Closing on a house, and moving into it during the 3 weeks

 

Question:

We wanted to know the halacha with regard to closing on a house purchase in the 3 weeks. And also once that is done with regard to moving into the house. If there is a time sensitive contract can we close it in the 3 weeks? And are we allowed to move houses in the three weeks/nine days?

 

Answer:

While some have the custom to try to be stringent in this matter since it is not a good siman דלא מסמנא מילתא, according to halacha one may purchase a home during the 3 weeks to live in it. (See Mishna Berurah 551:12 regarding building a home). Certainly, if it will cause a loss of money, or if someone else might preempt (שמא יקדמנו אחר) and buy the property, one may do so. Even when these conditions don’t exist, If the home doesn’t legally become yours upon signing the contract till some time later, due to contingencies built into the contract, one may sign a contract in all cases.

Moving into a new home during the 9 days is not a good idea, in general there is an idea of celebrating and reciting a Shehechiyanu blessing when moving into a new home (even though it is not our custom) therefore it is not fitting to move in on these days. Levushei Mordechai (Orach Chayim 101).

Divrei Sofrim (R. Shmuel Sofer 47) writes that it is not proper to do a חנוכת הבית during these days, even if the home is in the diaspora.

Piskei Teshuvos (Rabinowitz) 551: footnote 84 writes that in a pressing need at the very least one could affix mezuzos before these mourning days start since that is a beginning of ‘entering into a home’.

 

 

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