For those who are new to home buying, it can seem like it takes forever to go through the house buying process from start to finish. How long this will take is determined by a lot of circumstances.

How Long Does It Take To Buy A House From Start To Finish?

To try and estimate how long the home buying process takes, it means putting an average on each of the steps that are involved in home buying. Generally speaking, the averages are:

Finding the New Home:

In most cases, this can take anywhere from thirty to sixty days. Depending on the specific circumstances of the buyers.

Ratifying the Contract:

Once the right house is chosen, then the purchase contract has to be drafted. Then negotiations take place between buyer and seller. Finally, when they both settle on the deal, then any conditions of sale criteria needs to be met. For example, there may be a condition of financing. Or a condition of the home buyer selling their home. These are all circumstances that can affect the home buying process.

On average, it is estimated that it can take around two weeks. However, this may not be the case when the condition of the sale of the buyer’s property is in the works.

Financing:

Arranging for financing is a big concern and can be one of the delaying factors. If the home buyer has been preapproved, this can speed up the process, which could put it into the two-week timeframe of the offer becoming final.

Closing Date:

This is another factor that is going to make up part of the time frame. Some go for thirty-day closing; others need sixty days.

If everything goes according to the averages, then it could take at the very least about ten weeks up to twenty weeks if some of the circumstances outlined here are present.

What Are The Steps To Buying A Home For The First Time?

By understanding the steps involved for first time home buying, it allows the buyer to accept the timeframe that may be needed for this much easier. The following steps are based on the assumption that the home buyer has saved for their down payment.

Step 1: Make Sure the Finances are in Order

The finances involved in home buying are going to be as follows:

Having enough for a down payment.

• Homebuyers in Canada can purchase a home with a minimum of 5% of the sale price of the home. Many try to have 20% as this works to their advantage financially.

Arranging for the Mortgage:

• Home buyers have an opportunity to get pre-approval for a mortgage amount that they can qualify for. This pre-approval remains in place for a specified number of days. This allows the home buyer to know what budget they have to work with when looking at homes to buy.

Closing Costs:

• New home buyers don’t realize that there could be substantial closing costs that they must pay for by closing day. The average for this is about 4% of the selling price of the home.

Moving Day Costs:

• There are costs involved with moving, and new home buyers should be aware of these so they will have funds on hand to pay for them.

Home Buying Incentives:

• New home buyers can also check to see if there are any government home buyers incentives available to take advantage of.

Step 2: Finding the Right Professional

First-time homeowners fare much better if they rely on the right professionals for their home buying process. The first one to be considered is the real estate agent. These experts have a lot of resources that they can rely on to help home buyers find the right home for them.

Step 3: House Hunting

Finding the right home that meets all of the criteria is perhaps the most exciting part of the home buying process. Relying on the realtor will make this part stress free. Several homes should be looked at before making the final decision to purchase

Step 4: The Offer

The real estate will draft the offer according to the buyer’s wishes and then negotiate this with the home seller.

Step 5: The Legal Process

Once the offer has been accepted, then the home buyer must choose a lawyer to deal with the closing of the house. The lawyer may require several documents to do this. It is up to the home buyer to ensure the lawyers get everything that is needed.

Step 6: The Closing

The closing is the day that the lawyer finalizes the transaction. This has to be done according to the closing day agreed upon in the purchase contract. On closing day the money is transferred from the buyer to the seller. The seller turns over the keys to the buyer’s lawyer who in turn gives them to the buyer.

What Do You Need To Know Before Buying A House?

Before making the final decision on buying a house, there are several things that the buyer must be aware of. Such as:

Affordability:

• That the buyer can afford to own a home. Meaning the finances are in place for making the purchase. Also, the buyer will be able to carry the costs of the home once they own it.

Relying on the Right Professionals:

Through the home buying process, there are several professionals that may be needed. The home buyer has to be astute at choosing the right ones with the right credentials. Professionals that may be needed are:

• An experienced home buying realtor
• A home inspector
• Possibly an appraiser
• A real estate lawyer.

What the Home Buyer is Looking For:

Home buyers also need to have a pretty good idea as to what they want in their new home. Things that they are going to have to consider are:

• The style of home
• The price range they want to stay in
• The location
• The age of the home
• Amenities that are going to be important

The house buying process has a lot of steps to it. When each step is approached systematically, then it is not as daunting as it first may appear. The real estate agent is the best resource to be relied on as they are experienced at taking the home buyer through the entire process.