{"id":12078,"date":"2019-09-04T09:05:24","date_gmt":"2019-09-04T16:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=12078"},"modified":"2026-04-10T10:01:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T17:01:17","slug":"avoid-home-closing-delays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/avoid-home-closing-delays\/","title":{"rendered":"Avoid Home Closing Delays With These 6 Buyer Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Once you\u2019ve found your dream home, made an offer, and had that offer accepted, you\u2019ll begin working towards closing. It\u2019s a really exciting time, but many buyers face delays.<\/p>\n

According to the National Association of REALTORS\u00ae, 32% of buyers face delays<\/a> at closing. These delays can be frustrating when all you want to do is move in. But there\u2019s good news! You can avoid common hiccups with these 6 tips:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Source: (Pixabay\/ Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Have cash-on-hand to cover your deposit and closing costs<\/h2>\n

Conventional wisdom says that you need a 20% downpayment to buy a home. But that\u2019s changing.<\/p>\n

According to SmartAsset<\/a>, the average first-time homebuyer puts down between 5% and 10%. There\u2019s no rule of thumb on what down payment will work best for you. It depends on your individual situation.<\/p>\n

Always work with a trusted real estate agent<\/a> and financial adviser when deciding on a downpayment. However much you decide to put down, be sure to have this money saved up and ready to go when you start looking for your dream home.<\/p>\n

Another thing you\u2019ll want to remember to save for? Closing costs. They typically add up to anywhere from 2% to 5% of your home\u2019s price. To avoid delays, make sure to have this cash saved and on hand.<\/p>\n

When to do it:<\/b> When you start your home search<\/p>\n

How long it takes:<\/b> A couple of days (assuming you just need to transfer the money into the right account– more if you don\u2019t have the money to cover it)<\/p>\n

2. Get pre-approved for a loan<\/h2>\n

Loan problems can be a major cause of closing delays. In order to help prevent these delays, you\u2019ll want to get pre-approved for a mortgage<\/a>. While getting pre-approved doesn\u2019t guarantee you\u2019ll get a mortgage, it\u2019ll give you a reliable idea<\/a> of the mortgage you can get.<\/p>\n

Imagine finding out you won\u2019t be approved for a mortgage once you\u2019ve made an offer on your dream home. That\u2019s like picking out a puppy, then having to give it back to the shelter once you get to the counter because you forgot to check your bank account.<\/p>\n

When to do it:<\/b> Before you start looking for a home<\/p>\n

How long it takes:<\/b> 1-3 Days<\/p>\n

Pro tip<\/b>: the more underwriting you do upfront<\/a>, the better your chances to get to the closing table quickly. Two-minute pre-approvals can be a solid first step in the home financing process, but they don\u2019t go far enough.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Source: (Rawpixel\/ Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Make sure you have your divorce decree<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve gotten a divorce, you\u2019ll need the paperwork to prove it before you close on a home, along with copies of any child support and alimony documents. If you don\u2019t have copies on hand, you may have to go down to the county clerk\u2019s<\/a> office to request a copy.<\/p>\n

Avoid surprises by taking care of this step well ahead of time. You\u2019re going to need it in order to get approved for a mortgage.<\/p>\n

When to do it:<\/b> At the beginning of your home search<\/p>\n

How long it takes:<\/b> A visit to the county clerk or a call to your ex<\/p>\n

4. Apply for a mortgage<\/h2>\n

You can only officially apply for a mortgage once you\u2019ve found the home of your dreams\u2014because you\u2019re applying for a loan towards a specific property.<\/p>\n

Once you make an offer, you\u2019ll need to apply for a mortgage and it\u2019ll need to be approved before you can close. The average mortgage takes about 30 days<\/a> to be approved, but during peak seasons it could take as long as 60 days.<\/p>\n

You can set yourself up for success here by making sure you have copies of any necessary financial documents\u2014like W-2s and potential tax returns\u2014on hand before you apply.<\/p>\n

When to do it:<\/b> After you\u2019ve made an offer<\/p>\n

How long it takes:<\/b> average 30 days (but could be up to 60 days)<\/p>\n

5. Look out for accurate home appraisals<\/h2>\n

Another cause for delay can arise if the seller has listed the home\u2019s value at a higher price than your lender says its worth. Before your lender doles out the mortgage, they want to make sure the home is actually worth that value.<\/p>\n

According to the National Association of Realtors, appraisal issues are responsible for 20% of closing delays<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While you can\u2019t totally control this, there are ways to set yourself up for success. Do your own research on the pricing trends of neighborhoods where you\u2019re looking. If you have a solid sense of the neighborhood, you\u2019ll be able to identify potential red flags.<\/p>\n

Give yourself a leg up by working with a real estate agent you can trust. Ask about any past appraisals on the home. When was the last one done? How does it compare to the current home value? Were any major renovations done since that time?<\/p>\n

When it happens: <\/b>Appraisals happen after an inspector has looked at the home<\/p>\n

How long it takes: <\/b>The final appraisal report comes in 3-7 days after the appraisal<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Source: (Qu\u1ed1c B\u1ea3o\/ Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. Practice patience with the good kind of delays<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s possible that during the home inspection, you may discover damage to the home. While this can feel really disappointing, there\u2019s a reason an inspection happens before you sign on the dotted line.<\/p>\n

You want to know about any damage before you buy. Smaller repairs will need to be made. Insect infestations and water damage will need to be remedied, or they may indicate that you\u2019ll face very expensive issues down the road.<\/p>\n

Taking the time to identify and remedy these issues before you close can save you a lot of pain in the long run.<\/p>\n

When it happens:<\/b> After the home inspection<\/p>\n

How long it takes:<\/b> Depends on the repair. Could be a day, a week, two weeks.<\/p>\n

Header Image Source: (Daria Shevtsova\/ Pexels)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A third of buyers face delays at closing. Fight uncertainty, put your best foot forward and avoid common delays with these tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":126,"featured_media":12079,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[620,624],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buy-house","category-saving-up"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAvoid Closing Delays With These 6 Smart Homebuyer Tips<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A third of buyers face delays at closing. 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