What happens after the seller accepts my offer?
You're under contract, and a clock starts: deposit delivered, inspection scheduled, loan application in, appraisal ordered, title searched, insurance secured, final walkthrough, then closing — typically 30–45 days with financing. Each step has a deadline; I track them all.
Congratulations — "accepted" means you're under contract, and the deal shifts from searching to executing. Here's the sequence, roughly in order.
The first few days
Your earnest deposit goes to escrow. The inspection gets scheduled immediately — the inspection period is short, and everything downstream benefits from early information. And your formal loan application goes in so the lender can order the appraisal.
The middle stretch
The lender underwrites. The title company searches the title and prepares your owner's policy. You shop and secure homeowners insurance — start this early, because insurance problems can genuinely delay Florida closings, especially on older roofs. Your part: respond fast to document requests, and don't open new credit or move money around unexplained.
The final week
Clear-to-close from the lender. The closing statement with your exact cash to close. Your wire — verified by phone with the title company. And the final walkthrough, a last pass confirming the home's condition and any agreed items. Then signatures, then keys.
With financing this typically runs 30 to 45 days, stitched together by deadlines — deposit, inspection, financing, closing — and missing one can cost real money or real protections. Tracking that calendar is a core part of my job. You'll always know what's next, what's needed from you, and what's simply the process doing its thing.
This answer is general education, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Your situation is unique — let's talk through the specifics together.