Plan on three phases: getting the house ready, finding a buyer, and closing. Financed sales often close about 30 to 45 days after the contract is signed, and time on the market depends on price, condition, and neighborhood. Cash can close faster.
The honest answer is that it depends on price, condition, and your neighborhood. But every sale runs through the same three phases, and knowing them shows you where time gets won or lost.
Phase 1: Getting ready
Cleaning, small repairs, photos, and paperwork. Sellers who skip this phase tend to pay for it later with a slow market time or a price cut. It can take a few days to a few weeks, depending on the house.
Phase 2: Finding a buyer
This is time on the market, from listing to accepted offer. You control it least, but price controls most of it. A home priced to the market gets showings in the first two weeks. A home priced above it sits.
For current numbers, look at recent sales in your zip code on Redfin or Realtor.com, not a citywide average. Neighborhoods move at different speeds.
Phase 3: Closing
Once you accept an offer, a financed sale often takes about 30 to 45 days to close. Cash deals can close faster, since there is no lender underwriting or appraisal to wait on.
What slows a sale down
A low appraisal.
Insurance problems. Buyers need coverage to close, and older roofs and aging systems can hold things up.
HOA paperwork. Estoppel letters and approvals take time.
Title issues. Old liens, open permits, or name mismatches.
Buyer financing that falls through.
How to move faster
Price to current sales, not last year’s.
Fix the small things before you list.
Consider a pre-listing inspection so surprises show up before a buyer finds them.
Keep showings flexible in the first two weeks.
If speed matters more than price, compare a cash offer against your net from a listing.
What to do this week
Pull sold prices from the last 90 days in your neighborhood. Then send me your address, and I will show you where I would price it and what timeline to plan for.
General education, not legal, tax or investment advice. Discuss your circumstances with a licensed Florida attorney or tax professional. Yoganand Ganeshram PA, licensed Florida real estate agent with eXp Realty. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Originally published on Equity Edge Orlando. Reviewed for this Substack edition.