How long does buying a house in Dallas take?
It has two parts: the search, which depends on you and what is on the market, and the contract-to-closing period, which you agree on in the offer. Some buyers find the right house in the first weekend. Others watch a street for months.
Once you are under contract, the closing date is set in the contract. With a loan, the lender tells you how many days it needs for the appraisal, underwriting and closing documents, and that usually sets the date. A cash purchase can close as soon as the title company is ready. If you also have a home to sell, see selling and buying at the same time.
The search goes faster when the brief is narrow. "North Dallas, three bedrooms" covers a lot of ground. "A one-story on a quiet street west of the tollway, with room for a pool" lets me filter new listings the hour they appear and tell you which ones are worth a drive.
Get preapproved and decide your must-haves before touring. Buyers who do this spend their time on the right houses, not on deciding what they want.
What happens after your offer is accepted
The contract becomes effective when the last signature is delivered, and every deadline counts from that day. Most of the work between contract and closing happens in the first part of it.
- Within 3 days: earnest money and the option fee go to the title company.
- During the option period: general inspection, plus foundation, sewer, roof or termite specialists as needed, insurance quotes and HOA documents.
- Repair negotiation: requests for repairs, a credit or a price change, recorded in a signed amendment, all before the option period ends.
- Title and survey: the title commitment and survey arrive, and you have a set time to object to anything they show.
- Loan approval and appraisal: your lender finishes underwriting.
- Final walkthrough, then closing at the title company, where you sign and the loan funds.
I keep the calendar, chase documents and tell you what is due before it is due. If the inspection turns up something serious, we decide together whether to negotiate or walk away while you still have the option to do so.
What decides whether you get the house
Three things decide most outcomes: knowing a fair price for that specific house, being ready to act, and writing terms the seller values. Price matters, but sellers also weigh certainty and timing.
- A price based on real sales. I compare the home with recent closed sales on the same and nearby streets, adjusted for lot, condition and updates, and with what is under contract right now.
- Readiness. A preapproval letter matched to the offer price, or proof of funds for cash, and the earnest money ready to wire.
- Terms. A closing date that works for the seller, a sensible option period, a clear financing timeline and no requests that add little for you.
When several buyers want the same house, the seller may ask for "highest and best" offers by a deadline. That is when preparation shows: buyers who already know the comps and their own limit write a clean offer in an hour, while others are still calling their lender.
If you want to understand how a seller's agent sets the asking price, the home value page explains what goes into a pricing review.
How Andy and the GPS Group work with buyers
The GPS Group is a small, referral-based team: Andy Scott and Justin Reeves, with Mynetta Ragsdale as transaction coordinator. I grew up in Dallas in a real estate family. My dad built custom homes and ranches, and from the 1970s through the 1990s he specialized in Preston Hollow and the Park Cities. That background helps when you are judging how a house was built, not just how it looks.
- Early access. A large share of Dave Perry-Miller sales happen between Dave Perry-Miller agents, and some homes sell before or soon after they reach the market. Through the office network, I hear about upcoming listings and can bring them to you.
- Showings on short notice. Once your buyer agreement is signed, I can often arrange a showing the same day, subject to the seller's schedule.
- Street-level pricing. Before any offer, you see the closed sales I used and why the price makes sense, or does not.
- One connected process. Dave Perry-Miller's OnePoint links agent, mortgage, insurance and title, if you want to use it. You can choose your own lender and title company.
We work with buyers of houses, condos, land and acreage, and investment property across Dallas-Fort Worth. See neighborhoods for the areas buyers ask about most.
Your options as a buyer
You have more choices than "offer or pass." The TREC forms let you shape an offer around your situation.
- Buy before you sell: make the offer contingent on selling your current home with the TREC Addendum for Sale of Other Property by Buyer, or line up financing that does not depend on the sale.
- Back-up offer: if a home is already under contract, a back-up contract puts you next in line if the first contract ends.
- New construction or a teardown: a different contract and a different set of checks. See luxury and investment.
- Moving from out of town: video tours and remote signing are common. See relocating to Dallas.
