The Buying Process
What to expect from pre-approval to closing
Your Financing Strength
Sellers weigh how you’re paying before they accept your offer:
- CASH
- Strongest — no financing risk
- CONV
- Conventional financing
- FHA / VA / CHFA
- Govt-backed, stricter appraisal
The 30–40 Day Clock
Financed purchases typically run 30–40 days from contract to close. Cash deals can close in as few as 7.
Each milestone below has a contractual deadline — miss one and you can lose your right to object, or your earnest money.
Your Buyer’s Agent
Regina Moore
Broker/Owner, REALTOR® · GRI · SFR · REO
720.220.1394
Powered by Metro Brokers · Key Realty Partners
Pre-
Approved
Approved
1
Lender verifies income,
assets & credit.
Before you offer.
assets & credit.
Before you offer.
Offer
Accepted
Accepted
2
Mutual signatures.
Clock starts.
Clock starts.
Under
Contract
Contract
3
You send earnest money
to the title company.
to the title company.
Inspection
Objection Resolution
Objection Resolution
4
$400–500 typical
+$100 radon
+$135 sewer scope
* 1 Year Home Warranty
+$100 radon
+$135 sewer scope
* 1 Year Home Warranty
Appraisal
5
$500–700
Lender-ordered
value check.
Lender-ordered
value check.
Title
HOA
HOA
6
Clear chain
of ownership.
Policy issued.
of ownership.
Policy issued.
Under-
writing
writing
7
Lender’s final
file review.
file review.
Point of no Return
Loan
Approval
Approval
8
Clear-to-close issued.
Earnest money
goes hard.
Earnest money
goes hard.
Utilities / Invoices
Walk-
through
through
9
Day before close.
You confirm
condition.
You confirm
condition.
Close
✓
Sign. Fund. Record.
Keys in hand.
Keys in hand.
What Do They Look At?
Earnest Money
~1%
Of Purchase Price
Held by the title company as your good-faith deposit. Refundable if you terminate on a contract deadline — forfeited if you walk without cause.
Underwriters
- W-2s
- Tax returns
- 30 days of paystubs
- Bank statements
- Credit report
- Photo ID
- Verification of employment
Inspectors
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- HVAC
- Roof
- Structural
- Health & Safety ★
★ Most likely to require negotiation.
Appraisers
- Square footage
- Age
- Beds / baths
- Parking / garage
- Heating / cooling
- Overall condition
✦ Comp sales within 1 mi, sold ≤ 60 days.