How Long Does Getting a Mortgage Take?
Mortgage offer: 2-4 weeks. Full purchase to completion: 8-12 weeks. Remortgage: 4-6 weeks. DIP is instant.
The mortgage timeline has several stages. A decision in principle (DIP) can be instant to 24 hours. Once you've found a property and submit a full application, getting a mortgage offer typically takes 2-4 weeks - this includes document verification, credit checks, affordability assessment, and property valuation. After you have a mortgage offer, the legal work (conveyancing) takes another 4-6 weeks for searches, title checks, and contract preparation. Finally, exchange to completion is usually 1-2 weeks. Total time from application to moving in is typically 8-12 weeks for purchases. Remortgages are simpler and often complete in 4-6 weeks.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Timelines are typical estimates and vary by case.
Key Points
- 1DIP: instant to 24 hours
- 2Mortgage offer: 2-4 weeks from application
- 3Legal work/conveyancing: 4-6 weeks
- 4Exchange to completion: 1-2 weeks
- 5Total purchase timeline: 8-12 weeks
- 6Remortgage: 4-6 weeks total
Eligibility Criteria
- Complete, accurate documentation speeds things up
- Straightforward cases process faster
- Complex income/properties take longer
- Chain-free transactions are quickest
- Responsive applicants avoid delays
Typical Timeframe
Expect 2-4 weeks for a mortgage offer and 8-12 weeks from application to completion for a purchase. Factors that speed things up: using a broker, having documents ready, straightforward employment, no property chain. Factors that slow down: self-employed income, property issues, long chains, lender backlogs.
Next Steps
- 1Get a decision in principle first
- 2Gather all documents before finding a property
- 3Instruct a solicitor as soon as offer accepted
- 4Respond to any queries same-day
- 5Use a broker to chase the lender if needed
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Mortgage HubContent reviewed: 13 January 2026