Last updated on May 25th, 2025 at 06:30 am
If you’re in the process of buying a home, one of the most frustrating parts can be waiting for a seller to respond to your offer. Here’s everything you need to know about how long sellers typically take to respond—and what you can do during the waiting game.
From knowing how to make an offer to understanding how long sellers typically have to respond, we have you covered.
If you are a seller, we are also going to be providing you some tips on setting your sale up for maximum return and how to work through counter offers.
What Is an Offer in Real Estate
An offer is a formal proposal from a buyer to purchase a property. It outlines the proposed price, closing date, contingencies (such as financing or inspections), and any other conditions.
Offers are usually submitted through a buyer’s agent and delivered to the seller’s agent or directly to the seller. Once submitted, the seller has three basic options:
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Accept the offer.
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Reject the offer.
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Counteroffer with revised terms.
What is the standard way to make an offer
Usually, an offer originates from the buyer’s agent and then is submitted to the seller, or the seller’s agent, in the form of a written contract.
Contained in the contract are specifics of the dollar amount considered as the purchase offer, the date for closing the sale as preferred by the buyer, and different contingencies and/or conditions the buyer might be interested in.
Accept, reject, counteroffer: After receipt of the offer, the seller can choose to accept, reject, or counteroffer.
If the seller accepts the offer and sends the contract back, then the buyer will put their deposit their down payment in escrow and the sales process begins.
This time frame required for the seller to react can vary: from market conditions to the urgency of the offer and plenty of other factors.
How Long Do Sellers Have to Respond?
There is no legal requirement or universal standard for how quickly a seller must respond to an offer. That said, most real estate professionals encourage a response within 24 to 48 hours.
Factors That Influence Response Time:
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Market conditions (e.g., seller’s vs. buyer’s market).
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Volume of competing offers.
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Seller’s personal circumstances.
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Open houses or scheduled showings.
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Consultation with their agent or attorney.
💡 Tip: Buyers can include a deadline for response in their offer to encourage timely action. If the seller doesn’t respond by the deadline, the buyer can move on or renegotiate.
Why Sellers May Take Longer to Respond
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Evaluating Multiple Offers: Sellers often want to wait until all offers are in.
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Consultation: Time is needed to review terms with agents or legal advisors.
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Market Strategy: Some sellers use delay as leverage in a competitive market.
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Personal Reasons: Travel, family matters, or simple indecision can delay response.
What Happens After a Counteroffer
If a seller issues a counteroffer, the buyer is expected to respond—ideally within a few hours, especially in a hot market. The counteroffer may revise:
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Purchase price
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Closing date
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Contingency terms
Buyers can accept, reject, or counter again. Clear communication between agents is critical here.
What If the Seller Doesn’t Respond at All?
No response is typically a passive rejection. Here’s what to do:
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Have your agent follow up via multiple channels (email, text, call).
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Reassess your offer—was it too low?
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Consider moving on and making an offer on another property.
⚠️ Warning: Contacting the seller directly—especially when they have a listing agent—is discouraged and could backfire.
Local Rules May Apply
Timelines can vary depending on various factors such as local rules, regulations, and market conditions.
Typically, there may be designated timeframes outlined in real estate laws or contracts that dictate the seller’s response time.
Some states and real estate associations include response-time expectations in standard contracts. Check with your agent to confirm if your area has defined timelines or expectations.
How long is the escrow period
The escrow period, also known as the closing process, is the time between when your offer is accepted and when the sale is finalized.
During this time, many steps need to be taken, including paying for and conducting inspections, appraisals, and securing the financing for the home if you are not paying cash.
On average, the escrow period can range anywhere from 30 to 45 days.
However, it’s important to note that this timeframe is just an estimate and can change based upon many factors such as negotiating repairs, low appraisal, and other strange scenarios.
Do I Need an Agent to Make an Offer?
Not legally, but highly recommended.
Pros of Using a Real Estate Agent:
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Expert guidance
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Negotiation skills
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Access to comps and paperwork
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Buffer between parties
If you go it alone to save on commission, be prepared to navigate legal and contractual complexities yourself.
Some buyers opt to make an offer without a real estate agent in order to save on commission fees.
The decision is yours and should be based on what you feel most comfortable with.
Can i go around the realtor and talk with the seller
When deciding if it’s possible to bypass the realtor and communicate directly with the seller, understand arealtor’s role in the home buying process.
This is definitely a gamble.
You might anger the seller and they may choose not to deal with you.
Talking with the seller without involving the realtor potentially disregards the entire process.
Now if the seller takes the house off the market or fires their real estate agent, you can absolutely contact the seller directly.
Final Thoughts
In real estate, patience pays off. Sellers don’t have a fixed deadline to respond, but most reply within a few days. Whether you’re buying or selling, timely communication, clear expectations, and strategic planning are key to a smooth transaction.
👉 Looking to buy a home in San Antonio? Contact our expert agents today for personalized guidance through the offer process.