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how long does it take to get an answer for a regular sale house?

I put an offer in on a regular house for sale, not foreclosed or short sale and, on 11/24/09 and still haven't received an answer. isn't there rules to sale of a regular sale house?

Public Comments

1. It depends on what the terms of the contract were. Did you use a Realtor®? I do not know the standards everywhere, but I know here in California the standard form we use has an expiration date. You can either write one in or leave the standard term in which is three days. If you have a copy of the offer you wrote or written for you, I would suggest taking a look for an expiration date. Although it is always good practice to answer every offer, even if it is just a decline, not all agents and sellers follow good practice. I have written many offers that went unacknowledged. You may want to ask your agent to follow up with a call to the other agent to make sure they received your offer, and find out why you haven't heard from them at all.
2. You can withdraw your offer or if you put an expiration date in the offer - then you can let the offer expire. But there is no law that forces an owner to respond to any offer. If you think they are not responding because you are a member of a legally protected class (like race or whatever) then you might require them to treat you the same as they treat others. But if they choose not to answer your offer because they just didn't want to- then that is their right. Almost everybody that puts their house up for sale wants to answer your offer even if it is a bad offer- but they don't have to.
3. An answer from whom? The seller? There should be a date specified on the offer to purchase by which the seller must accept the offer or it is void. Or do you mean an answer from your lender about your loan approval? That just depends on how busy they are, and if there are any problems qualifying you for the loan. There are no rules - every sale is different. If in doubt ask your Realtor to explain it to you.
4. Usually a time limit is stated in the offer, maybe 72 hours. There's no default time if you don't state something.
5. Did you put an expirery date on your offer, normally realtors are obliged to presentthe offer in the shortest time possible, if you used a realtor call them? marc www.freedom-15.com
6. Did you do this through a realtor? If so, what does the realtor say? Usually, you will hear back on an offer within 48 hours unless there is some family emergency with the seller. Call your realtor and have them inquire.