From my experience, sellers usually have up to 24 to 48 hours to respond, but legally they don't have to give an answer at all. I've seen times where an offer just sits because the seller is waiting on something stronger, or they're overwhelmed with multiple bids. My best advicekeep steady communication with your agent, but don't let one unanswered offer stall your momentum; keep searching for other options at the same time.
From my experience, a seller isn't required by law to answer your offer, though most serious sellers will respond within a few days. I've seen sellers ignore offers if they're too low, or if they already have stronger ones lined up. If you don't hear back, the best thing is to stay patient, let your agent follow up once, and keep exploring other homes so you're not left waiting.
As a buyer, I always remind myself that an accepted offer feels like a finish line, but it is really just the start of a legally binding contract. Yes, a seller can try to back out, but it usually comes with consequences. Unless the contract gives them a clear exit such as failing to meet a contingency, they risk being in breach, which can open the door to legal and financial penalties. That is why I always lean on a strong agent and a clear contract. It keeps me protected, and it makes sure the seller thinks twice before walking away from a deal they already agreed to.
When I set an expiration on my offer, it feels like putting a clock on the table—it keeps the process moving and gives me more control. Without a deadline, a seller could sit on my offer for days while waiting for something better. Adding an expiration forces a decision and prevents my offer from being used as leverage. It also shows I am serious but not willing to wait forever. In a fast-moving market, that little bit of urgency can make all the difference in getting a clear response.
I used to get discouraged when sellers wouldn't respond, but I realized silence often means they've got multiple offers or they're just not motivated yet. Generally, you're in good shape if you see them counter quickly or request documents like proof of funds. If they aren't replying at all, I'd suggest treating it as a sign to keep shopping so you stay in control of your options.
Through my years running Divine Home & Office, I've learned that seller response times vary wildly--legally there's no required timeframe, but most respond within 24-72 hours if they're serious. I've seen sellers ignore offers that seem financially unrealistic or when buyers haven't included pre-approval letters. **The staging perspective:** When we stage homes, sellers often get multiple offers quickly, creating decision paralysis. One client got seven offers in two days and took a week to respond because they couldn't process them all. Set a 48-hour expiration on your offer--it forces sellers to focus and prevents you from being strung along while better properties hit the market. **Making offers irresistible:** Include a substantial earnest money deposit (3-5% instead of the typical 1%) and waive inspection contingencies on smaller items. I've seen buyers win with lower offers by including "staging credits" where they let sellers keep our professional staging setup through closing. Sellers love avoiding the hassle of moving furniture twice. **Red flags from the seller side:** If sellers don't counter your reasonable offer within 72 hours, they're probably not motivated to sell. Start looking elsewhere immediately. Quick counteroffers or requests for proof of funds usually mean you're in the running. Adam Bocik, Partner & Managing Director, Divine Home & Office, Denver, CO, adam@divinehometoday.com
The duration within which a seller must accept an offer is determined by the contents of the purchase agreement. The vast majority of offers have a deadline or expiry date, commonly 24 or 72 hours after which the offer has lapsed without reply. In case no deadline is given, the offer will be open a reasonable period, which may be different, but is usually referred to as few days.
When it comes to real estate, the law does not require a seller to respond to every offer, but reputation often carries more weight than the rules. A seller who repeatedly ignores offers can quickly earn a reputation among local agents as being uncooperative or hard to deal with. That reputation follows the property and can reduce the number of motivated buyers willing to engage, sometimes even before the house leaves the market. A quick acknowledgment, even if the answer is no, signals professionalism and respect for the process. It also keeps the lines of communication open, which can help maintain leverage when stronger offers eventually come to the table.
In my experience, sellers usually respond faster when an offer is strong or fits their needs closely, but if they're holding multiple offers, silence can drag out as they compare. We measured before and after setting offer expirations, and I've seen it cut waiting time significantly because sellers don't want to risk losing a buyer. From coffee chats to boardrooms, everyone nods when this comes upurgency matters. If your offer sparks curiosity, like when a seller asks for your pre-approval, that's usually a good sign you're in the running.
In the case of Santa Cruz Properties, when a seller is not responding, being proactive is suggested, so we would follow up kindly first in all the channels email, telephone, even certified mail and document your attempts, and then review your deadlines in a contract to determine whether you can give a time is of the essence notice to get things going; and there still is no response, we would go to your real estate agent or your attorney to look into the possibilities of extending your deadlines, issuing a release of contract, or looking into other properties so that you do not miss your buying schedule.
In A-S Medication Solutions, we have been able to observe that non-response to an offer can be because the seller has received other higher offers, has other reasons of thinking that the offer is too low or the terms are not appealing enough, they are not sure of the time when they will make a sale or are just too busy or unprepared to negotiate an offer; sometimes, non-response can also be a result of incomplete or unclear offers that do not give the seller enough information to make an effective decision.
When people ask how long a seller has to accept an offer on a house, the truth is that it depends on what's written into the contract. Many offers include an expiration date, which gives the buyer more control and prevents the deal from lingering without direction. A seller isn't legally required to respond, though most will, especially in competitive markets where multiple houses are moving quickly. If you don't hear back, it could be because the offer was too low, they already have stronger offers on the table, or they're simply not ready to make a decision yet. If your offer is sitting unanswered, talk with your agent before jumping to conclusions. Sometimes patience is the best move, while in other cases it makes sense to revisit your terms or even explore other houses so you're not stuck waiting. Signs your offer is being taken seriously often show up quickly, like a counteroffer, a request for proof of funds, or follow-up questions about timing. Making your offer attractive with a strong deposit or financing proof goes a long way. I'm Erik Egelko, President of Palm Tree Properties in San Diego, California.
We have observed that sellers will not accept the offer of a buyer due to various reasons, including the offer being too low, when compared to their asking price, having a number of better offers, when they are not sure that the buyer has the necessary funds or the necessary commitment, etc. Occasionally, they as well might be waiting to hear if they had better offers or just may not be available or quick to reply.
Exactly how long does the seller have to accept an offer? California does not provide a legally required period within it sellers must take things in offers. The time frame will all hinge on the contents of your buying document. A majority of standard contracts have an expiration clause in which the seller has 24 to 72 hours to submit their responses. During my 23-year experience working in the California real estate transactions, the period used by buyers in competitive markets is normally 48 hours of response. When the market is slow, I have advised the client to life 3-5 days to the large-priced properties. Your offer also becomes void automatically when the seller fails to respond within the deadline. This protection is an element of smart buyers; this way, the serves will not hang there indefinitely. Is a seller legally required to respond to an offer? The legal liability to acceptance of purchase offer is zero among the sellers in California. Nothing can make them pay attention to your submission into any consideration beside the law. This is rather surprising to first time purchasers who suppose that the common courtesy is the one that connotes the legal part. In my decades of transaction I witnessed some sellers who do not accept any offer that they thought to be unrealistic. Otherwise, some of them do not react to when they are testing the interest of the market without a genuine intention of selling anything. But, when a seller signs and submits a purchase agreement a purchase, the seller is then bound to such an agreement. Anonymous offers are not legally binding at all. What are some reasons why the seller will not respond to your offer as a buyer? The most important factor is price - bids that are readily lower than asking price are right away discarded particularly in seller markets where substitutes exist. Sellers are often hushed up by financial qualification concerns. Poor quality of pre-approval letters, lack of knowledge of lender, or even cash offers with no evidence of funds, flag it. I have seen vendors reject good offers since the buyers had the inability to prove the existence of genuine purchasing capacity. Each of several offer situations brings about radio silence as sellers discuss with the various options. There are those sellers who stop when people make offers when they are involved in personal problems such as family crises.
A seller is not always obliged to reply to an offer and that is often difficult when you are waiting and hoping somebody will get back to you. My experience with this is that when a seller becomes silent then it means that its offer was not that good or they are simply still weighing other possible offers. An expiration date is one of the ways to reclaim a certain level of control, it is evidence of confidence and will assist in forcing a decision. In case you have still not gotten any response, the most that you can do is remain patient and work with your agent to update you and continue looking otherwise you will be left hanging. Waiting aimlessly in real estate is just a waste of time. To get an idea of whether there is any chance of an offer, one can often judge by whether the seller provides any prompt response with questions, requests financial verification, or counters. In order to make your offer memorable, work on ensuring that it is crisp and clean. Sellers do not simply desire the most number of offers at the end of the day but rather the offer that seems most secure. Once you are able to provide them with that confidence, you position yourself the best to receive a yes.
The duration of time that a seller can receive an offer is based on the conditions that are contained in the purchase agreement. The majority of real estate agreements have a provision of an offer expiration in which a time-limit is established which is usually 24-72 hours after receiving the offer. Failure by the seller to respond within the time frame results in the automatic expiry of the offer making it no longer binding between the parties. Under certain circumstances, the buyers can reduce or lengthen the acceptance time based on the market conditions, as well as negotiations. An offer may be kept open without a specified deadline, but in reality it is dangerous to leave terms open ended. It is also important to set a specific time frame to safeguard both parties as it ensures that the transaction procedure is completed.