Should You Accept an Offer With a Long Closing in Sioux Falls?

Should you accept an offer with a long closing in Sioux Falls?

Maybe. A long closing can work well if the price, financing, contingencies, and timing are strong, but it can also add risk if the buyer needs extra time because too many things still have to happen.

When you are selling a home in Sioux Falls, Brandon, Tea, Harrisburg, Dell Rapids, Luverne, or anywhere in the surrounding metro, the closing date is not just a calendar detail. It affects your move, your next purchase, your carrying costs, your risk, and your stress level.

Some sellers like a longer closing because it gives them breathing room. Others need speed and certainty because they are buying another home, relocating, or trying to avoid paying for two properties. The right answer depends on why the buyer wants the extra time and whether the rest of the offer is strong enough to justify it.

What Counts as a Long Closing?

There is no single definition, but many Sioux Falls sellers think of a long closing as anything meaningfully longer than the normal contract-to-close timeline for that type of transaction.

A buyer might ask for 60, 75, or 90 days before closing. That may be reasonable, or it may be a warning sign if the buyer is asking for time because their financing, current home sale, or relocation details are not settled. The better question is: what has to happen before that date, and how likely is it to happen smoothly?

Why a Buyer Might Ask for More Time

A long closing request can come from several normal situations. The buyer may be selling their current home, relocating to Sioux Falls, buying new construction, waiting for another closing, or needing extra time for loan processing, appraisal, inspections, or move logistics.

None of those reasons automatically make the offer bad, but they do change the seller’s risk profile.

If the buyer’s current home is already under contract and close to closing, the risk may be manageable. If their home is not listed yet, that is a very different conversation. If the buyer is asking for 90 days because they are not sure their financing will be ready, that deserves a closer look.

Start With the Full Offer, Not Just the Date

A long closing can be fine if the rest of the offer is clean.

Before you reject or accept it, compare the full package:

Purchase price

Seller concessions

Earnest money

Financing type

Down payment strength

Appraisal risk

Inspection terms

Home sale contingency

Closing date

Possession terms

For example, a buyer may offer a strong price, solid financing, clean inspection terms, and a 75-day closing. That may be a good fit if you need time to find your next home. Another buyer may offer the same price but needs 90 days, has a home sale contingency, asks for seller concessions, and has unclear financing. That longer closing could expose you to more risk without giving you much in return.

Think About Your Carrying Costs

If you accept a long closing, you may own the home longer than expected. That means you may keep paying for mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance, utilities, lawn care, snow removal, association dues, or other property costs.

Those costs may be worth it if the offer is strong. They may not be worth it if the price advantage is small. If one buyer offers $605,000 with a 30-day closing and another offers $610,000 with a 90-day closing, the higher offer may not be as much better as it looks after two extra months of cost and uncertainty.

In the Sioux Falls area, closings are typically handled by a title company. The title company will help coordinate closing figures, payoff information, prorations, and the settlement statement. South Dakota also has a property transfer tax often explained as $1 for every $1,000 of sale price. On a $600,000 sale, that would be $600. That is a plain-language example, not legal or tax advice.

Watch the Buyer’s Contingencies

A long closing becomes more complicated when the buyer also has contingencies.

The biggest one is often a home sale contingency. If the buyer needs to sell their current home before buying yours, ask where that sale stands. Is the buyer’s home already listed? Is it under contract? Has it passed inspection and appraisal? Is the buyer’s purchase contingent on their buyer’s home closing?

A purchase that is contingent on the buyer’s home closing can work, but it creates a chain. If one closing slips, your closing may slip too.

Inspection and appraisal timelines matter as well. If you accept a long closing but the buyer still has a broad inspection contingency, you may be off the market for a while before you know whether they are fully committed.

That does not mean you should reject the offer. It means you should understand when each contingency expires and what happens if the buyer does not perform.

Consider Your Next Move

Your next move should shape how you view a long closing. If you are already moved out, have flexible timing, or do not need the proceeds immediately, a longer closing may be manageable. It may even be helpful if it gives you time to prepare, pack, or coordinate details.

If you are buying another home in Sioux Falls, Brandon, Tea, Harrisburg, Dell Rapids, Luverne, or a nearby community, a long closing may create pressure. Your purchase may depend on the sale proceeds. Your seller may not want to wait. Your lender may need your current home to close before your next loan is final.

Move-up sellers need to be especially careful. A long closing on your sale can be useful if it lines up with your purchase. It can be a problem if it leaves your next transaction waiting on someone else’s timeline.

Ask What Happens If the Buyer Wants to Extend Again

Before accepting, think about what happens if the buyer asks for an extension later. Will you be willing to wait? Will the delay affect your purchase? Will you have extra costs? Will the buyer increase earnest money or offer something else in return? You do not need to assume the worst, but you do need to understand your tolerance for delay.

This is where earnest money can matter. A stronger earnest money deposit may show commitment, but it does not solve every issue. If a contract dispute comes up, the outcome depends on the purchase agreement and the facts. That is not legal advice, and you should not guess your way through it.

When a Long Closing Can Be a Good Fit

A long closing can be a smart choice when it solves a real timing problem for the seller. It may make sense if:

You need time to find your next home.

You are waiting for new construction to be completed.

You want more time to pack or move.

The buyer’s financing is strong and well documented.

The buyer’s contingencies are limited or well defined.

The offer price and net proceeds justify the wait.

In those situations, the longer timeline can give both sides breathing room. The key is that the extra time should serve your goals, not just the buyer’s.

When a Long Closing Should Make You Pause

A long closing deserves more caution when the buyer’s situation is uncertain. Pause and ask more questions if:

The buyer’s current home is not under contract.

The buyer needs multiple things to happen before closing.

Financing details are unclear.

The buyer wants a long inspection or contingency period.

Your next purchase depends on a faster closing.

The offer is only slightly better than a cleaner, faster option.

The highest price is not always the safest offer. If the long closing creates too much uncertainty, a lower offer with a cleaner path may be the better fit.

How Craig Helps Sellers Compare Closing Timelines

Craig Bertrand, a REALTOR® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Midwest Realty, helps sellers across the Sioux Falls metro compare more than price. A good offer review should include timing, contingencies, financing strength, appraisal risk, inspection terms, net proceeds, and how the sale fits your next move.

If a buyer asks for a long closing, the goal is not to reject it automatically. The goal is to understand whether that timeline helps you, hurts you, or creates risk that should be addressed before you sign.

FAQ

Is a long closing bad for a Sioux Falls seller?

Not always. A long closing can be helpful if you need time to move, buy another home, or coordinate your next step. It becomes more concerning when the buyer needs extra time because financing, contingencies, or another home sale are uncertain.

Should I accept a long closing if the offer price is higher?

Maybe, but compare the net and the risk. Extra carrying costs, delay risk, and your next purchase timing can reduce the value of a higher offer. A slightly lower offer with a cleaner timeline may sometimes be stronger.

What if the buyer needs to sell their home before closing?

That is a home sale contingency or a purchase contingent on the buyer’s home closing. It can work, but you should understand whether the buyer’s home is listed, under contract, through inspections, and likely to close on time.

Who should I call before accepting a long closing offer?

Craig Bertrand is a REALTOR® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Midwest Realty who helps Sioux Falls metro sellers compare offer terms clearly. If you are reviewing an offer with a long closing date, call or text Craig at 605-951-8421.

Related Reading

• Should You Accept a Home Sale Contingency When Selling in Sioux Falls?
• Home Financing, Costs, and Timelines in Sioux Falls

If you're thinking about buying or selling in Sioux Falls or the surrounding area and want someone to walk you through the details, call or text me at 605-951-8421.