What Happens After Your Offer Is Accepted in Arkansas?

What happens after your offer is accepted in Arkansas?

After your offer is accepted in Arkansas, you enter the under-contract period — typically 30–45 days from signed contract to closing. During that time, you'll complete a home inspection and a required WDI (termite) inspection, go through the appraisal process, get final loan approval from your lender, do a final walkthrough, and close at a title company. Arkansas is a title company state, so no attorney is required. The biggest threats to the timeline are inspection negotiations, a low appraisal, and anything that disrupts your financing before the loan closes.

By Amanda Galbraith, Broker/Owner, Arkansas Property Management & Real Estate | June 1, 2026

Getting that "your offer was accepted" call is one of the best moments in the home-buying process. It's also the moment people start asking: okay, what do I actually do now?

A lot can happen between signed contract and keys in hand — and knowing what to expect makes the difference between a smooth closing and a stressful scramble. Here's how the process works in Arkansas, start to finish.

The Under-Contract Timeline in Arkansas

Most Arkansas closings happen 30–45 days after offer acceptance. Here's what fills those weeks.

Days 1–3: Contract Is Signed, Title Company Opens Your File

Once both buyer and seller have signed the purchase and sale agreement, your agent delivers a copy to the title company. In Arkansas, the title company — not an attorney — handles the closing. They open your file, begin the title search, and reach out to coordinate the timeline.

If you're financing the purchase, your lender also kicks into gear: ordering documents, verifying your employment, and preparing for the appraisal.

One quick note on earnest money: In Central Arkansas, it's less common to submit earnest money with an offer than it is in other parts of the state. If your contract does include a deposit, it goes to the title company, not the seller, and will be credited to you at closing.

Days 3–10: Schedule Your Home Inspection (and Your Termite Inspection)

Don't wait on this. Most Arkansas purchase contracts give you 10 business days to complete inspections — and scheduling can fill up fast, especially in spring.

You'll want two separate inspections:

• General home inspection: A licensed inspector walks the entire property and produces a written report on the condition of the roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, foundation, and more. Cost: typically $300–$500 depending on the home's size.
• WDI inspection (termite/wood destroying insect): Required by most lenders statewide in Arkansas. Since 2022, buyers are allowed to pay for this inspection. Cost: $75–$150.

In Central Arkansas, pay particular attention to the foundation report. The region sits on expansive clay soils that shrink and swell with moisture changes — it's one of the most common sources of foundation movement in Pulaski County homes. Hairline cracks are often cosmetic, but anything wider than ¼ inch deserves a closer look from a structural engineer.

Days 7–14: Review the Inspection Report and Negotiate

The inspection report comes back, and now you have a decision to make. Your options are:

• Ask for repairs — request that the seller fix specific items before closing.
• Ask for a credit — the seller reduces the price or gives you a closing cost credit instead of making repairs. This is common and often cleaner for everyone.
• Accept the home as-is — if the issues are minor, you may choose to proceed without negotiation.
• Walk away — if the inspection reveals something serious and you can't reach an agreement, you can terminate within the inspection period and get your deposit back (if one was made).

Your agent will help you figure out what's reasonable to ask for and what isn't. Cosmetic issues, normal wear and tear, and minor maintenance items are generally not worth negotiating over — you want to focus your asks on safety issues, major systems (roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical), and anything that affects habitability or the home's value.

If you're curious about how sellers navigate this side of the table, this post covers it in detail: What to Do When the Buyer Requests Repairs After the Home Inspection in Arkansas.

Days 10–25: The Appraisal

Your lender orders the appraisal after inspection negotiations are resolved. A licensed appraiser visits the property, reviews recent comparable sales, and produces a written valuation — typically within 1–2 weeks.

The appraisal needs to come in at or above the contract price for your loan to proceed as structured.

If it comes in low, you have a few options: renegotiate the price with the seller, make up the difference in cash (called an "appraisal gap"), challenge the appraisal with a Reconsideration of Value (ROV) if you have solid comp evidence, or walk away if your contract has an appraisal contingency. For a full breakdown of how this works in Arkansas, see: What Happens When the Appraisal Comes in Low in Arkansas.

Days 15–35: Underwriting and Final Loan Approval

While the appraisal is underway, your loan file is being reviewed by your lender's underwriting team. They're verifying everything: your income, assets, employment, credit, the title report, and the appraisal.

This is where deals can get derailed by things buyers don't expect. The rules for this period are simple:

• Don't open new credit accounts. A new car loan, credit card, or line of credit can change your debt-to-income ratio and trigger a re-underwrite — or kill your approval entirely.
• Don't make large cash deposits or transfers without being able to document where the money came from.
• Don't change jobs. Even a lateral move to a new employer can pause underwriting. Talk to your lender before doing anything that changes your employment status.
• Don't buy appliances or furniture on credit for the new home until after you've closed and have the keys.

Underwriting will often ask for additional documentation — sometimes more than once. Respond quickly. Delays in your response add days to the timeline.

When underwriting is satisfied, you'll receive a "clear to close" (CTC). That's the green light.

Days 28–40: Closing Disclosure and Final Numbers

At least three business days before closing, your lender is required to provide you with a Closing Disclosure — a detailed breakdown of every fee, cost, and credit involved in your transaction. Review this carefully against the Loan Estimate you received at the start of the process.

Compare your final cash-to-close figure against what you were quoted. If anything looks significantly different, ask your lender to walk you through it before closing day.

Your title company will also wire instructions for your closing funds. Never wire funds based on instructions sent via email without first calling the title company directly to verify the account details. Wire fraud targeting real estate transactions is one of the most common forms of financial cybercrime.

Day 30–45: Final Walkthrough

Do a final walkthrough of the property 24–48 hours before closing. This is your chance to confirm:

• Any agreed-upon repairs have been completed
• The home is in the same condition as when you made the offer (nothing removed that should stay, no new damage)
• All appliances and fixtures included in the sale are still present and working

If something is wrong, contact your agent immediately — before you close. It's much harder to address issues after the deed transfers.

Closing Day: At the Title Company

In Arkansas, closings happen at the title company — buyers and sellers often sign at the same table (or in separate appointments, depending on the situation). You'll sign approximately 50–100 pages of documents. The appointment typically takes 60–90 minutes.

Bring to closing:

• A government-issued photo ID
• A cashier's check or proof of incoming wire for your closing funds (personal checks are typically not accepted)
• Any additional documents your lender or title company requested

Once all documents are signed and funds are disbursed, you get the keys. The title company records the deed with the county, and the home is officially yours.

For a complete look at what closing day itself looks like — including what you'll sign and what to expect minute by minute — see: What Should I Expect on Closing Day in Central Arkansas?

The Biggest Deal-Killers Between Contract and Closing

Most transactions close without major drama, but it's worth knowing what can derail the process:

• Inspection issues: A major structural problem, roof failure, or significant water damage that the buyer and seller can't agree on how to handle.
• Low appraisal with no resolution: If the seller won't budge on price and the buyer won't (or can't) cover the gap, the deal dies.
• Financing failure: Job loss, new debt, a major drop in credit score, or an underwriting condition the buyer can't meet.
• Title issues: Outstanding liens, unresolved estate issues, or boundary disputes discovered during the title search.

Each of these is manageable if caught early. Your agent's job is to help you stay ahead of them — which is exactly why working with someone who knows how transactions flow in Central Arkansas matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to close on a house in Arkansas after an offer is accepted?

Most Arkansas home purchases close 30–45 days after an offer is accepted. Conventional and FHA loans typically run 30–40 days. VA loans average 40–45 days. USDA loans can take 45–60 days. Cash transactions can close in as few as 10–14 days.

Is a termite inspection required in Arkansas?

Yes — a WDI (wood destroying insect) inspection is required by most lenders statewide in Arkansas. It's separate from the general home inspection and typically costs $75–$150. Since 2022, buyers are allowed to pay for the WDI inspection in Arkansas.

Do I need an attorney to close on a house in Arkansas?

No. Arkansas is a title company state, which means no attorney is required for a residential closing. The title company handles the title search, title insurance, escrow, document preparation, and the closing itself. This keeps the process straightforward and efficient compared to attorney-required states.

What can kill a deal after an offer is accepted in Arkansas?

The most common deal-killers after acceptance are: a low appraisal with no price agreement, a home inspection revealing major issues neither party will address, the buyer's financing falling through (often due to a job change, new debt, or credit drop), or title issues discovered during the title search. Your agent's job is to help you navigate around all of these.

What should I NOT do after my offer is accepted in Arkansas?

Don't make large purchases, open new credit accounts, change jobs, or transfer large sums of money until after closing. These actions can disrupt your debt-to-income ratio or trigger a re-underwrite — and potentially kill your loan approval even after you receive a clear to close.

The under-contract period moves fast, and the details matter. If you have questions about how this works for your specific situation in Maumelle, Little Rock, or the surrounding area, reach out — I walk buyers through this process every day and I'm happy to help.

And if you haven't grabbed it yet, download the Free Central Arkansas Home Sellers Guide — it covers everything from preparing your home to closing day, all specific to this market.

About Amanda Galbraith

Amanda Galbraith is a residential real estate agent serving the greater Little Rock area. She specializes in helping first-time sellers navigate the process from pricing to closing, as well as investors looking to increase their portfolio. Connect with Amanda at www.amandagalbraith.ar-property.com.
Arkansas Property Management & Real Estate | www.ar-property.com