Once the offer is accepted and escrow is opened, the buyer enters a period called contingencies — time windows set by contract to investigate the house and confirm financing before the deal becomes final.

The most common deadlines

• Inspections and document review: generally 17 days — according to the agents, the most common standard today, though windows of up to 21 days also appear.
• Full closing of the transaction: usually between 21 and 45 days, with 30 days being the most commonly cited average.
• If the offer is more competitive, it's possible to shorten the contingency period — a strategy used in competitive markets to make the proposal more attractive.

Cash vs. financing

If the purchase is in cash, the process tends to be simpler, basically coming down to closing financial matters. When financing is involved, the credit contingency remains open until the bank confirms, again, the buyer's financial situation.

The mistake agents mention most

A recurring warning: between preapproval and closing, the buyer should not buy a car, open a new account, or take on other debt. When the lender reassesses credit before releasing final financing, any new debt can reduce approval odds — and derail a deal that seemed certain.

Sources and verification

• Agents' explanation of standard contingency and closing timelines in the episode.
• California Association of Realtors — standard purchase offer form with contingency deadlines.
• Transcript of episode 4 of the Cadê Moradia podcast (March 2026).

This topic comes from the full episode — watch it:

CADÊ BRAZIL