Can somebody enlighten me on the US real estate system? Reading these forums I gather there is a rather large difference in the way a lot of things are done.

For instance in Ontario, I'm use to:

1. Seeing a house at 4pm
2. Writing up an offer at 6pm, setting it to expire at 10pm.
3. Presenting the offer at 7pm, followed by a few rounds of negotiation.
4. Having a signed deal and being home in bed by midnight.

I gather it is rather different in the US where it seems a buyer writes up an offer and hopes that the seller gets back to them in a few days and not a few weeks.

Any insight?