Why does it take so long to close a mortgage?

Mortgages tend to take at least 30 days to originate, and many first-timers don't expect this much of a waiting period. The short answer is that a lot of things need to happen between you submitting your mortgage application and you taking ownership of your home.

Just to name a few: You'll need to gather documentation for your lender (and they'll always come back and ask for more, believe me); you'll want to schedule and complete a home inspection; the seller may need time to complete repairs; and the loan needs to make its way through underwriting. It's a lengthy process. I've bought three homes in my life, and I can tell you firsthand that it's a lot to get done, even within a 30-day window.