house with cash? As little as two weeks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nearly one-third of homes in the U.S. are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/all-cash-down-payments-2025\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">bought with all cash<\/a>, according to a Redfin study from October 2025. If a buyer has the cash available and provides proof of the funds, buying a house with an all-cash offer can happen in as little as two weeks under ideal conditions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s a breakdown of the steps and timeline involved when buying a home with an all-cash offer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A step-by-step process for buying a house with cash:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Step<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Timing<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>What to know<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1. Find a trusted real estate agent<\/td><td>A few days<\/td><td>Make sure to find and interview a few agents before choosing a real estate agent for your home search.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2. Search for a home<\/td><td>A few days to a few months<\/td><td>Talk to your real estate agent about what you\u2019re looking for in a home. They\u2019ll find houses that fit your criteria and set up viewing appointments to see the house in person.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3. Seller verifies that the buyer has the cash to buy the house<\/td><td>24-48 hours<\/td><td>With a mortgage, the bank will confirm that you have money for the down payment. Since there isn\u2019t a mortgage involved, the seller will be required to request proof of funds and earnest money.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4. Secure title and escrow services<\/td><td>1 day<\/td><td>The escrow company ensures that all conditions of your real estate transaction are met. They\u2019ll hold on to the earnest money until the deal is done. Your agent should be able to recommend a title company.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5. Conduct a title search<\/td><td>3 days<\/td><td>A title search ensures there are no outstanding liens or heirs listed in the title history.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6. Schedule a home inspection<\/td><td>1 week to book<\/td><td>It\u2019s always recommended to schedule a home inspection so you know exactly what you\u2019re buying.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7. Have the home inspected<\/td><td>1-4 hours<\/td><td>A home inspector will test the plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling, and check the roof, the foundation, and the home\u2019s exterior. The inspector&#8217;s job is to take note of the house\u2019s current condition.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Optional:<\/strong> Have the property appraised<\/td><td>15 minutes to 5 days<\/td><td>An appraisal will make sure that the home is worth the full purchase price. However, cash buyers aren&#8217;t working with a lender, so you have the option to skip or ignore an appraisal.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8. Conduct a final walkthrough<\/td><td>1 day<\/td><td>You and your agent will walk through the home to make sure the house is in the same condition that it was when you agreed to buy it and to confirm that any agreed-upon repairs have been completed.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>9. Close on the home<\/td><td>1-2 hours<\/td><td>Without mortgage paperwork, closing is fairly straightforward.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. How long does it take to buy a short sale property? At least three months<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contrary to their name, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-to-buy-a-short-sale-home\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">short sales<\/a> can take many months. In the best-case scenario, expect at least three months. In the worst case, it could take a very long time. Often buyers don\u2019t apply for the mortgage until after the seller\u2019s lender gives approval of the short sale. This approval can take a month at the earliest to get.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Below is a step-by-step overview of what to expect when purchasing a short sale property:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A step-by-step process for buying a short sale property:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Step<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Timing<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Description<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1. Find an experienced agent<\/td><td>2-3 days<\/td><td>Finding a great agent is key to any real estate purchase, especially short sale transactions.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2. Get pre-approved for a mortgage<\/td><td>About 1 week<\/td><td>Find a lender and get preapproved for a mortgage. This will speed up the closing process.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3. Find a property to purchase<\/td><td>At least 1 week<\/td><td>Tour homes available for short sale and narrow down your options.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4. Write an offer and sign a contract<\/td><td>1-2 weeks<\/td><td>Work with your agent to determine an appropriate offer.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5. Send short sale packet to the lender for approval<\/td><td>Up to 12 months<\/td><td>Fill out paperwork and make your offer to the seller\u2019s bank.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6. Have the home inspected<\/td><td>1 day<\/td><td>It\u2019s recommended to always schedule a home inspection so you know exactly what you\u2019re buying.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7. Have the property appraised<\/td><td>1 week<\/td><td>The lender will request a property valuation.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8. Get approval and close on the property<\/td><td>1 week to 1 month<\/td><td>Once approved, the closing process can be rather quick.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs about the homebuying process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What can delay the homebuying process?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Low credit scores, missing or incomplete financial documents, discrepancies during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/home-appraisal\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">home appraisal process<\/a>, and home inspection issues that require negotiation or repairs are some factors that can delay the homebuying process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can you speed up the mortgage approval process?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, getting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/mortgage-pre-approval\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">pre-approved<\/a> before making an offer, promptly submitting all required financial documents (such as tax returns, bank statements, and pay stubs), and choosing a lender known for efficient processing can all help.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is a cash offer always better than a mortgage?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/buying-home-with-cash\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">Cash offers<\/a> are not always better for every buyer. Using a mortgage allows buyers to keep cash available for investments, home improvements, or emergencies. However, cash offers can provide leverage in competitive markets and potentially lead to a lower purchase price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens if my mortgage isn&#8217;t approved before closing?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your mortgage isn\u2019t approved in time, it could delay or jeopardize the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/steps-to-closing-on-a-house\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">closing process<\/a>. Whether the deal falls through depends on the contingencies outlined in the purchase agreement, as some contracts allow for extensions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I need a home inspection if I\u2019m buying with cash?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/home-inspection\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">home inspection<\/a> isn\u2019t legally required for cash purchases, it\u2019s still highly recommended. An inspection can reveal potential issues like structural problems, outdated systems, or safety hazards that might not be visible during a walkthrough.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How long does it take to buy a house? It depends on the type of transaction &#8211; cash, mortgage, or short sale, but can take 2 weeks to 3 months.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":537,"featured_media":96417,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[34276,10756],"tags":[34629,34617,34642],"coauthors":[33440],"class_list":["post-98344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buying-a-home","category-featured-post","tag-first-time-homebuyer","tag-home-buying-process","tag-mortgage"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Long Does It Take to Buy a House? - Redfin<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How long does it take to buy a house? It depends on the type of transaction - cash, mortgage, or short sale, but can take 2 weeks to 3 months.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Long Does It Take to Buy a House?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How long does it take to buy a house? It depends on the type of transaction - cash, mortgage, or short sale, but can take 2 weeks to 3 months.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling &amp; More\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/redfin\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-15T17:13:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-15T17:13:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/one-story-modern-home.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"674\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Alison Bentley\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@redfin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@redfin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Alison Bentley\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Alison Bentley\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/de53ec0145e2448ed553d0dbfa6b3574\"},\"headline\":\"How Long Does It Take to Buy a House?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-15T17:13:34+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-15T17:13:36+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1962,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/08\\\/one-story-modern-home.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"first time homebuyer\",\"home buying process\",\"Mortgage\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Buying a Home\",\"Featured Post\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"copyrightYear\":\"2026\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\\\/\",\"name\":\"How Long Does It Take to Buy a House? - Redfin\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/08\\\/one-story-modern-home.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-15T17:13:34+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-15T17:13:36+00:00\",\"description\":\"How long does it take to buy a house? It depends on the type of transaction - cash, mortgage, or short sale, but can take 2 weeks to 3 months.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/08\\\/one-story-modern-home.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/08\\\/one-story-modern-home.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":674,\"caption\":\"how long does it take to buy a house\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How Long Does It Take to Buy a House?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling &amp; More\",\"description\":\"Real estate on Wall Street, Main Street and your street.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Redfin\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/03\\\/Redfin-logo-512x512-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/03\\\/Redfin-logo-512x512-1.jpg\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Redfin\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/redfin\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/redfin\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/redfinrealestate\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/redfin\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.com\\\/redfin\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCMIuo1QSGcmWnevT9jdC_Ow\",\"https:\\\/\\\/en.wikipedia.org\\\/wiki\\\/Redfin\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/de53ec0145e2448ed553d0dbfa6b3574\",\"name\":\"Alison Bentley\",\"description\":\"Alison is part of the Content Marketing team as a Marketing Program Manager. In her 5 years at Redfin, Alison has written a variety of articles ranging from home design tips to housing affordability, and specializes in first-time homebuyer and seller resources. A California-native, Alison currently resides in Seattle where you can find her catching a concert or exploring farmers\u2019 markets. Her dream home is a cottage-style house with a chef\u2019s kitchen and a cozy room to store and play vinyl records.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/author\\\/alison-bentley\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How Long Does It Take to Buy a House? - Redfin","description":"How long does it take to buy a house? It depends on the type of transaction - cash, mortgage, or short sale, but can take 2 weeks to 3 months.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How Long Does It Take to Buy a House?","og_description":"How long does it take to buy a house? It depends on the type of transaction - cash, mortgage, or short sale, but can take 2 weeks to 3 months.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/","og_site_name":"Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling &amp; More","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/redfin","article_published_time":"2026-01-15T17:13:34+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-15T17:13:36+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":674,"url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/one-story-modern-home.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Alison Bentley","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@redfin","twitter_site":"@redfin","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Alison Bentley","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/"},"author":{"name":"Alison Bentley","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/de53ec0145e2448ed553d0dbfa6b3574"},"headline":"How Long Does It Take to Buy a House?","datePublished":"2026-01-15T17:13:34+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-15T17:13:36+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/"},"wordCount":1962,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/one-story-modern-home.jpg","keywords":["first time homebuyer","home buying process","Mortgage"],"articleSection":["Buying a Home","Featured Post"],"inLanguage":"en-US","copyrightYear":"2026","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/","name":"How Long Does It Take to Buy a House? - Redfin","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/one-story-modern-home.jpg","datePublished":"2026-01-15T17:13:34+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-15T17:13:36+00:00","description":"How long does it take to buy a house? It depends on the type of transaction - cash, mortgage, or short sale, but can take 2 weeks to 3 months.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/one-story-modern-home.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/one-story-modern-home.jpg","width":1200,"height":674,"caption":"how long does it take to buy a house"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-a-house\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Long Does It Take to Buy a House?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/","name":"Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling &amp; More","description":"Real estate on Wall Street, Main Street and your street.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Redfin","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Redfin-logo-512x512-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Redfin-logo-512x512-1.jpg","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Redfin"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/redfin","https:\/\/x.com\/redfin","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/redfinrealestate\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/redfin","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/redfin\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCMIuo1QSGcmWnevT9jdC_Ow","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Redfin"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/de53ec0145e2448ed553d0dbfa6b3574","name":"Alison Bentley","description":"Alison is part of the Content Marketing team as a Marketing Program Manager. In her 5 years at Redfin, Alison has written a variety of articles ranging from home design tips to housing affordability, and specializes in first-time homebuyer and seller resources. A California-native, Alison currently resides in Seattle where you can find her catching a concert or exploring farmers\u2019 markets. Her dream home is a cottage-style house with a chef\u2019s kitchen and a cozy room to store and play vinyl records.","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/author\/alison-bentley\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/537"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98344"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108503,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98344\/revisions\/108503"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/96417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98344"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=98344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}