Timeline for Buying a Home in Denver

It can feel a little tricky trying to time a home purchase with your current lease or a home sale.  There are a lot of variables in each situation, so there is no exact amount of time that it takes to find and buy a home.   It can make the process a bit easier if you do some preparation and planning well before you have to move. 

For some people, the whole process may take just about 30 days, but for most people it will take at least a couple months before they will be ready and able to close on a home.  It may take some additional time after closing before you can move in depending on what was negotiated with the seller.  

The more flexible you are, the more options you will have.  If you are renting, review your lease and speak with your landlord to see what consequences there will be to breaking the lease early if you find the right home before your lease ends.  Sometimes landlords are willing to work with you if you give them enough notice or help them find a new tenant.  Ask if you can go month-to-month if you need a little more time there.  In a pinch, would it be possible to stay with a friend or family member for a short time?  Maybe staying in a hotel or short term rental would be an option if you only need a few days or weeks to make the timeline work for you.

Here is what to expect for each phase of the process:

Research and preparation phase: 1 day - 1 year+ depending on your credit situation and savings

Home search phase: 1 week - 6 months+ depending on the market and your criteria

Making the offer to seller accepting: 12 hours - 3 days+ depending on market, negotiation process, and sellers' situation

Offer accepted to closing: 21 - 45 days depending on what you have negotiated with seller

Closing to moving in: immediately after closing - 60 days if you negotiate to a rent back for the sellers to have more time in the home