What Happens After You Accept an Offer on Your Lake Nona Home?

Published July 2026 | Lake Nona, Orlando, FL | By Aileen Torres, Broker Associate, Keller Williams Advantage III Realty

You reviewed the offers. You negotiated. You signed the contract. And now your home is officially under contract.

For many sellers, this moment brings a mix of relief and a new set of questions. What happens next? What do you need to do? What could still go wrong? And how long before you actually get to the closing table?

Here is a clear picture of what to expect during the under contract period when selling your Lake Nona home.

The Under Contract Period: An Overview

The period between an accepted offer and closing is called the under contract period, or sometimes the escrow period. During this time, both you and the buyer are working toward the same goal: getting to closing. But there are several things that have to happen first, and most of them are driven by the buyer's actions, not yours.

For buyers financing their purchase, the under contract period typically runs 30 to 45 days. Cash buyers can sometimes close faster, in as little as 14 to 21 days, because they do not need to wait on a lender.

Your job during this period is largely to stay available, respond promptly to requests, and not disrupt the process. Here is what that looks like stage by stage.

Stage 1: Earnest Money Deposit

Shortly after the contract is signed, the buyer is required to deposit their earnest money with the escrow agent or title company. This deposit demonstrates the buyer's commitment to the transaction. The amount varies, but it is typically specified in the contract you already negotiated.

As a seller, you want to confirm that this deposit is received within the timeframe specified in the contract. Your agent will monitor this for you. If the buyer does not deposit on time, that is a signal worth paying attention to.

Stage 2: The Inspection Period

In Florida, buyers typically have an inspection period written into the contract. This window is often 10 to 15 days from the effective date of the contract, though the specific length is negotiated upfront and spelled out in the agreement you signed.

During this period, the buyer will hire a licensed home inspector to evaluate the property. The inspector will examine the structure, roof, electrical systems, plumbing, HVAC, and other components. They will produce a written report identifying anything that is deficient, outdated, or concerning.

Here is what to expect after the inspection report comes in:

• The buyer may request repairs for items found during the inspection
• The buyer may request a credit at closing in lieu of repairs
• The buyer may request both repairs and a credit
• The buyer may accept the property as-is and move forward without any requests
• In some cases, the buyer may choose to cancel the contract during the inspection period if findings are severe

This is a negotiation, not a demand. You are not obligated to fix everything the buyer requests, but you are required to respond to their requests within the timeframe specified in the contract. Your agent will help you evaluate each request and determine what is reasonable to agree to, what to counter, and what to push back on.

Stage 3: The Appraisal (If Applicable)

If your buyer is financing their purchase, their lender will order an appraisal. This is an independent valuation of your home conducted by a licensed appraiser. The lender uses the appraisal to confirm that the home is worth what the buyer agreed to pay for it. The lender will not approve a loan for more than the appraised value.

There are three possible outcomes from an appraisal:

The appraisal comes in at or above the purchase price

This is the outcome everyone wants. The transaction proceeds normally. The appraiser has confirmed that the market supports the price you negotiated.

The appraisal comes in below the purchase price

This creates a gap between what the lender will finance and what the buyer agreed to pay. This situation requires a negotiation. Options include reducing the purchase price to the appraised value, asking the buyer to make up the difference in cash, splitting the difference between you and the buyer, or, if no agreement can be reached, canceling the contract. Your agent will help you understand your options and protect your position.

Cash buyers skip this step

If your buyer is paying cash, there is no lender involved and therefore no appraisal requirement. Cash transactions move faster and have fewer conditions, which is one reason sellers sometimes prefer cash offers even when they are not the highest price on the table.

Stage 4: Title Work and Lender Processing

While inspections and appraisals are happening, the title company is running a title search on your property. This confirms that you have clear ownership and that there are no outstanding liens, judgments, or title defects that would prevent you from transferring ownership to the buyer.

Simultaneously, the buyer's lender is processing the loan application, verifying income and assets, and working through their internal underwriting process. This stage is largely out of your hands, but delays here are common. Lenders sometimes request additional documentation from buyers, which extends the timeline. This is normal, not alarming.

Your job during this stage is to provide any documents the title company requests from you, such as HOA information, proof of insurance, or payoff information from your current lender if you have a mortgage.

Stage 5: Final Walkthrough

Shortly before closing, often 24 to 48 hours before, the buyer will do a final walkthrough of the property. This is their opportunity to confirm that the home is in the same condition as when they agreed to buy it and that any agreed repairs have been completed.

As a seller, there are two things to keep in mind here. First, complete any repair agreements before this walkthrough, not on the day of closing. Last-minute repair discoveries create unnecessary stress and can delay closing. Second, the home should be clean and free of your belongings unless the contract specifies otherwise. Buyers should be walking through a home that looks like it is ready to be handed over.

Stage 6: Closing Day

Closing day is when ownership officially transfers. In Florida, closings are typically handled by a title company or real estate attorney. As the seller, you will sign documents transferring ownership, the title company will pay off any existing mortgage, and you will receive your net proceeds.

For sellers, closing is often a remote process. You may not need to attend in person, depending on how the transaction is structured. Your agent will confirm the logistics specific to your situation.

The timeline from accepted offer to closing in the Lake Nona area has varied based on buyer type and contract terms. For a deeper look at the full timeline, the guide on how long it takes to sell a home in Lake Nona breaks it down by phase.

What Can Go Wrong, and How to Handle It

Most transactions that go under contract close. But occasionally, deals do fall through. The most common reasons are buyer financing issues, unresolved inspection disputes, or a buyer choosing to cancel during the inspection period.

The best protection against a deal falling apart is choosing the right offer in the first place. A slightly lower offer from a well-qualified buyer with a minimal contingency period and a confirmed earnest money deposit is often safer than a higher offer from a buyer whose financing situation is unclear.

If you want to understand how to evaluate offers before you accept one, the guide on the biggest mistakes Lake Nona sellers make covers the offer evaluation stage in detail. And if you are still in the early stages of your sale, how to sell your Lake Nona home without feeling overwhelmed is a good place to start.

Aileen Torres is a Broker Associate with Keller Williams Advantage III Realty serving Lake Nona and Greater Orlando. Phone: (407) 434-1213 | [email protected] | aileenhomes.com