Selling a home can be stressful enough without buyers asking for the keys before they’ve even secured a mortgage. But that’s exactly the situation one California homeowner is dealing with, and they’re wondering whether refusing the request is the right decision.
In a recent Reddit discussion, a homeowner explained that they’re selling a one-bedroom condo in the San Francisco Bay Area. The buyers have already received an extension until November 6 to secure financing, but they still haven’t gotten their loan approved.
Despite that, the buyers asked if they could start moving their belongings into the property on November 1. It wasn’t their first request, either.
“I already said NO when they asked if they could move in on 10/31 a couple of weeks ago,” the seller wrote.
The homeowner made it clear they weren’t comfortable with the arrangement and didn’t want anything complicating the sale. They turned to Reddit to ask whether they were right to stand firm.
Reddit Users Overwhelmingly Told the Seller to Say No
The responses overwhelmingly favored the seller, with many commenters questioning why the buyers were requesting access to a property they hadn’t officially purchased.
One commenter suggested a simple response: “You may take possession of the unit when we have completed closing. My answer will not change. Please stop asking.”
Others warned that letting buyers move in before closing could create serious problems if their financing fell through. The seller could find themselves dealing with unwanted occupants, property damage, or a complicated legal dispute.
One commenter even shared a personal experience involving buyers who were allowed early access but later filed for bankruptcy. According to that commenter, it took more than three months to get them out.
The seller also said the buyers’ real estate agent kept pushing for early access, despite the homeowner’s repeated refusal.
Some Commenters Thought the Buyers Might Just Be Inexperienced
While many Reddit users questioned the buyers’ intentions, others pointed out that the situation might not be as suspicious as it initially appeared.
One commenter suggested the buyers could simply be excited first-time homeowners who didn’t fully understand the closing process.
Another raised a possible explanation for the financing delays. The condo building reportedly wasn’t approved for conventional financing through Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, which can make securing a mortgage more difficult.
The seller later confirmed that the building had outstanding balcony-related work that was creating financing challenges for buyers.
That additional context helped explain why the loan might be taking longer than expected, although commenters still felt the buyers should wait until the sale was finalized before moving anything into the property.
Why Moving In Before Closing Can Be Risky
Allowing buyers to move into a home before closing isn’t unheard of, but it can create complications for sellers, especially when financing hasn’t been secured.
If the mortgage falls through after the buyers have moved in, the seller may have to deal with an occupancy dispute rather than simply putting the property back on the market. Depending on local laws and the arrangement, removing occupants could require legal action.
There are also concerns about property damage, insurance coverage, and liability while the home still belongs to the seller.
Early occupancy agreements can sometimes be arranged with appropriate legal protections, but homeowners shouldn’t enter into them casually. In this case, the buyers’ unresolved financing made the request particularly concerning.
So, Was the Seller Right to Refuse?
Buyers may have legitimate reasons for wanting to move in sooner, and their financing problems don’t necessarily mean bad intentions. But until the sale is completed, the property still belongs to the seller, along with the responsibilities and potential risks that come with owning it.
For homeowners facing a similar situation, the discussion serves as a reminder that handing over the keys before closing can create problems that are much harder to resolve than simply saying no.
And for this seller, that answer had already been given more than once.
