What Happens After You Accept an Offer in NH? (2026)

Quick answer: After you accept an offer in New Hampshire, you sign a purchase and sale agreement, the buyer's deposit goes to the closing attorney or title company, and the buyer's inspection, appraisal and title work run on contract deadlines. Closing usually follows 30 to 45 days after signing, and you receive your net proceeds by wire after the deed is recorded.

Knowing what happens after you accept an offer in New Hampshire takes much of the stress out of the weeks ahead. An accepted offer is not a finished sale. It starts a series of deadlines, and each one is a chance for the deal to move forward or fall apart. This guide walks through the sequence from the seller's seat, from contract to closing day. It is general information, not legal advice.

What Happens Right After You Accept an Offer in NH?

Once you and the buyer agree on price and terms, the agreement is put into a written purchase and sale agreement (often shortened to P&S). In New Hampshire, a real estate attorney or a title company representative completes the transaction, prepares the closing paperwork and holds the earnest money deposit, according to a New Hampshire closing process overview from Amitree. The P&S sets the price, the deposit, the closing date, who pays what and the contingency deadlines that everything else follows.

Read the dates before you sign. Our guide to the New Hampshire purchase and sale agreement explains each section, and your agent should put every deadline on a calendar the same day. If you accepted an offer that depends on the buyer selling their own home, see contingent vs pending in New Hampshire for how that status works.

What Is the Typical Timeline to Closing?

Closing typically occurs 30 to 45 days after the purchase agreement is signed, though that can vary, according to NH Real Estate. Cash deals can move faster, and deals with a slow appraisal or a title problem can run longer. For most sellers, what happens after you accept an offer in New Hampshire falls into four stages:

• Days 1 to 10: the deposit is delivered, the buyer schedules inspections and applies for or finalizes the loan.
• Mid-contract: inspection negotiations wrap up, the lender orders the appraisal and the attorney begins the title search.
• Final two weeks: loan approval, payoff requests for your mortgage, insurance and the settlement statement come together.
• Closing week: final walkthrough, signing, funding and recording.

Your contract's actual dates control. For more on timing, read how long closing takes in New Hampshire.

How Does the Buyer's Home Inspection Affect You?

The home inspection is the first real test of the deal. The buyer hires an inspector, reviews the report and may ask you to repair items, give a credit, lower the price or accept the home as is. You can agree, counter or decline, and what you decide depends on your contract and how motivated you are to close.

You can reduce surprises by disclosing early. The seller disclosure requirements in New Hampshire cover what you must tell the buyer before the contract is binding, and a pre-listing inspection (see is a pre-listing inspection worth it in NH?) can show you problems before the buyer finds them.

What Happens During the Appraisal and Financing Stage?

If the buyer has a mortgage, the lender orders an appraisal to confirm the home is worth what the buyer is paying. The lender also verifies the buyer's income, assets and credit before issuing a loan commitment. As a seller, your job is simple: keep the home accessible and clean, and be ready for the appraiser's visit. If the appraisal comes in below the contract price, you generally have a few choices: renegotiate the price, ask the buyer to cover the gap, or hold firm and see whether the buyer walks. Your agent can pull recent comparable sales to support your price.

What Do the Title Search and Attorney Handle?

While the inspection and appraisal play out, the closing attorney or title company searches the property's records for liens, unpaid assessments and ownership problems, then prepares the deed and title insurance documents. Clear title is your responsibility as the seller. Old mortgages that were never discharged, unpaid contractor liens or a missing signature from a co-owner can delay closing if they are not caught early.

What Will It Cost You to Close?

Expect to pay a real estate commission, your attorney's fee, your share of the transfer tax, prorated property taxes and utility reimbursements. New Hampshire's real estate transfer tax is $0.75 per $100 of the sale price for each side, a combined $1.50 per $100, and buyers and sellers typically split it evenly, according to HomeLight. As an illustration only, a seller's half on a $569,900 sale (the August 2026 statewide single-family median reported by NHAR) works out to about $4,274.

What Happens on Closing Day?

Before closing, the buyer does a final walkthrough to confirm the home is in the agreed condition and that any repairs were made. At closing, you sign the deed and settlement documents, the attorney or title company confirms funds, records the deed and pays off your mortgage, and you receive your net proceeds, typically by wire within about 24 hours after the closing documents are recorded, according to NH Real Estate. For a full walkthrough of the day, see what happens at a NH real estate closing.

The best habit in these weeks is quick, calm communication: answer your agent promptly and never miss a deadline. That is what keeps what happens after you accept an offer in New Hampshire on schedule.

Related Reading

• What happens at a NH real estate closing
• What is a NH purchase and sale agreement?
• How long does closing take in New Hampshire?

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens after you accept an offer on a house in NH?

You sign a purchase and sale agreement, the buyer's deposit is held by the closing attorney or title company, and the buyer's inspection, appraisal and title work run on contract deadlines. Closing typically follows 30 to 45 days after signing.

Can a seller back out after accepting an offer in New Hampshire?

Once the purchase and sale agreement is signed, it is a binding contract, and backing out without a contractual reason can lead to legal trouble or lost deposits. Talk with your attorney before you consider it. A signed contract also usually includes deadlines for both sides.

How long does it take to close after an accepted offer in NH?

About 30 to 45 days after the purchase agreement is signed is typical. Cash purchases may close sooner, while appraisal delays, repair negotiations or title issues can extend the timeline. Your contract's closing date is the one that counts.

Does the seller pay for the buyer's inspection?

No. The buyer typically orders and pays for the inspection. Sellers may agree to repairs or credits afterward, but that is negotiable and depends on the contract and the findings.

What does a seller pay at closing in New Hampshire?

Sellers commonly pay the real estate commission, their attorney's fee, half of the transfer tax, prorated property taxes and any mortgage payoff. The transfer tax is $0.75 per $100 for each side. Your settlement statement shows the exact amounts.

When do sellers get paid after closing in NH?

Net proceeds are typically wired within about 24 hours after the closing documents are recorded. Ask your attorney about wire instructions in advance and confirm them by phone to avoid wire fraud.

Ready to Sell With a Clear Plan?

An accepted offer is just the middle of the process, and a strong plan protects your sale price. The Phinney Team can walk you through the contract dates, handle the negotiation after the inspection and help you estimate your net proceeds before you list. Download our Sellers Playbook for the full seller timeline, or request a free home valuation and pricing consult. Learn more about The Phinney Team at Keller Williams.