Most Greater Boston deals close about 30 to 45 days after the Purchase and Sale Agreement is signed. Counting from the day your offer is accepted, plan on roughly 6 to 8 weeks in total, and less if you are paying cash.
The sequence runs from an accepted Offer to Purchase, to inspection, to the Purchase and Sale Agreement, to your mortgage commitment, to the final walkthrough, to closing. Deposits go in along the way, and the contingencies are what protect your money if something falls through. Every one of those steps carries a date, and the dates are the part that actually matters.
Who this applies to
Any buyer under agreement in Greater Boston, and first-time buyers most of all, because the celebration of an accepted offer is usually followed immediately by wondering what happens next. Sellers benefit from knowing it too, since the same clock runs on both sides of the deal.
The six steps, in order
1. Accepted Offer to Purchase, with a small initial deposit to bind it.
2. Home inspection, usually within the first 7 to 10 days.
3. Purchase and Sale Agreement signed, about 5 to 10 days after the offer, with the deposit increased.
4. Full mortgage application and the lender's appraisal.
5. Mortgage commitment, the lender's written approval, about 3 to 4 weeks after the P&S.
6. Final walkthrough and closing, about 30 to 45 days after the P&S.
Step 1: the accepted Offer to Purchase
In Massachusetts your accepted Offer to Purchase is a binding agreement, not a formality or a placeholder. You typically put down a small initial deposit to bind it, often around $1,000, though the amount is negotiable. The offer sets the dates that govern everything after it: the inspection deadline, the Purchase and Sale date, the mortgage commitment date, and the closing.
Step 2: the home inspection
Your inspection usually happens within the first 7 to 10 days. This is your window to learn the home's real condition and, if you need to, negotiate repairs, a credit, or a price adjustment. Under a 2025 Massachusetts law your right to a home inspection is protected, and a seller cannot condition accepting your offer on you waiving it. The inspection contingency is the protection, so use the window while you have it.
Step 3: the Purchase and Sale Agreement
The Purchase and Sale Agreement, usually just called the P&S, is the detailed contract that replaces the offer. It is typically signed about 5 to 10 days after the offer is accepted, with attorneys on both sides reviewing and negotiating its terms. At the P&S you normally increase your deposit so the total sits around 3 to 5% of the purchase price, held in escrow.
Steps 4 and 5: mortgage application, appraisal, and commitment
Right after the P&S you submit your full mortgage application and documents, and your lender orders the appraisal to confirm the home's value supports the loan. Underwriting reviews your file during this stretch.
The mortgage commitment is the lender's written approval, and it usually arrives about 3 to 4 weeks after the P&S. The mortgage contingency protects your deposit if you cannot secure that commitment by the deadline, which is exactly why hitting your dates and staying responsive to your lender is not just politeness. It is money.
Step 6: final walkthrough and closing
Usually 24 to 48 hours before closing you do a final walkthrough to confirm the home is in the agreed condition. Then you close, about 30 to 45 days after the P&S in Greater Boston. A Massachusetts closing has to be conducted by a licensed attorney. You sign, funds transfer, and you get the keys.
The timeline at a glance
| Step | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Accepted Offer to Purchase, initial deposit of about $1,000 | Day 0 |
| Home inspection | Within about 7 to 10 days of the accepted offer |
| Purchase and Sale signed, deposit increased to about 3 to 5% | About 5 to 10 days after the accepted offer |
| Full mortgage application and lender's appraisal | In the days immediately after the P&S |
| Mortgage commitment issued | About 3 to 4 weeks after the P&S |
| Final walkthrough and closing | About 30 to 45 days after the P&S |
How to keep yourself on schedule
Keep your dates visible and treat every deadline as real, because missing one can put your deposit at risk. Respond to your lender quickly, avoid new debt or large purchases while you are under agreement, and lean on your agent and attorney to keep the pieces moving. A cash deal can compress this whole timeline to as little as a couple of weeks.
The bottom line
The Massachusetts path runs from accepted offer, to inspection, to Purchase and Sale, to mortgage commitment, to closing, and it usually lands 30 to 45 days after the P&S is signed. Know your dates, protect your contingencies, and keep your lender moving, and the process stays predictable.
FAQ
Common questions, answered.
How long does it take to close on a house in Massachusetts?
Most Greater Boston deals close about 30 to 45 days after the Purchase and Sale Agreement is signed, which works out to roughly 6 to 8 weeks from the accepted offer. Cash deals can close in as little as a couple of weeks.
What is the difference between the Offer to Purchase and the P&S?
The Offer to Purchase is the first binding agreement and it sets all the key dates. The Purchase and Sale Agreement is the detailed contract that replaces it, usually signed about 5 to 10 days later after both attorneys negotiate the terms.
When do I pay my deposits in a Massachusetts purchase?
A small deposit binds the offer, often around $1,000. Then at the P&S you usually increase it so the total is about 3 to 5% of the purchase price, held in escrow until closing.
What is the mortgage contingency?
It is the clause that returns your deposit if you cannot get a written loan commitment from your lender by the deadline in the contract. It is one of the most important dates in the whole deal, and letting it pass without either a commitment or a written extension puts your deposit at risk.
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