When it comes to buying a house, buyers typically have to manage several deadlines: the end of their lease, the start of school or the first day at a new job. Though it would be less stressful to find a home and move within a few weeks, it rarely happens. From preapproval to closing day, the homebuying and moving process typically takes three to five months. Lengthen that timeline if you also need to sell your existing home. Here's a breakdown of the process. 

How long does it take to buy and move into a new house?

The homebuying process is the long part, while the move typically happens over the course of a few days. If you're considering a move, use these steps as a guide for setting realistic expectations.

Get preapproved for a mortgage. A mortgage preapproval is a letter from a mortgage lender with an estimate of how much you can borrow based on your creditworthiness, income and debt obligations. A preapproval helps you establish a realistic budget and show sellers you're serious about your offer. A prequalification is also a letter with an estimate of how much you can borrow, but it carries less weight because the lender goes through fewer steps in the process.

Depending on how quickly you can provide paperwork to the lender, you may receive your letter within a day or up to two weeks. Both types of letters are typically valid for up to 90 days, depending on the bank.  

Find the perfect house. This is typically the fun part of homebuying, and you should find a real estate agent who can show you listings and help you through the process. The average person looks at 10 houses over 10 weeks before finding a home to purchase. Keep in mind that during this step, you are reliant on the sellers' schedules. To streamline the process, make a list of must-haves, wants and deal-breakers before scheduling tours. 

Make an offer. Once you choose a home, it's time to make an offer. You'll calculate a fair price you can afford, then submit the offer along with your preapproval and a deposit in good faith. The offer may be equal to the asking price, but sometimes buyers adjust the price depending on the condition of the property and comparable listings. You can also make your offer contingent on a home inspection, another home sale, your mortgage or other factors. Set a deadline, typically one to three days, that states how long your offer stands. The pieces of this process may together take up to one week.

Schedule the home inspection. Your home may be the biggest purchase of your life, so it's important to make sure it doesn't have issues. A home inspector will walk through the property and check the interior, exterior, foundation, systems and appliances. They'll provide a report of  everything reviewed and any problem areas. Buyers may ask the seller to make repairs before moving forward with the purchase. 

Inspections last two to three hours, but the report can take an additional three to four days, depending on the company. Since home inspectors won't likely be available the day after you sign a contract, this process could take one to two weeks. Even if you need to move quicker, don't skip this step. The $300–$500 fee can save you thousands in the long run. 

Close on the home. On closing day, you'll sign the paperwork to become an official homeowner. Several people will be present, including you, your real estate agent and closing attorney, and the seller. 

Because the coronavirus has caused massive shutdowns, the closing process may take a little longer. In March, the timeline averaged 60 days — a spike from a 26-day average in January. 

Sell your existing home. Buyers who also need to sell their current home should expect the process to take longer. According to Zillow, it takes an additional 65–93 days to sell a home.

Move into the new home. Once you know when you're buying the new home and selling your current home, you can schedule a moving day. The timeline of your move will depend on how much you need to move and how far you're going. Get price and timeline estimates from a few movers in your area. Hiring movers, packing your home and getting everything into the new home might take one to three weeks.   

Coronavirus impact

You might wonder if it's a good idea to buy a house during a pandemic, but according to a recent study, 53% of homebuyers are more likely to buy a home in the next year because of the pandemic. This is largely attributed to low mortgage rates, and some people also saved money for a down payment during stay-at-home orders. If you are planning to buy a home this year, remember to set realistic expectations for how long the process will take.