How fast can you move into a Houston house after you buy it? If you’ve just bought a new house, you’re probably eager to get moved in. However, just because your offer has been accepted doesn’t mean you can move in right away.
So, exactly how long do you have to wait? In this post, our experts at Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - Chris Schmidt Team will explore the typical timeline for moving into a house after buying it and discuss factors that can shorten or lengthen the process.
Key Takeaways:
- Once your offer on a house is accepted, the transaction will move into the closing process. This process takes anywhere from 30 to 60 days to complete.
- Even after the closing date, it can take some time to officially move in because of the logistics involved in moving. For example, the availability of professional movers, scheduling utility transfers, and packing and unpacking belongings.
- An early occupancy agreement with the seller. This allows you to move in before the final closing date in exchange for paying a fee or agreeing to specific terms outlined in the contract.
How Fast Can You Move Into a House After You Buy It?
Once your offer on a house is accepted, the transaction will move into the closing process. This process takes anywhere from 30 to 60 days to complete, and involves key steps to finalize the deal:
- Signing loan paperwork with your lender
- Officially receiving your loan
- Making an escrow account and paying earnest money deposit, if you haven’t done so already
- Hiring a home inspector
- Hiring a licensed appraiser
- Reviewing the title history of the home
- Getting homeowners insurance
- Arranging for utilities to be transferred to your new address on the official closing date
The closing process ends with the official closing date. This is the day when you’ll meet with the seller and both parties’ realtors to sign the remaining paperwork, transfer the funds, and perform a final walkthrough of the property if you didn’t do so earlier. This is also the day you’ll officially get the keys to your home and be able to move in.
What Factors Affect How Soon You Can Move In?
- Loan Approval and Lender Requirements: Securing the financing for your new home can take a lot of time, especially if you didn’t get pre-approval beforehand. Your lender will need to approve your loan application and finalize the details of your mortgage. This can take a few weeks to finish.
- Home Inspection and Appraisal: A home inspection and appraisal are both necessary parts of the closing process. Depending on when you can get an appointment with an inspector and appraiser, it can take around a week or two to complete this step.
- Moving Logistics: Even after the closing date, it can take some time to officially move in because of the logistics involved in moving. The availability of professional movers, scheduling utility transfers, and packing and unpacking belongings all impact how fast you can move into a house after you buy it.
- Title Search and Insurance: A title search and getting title insurance are necessary to make sure there are no liens or encumbrances with the property’s title. If any issues are discovered, this can delay the closing process.
- Contingencies: If you and the seller agreed to any contingencies in the purchase agreement, these could potentially impact the final closing date. Potential contingencies could include the sale of your current home before moving forward with the purchase, or the completion of certain repairs by the seller.
- Seller Cooperation: The cooperation and responsiveness of the seller, their agent, and any other parties involved in the transaction can significantly influence the closing timeline. Delays in communication or decision-making by the seller can slow down the process.
- Holidays and Weekends: Holidays, weekends, and other non-business days can delay the availability of key parties, such as lenders, inspectors, and title companies. For this reason, it’s important to time your purchase around holidays and other non-business days.
Is There a Way to Move In Immediately?
There is technically a way for you to move into your new home immediately. This can be done by negotiating an early occupancy agreement with the seller. This allows you to move in before the final closing date in exchange for paying a fee or agreeing to specific terms outlined in the contract.
Work With Chris Schmidt For a Stress-Free Buying Experience
The timeline for moving into a house depends on many factors, so it’s important to have a plan and make sure the closing process stays on track. This is just one reason it’s essential to have an experienced realtor on your side. At Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - Chris Schmidt Team, Chris Schmidt and our team have been continually ranked as the best realtor in Houston.
We’ve helped many buyers find homes that match their budget and preferences thanks to our in-depth knowledge of the local housing market and unique buyer guarantees, including our Buy it Back Guarantee.
If you are interested in working with our team to buy a home, call or text today at 713-322-5604. You can also use the form below. Don’t have to wait to find your dream home in Houston!
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