How long does a change of ownership take for assisted living?
Direct answer
A change of ownership commonly takes 90 to 180 days. Timelines vary by state, and California is the outlier: the process there can take 3 to 12 months. Skilled nursing takes longer still because Medicare and Medicaid have their own CHOW.
What to know
The clock starts with the new operator's application to the state licensing agency, not with the purchase agreement. Buyers who prepare application materials during due diligence, which itself typically runs 30 to 90 days, keep the overall timeline tighter.
For perspective on the full arc: Haven's sales typically close in 90 to 150 days including due diligence, and the licensing process overlaps and often extends beyond closing, with the seller operating under its license until the buyer's issues.
Build the CHOW timeline into your financing and transition plans. Lenders, staff and residents all need dates that reflect the licensing reality, not just the closing date.
How Haven helps
Haven sets realistic licensing expectations at the start of every engagement and tracks them through closing. Read our change-of-ownership licensing guide.
Related questions
- How do licensing requirements affect an assisted living acquisition?
- How do I manage licensing and compliance review across multiple states?
- Can an assisted living license transfer to a new owner?
- What is a change of ownership (CHOW) in assisted living?
- Does assisted living real estate qualify for a 1031 exchange?