How Long Does It Take to Buy a House?
If you’re planning to buy a house, you may be wondering how long you should expect it to take. Because various factors can either shorten or lengthen the process, each home purchase timeline is unique. With that said, it typically takes at least a few months to buy a house.
If you’re planning to finance your home purchase, you’ll likely need to get pre-approved for a mortgage. Next, you’ll have to find the home you want to buy, submit an offer, and have that offer accepted. Then, you’ll need to complete the closing process, which itself often takes approximately 30 to 60 days.
As was noted above, there are numerous factors that can affect the amount of time that it takes to buy a house. One of these is the condition of the housing market—for example, in a seller’s market, the demand for houses exceeds the supply of houses that are available to be purchased, which can make it harder for you to find a property. The results of your home inspection can also have a significant impact—for instance, if your inspector finds numerous issues with the house you’re looking to purchase, it might take extra time for the seller to complete any necessary repairs.
How to Accelerate Your Home Purchase Timeline
If you’re concerned about the amount of time it will take you to buy a house, one of the best things you can do to speed up the process is hire an experienced real estate attorney. Although attorneys aren’t legally required to oversee real estate transactions in Florida, their experience handling property sales can make them well worth your investment. Real estate lawyers can:
- Issue title insurance, hold escrow, and prepare the documents needed for title commitment (i.e., the same services offered by a title company)
- Represent their clients in negotiations
- Provide their clients with legal advice
- Draft additional legal documents (e.g., contract amendments, bills of sale for personal property, and occupancy agreements)
Depending on the issues you might run into when purchasing a house, having a real estate attorney on your side could save you a considerable amount of time. For example, if you’re having trouble negotiating with the seller, a lawyer could help you reach an agreement more quickly. Or, if you want to purchase any of the seller’s personal property along with their house, an attorney could help facilitate that by drafting the necessary bill of sale.
Get the Legal Help You Need in Tampa Bay
If you’re interested in retaining a real estate attorney and you’re in the Tampa Bay area, turn to skilled professionals at The Lyons Law Group, P.A. We’re a trusted real estate law firm that’s been in business since 2008, and we’re pleased to offer a wide selection of real estate closing services for both buyers and sellers. We also offer free initial consultations at our offices in New Port Richey, FL, and Spring Hill, FL, so contact us today and let us know when you’d like to stop by. We proudly serve clients in Pasco County, Hernando County, and the surrounding area, and we look forward to meeting with you.
