Potential Risks of Accepting a Contingent Offer The biggest risks of accepting a contingent offer are that closing could be delayed, the buyer could renegotiate or the sale could fall through entirely. “The primary risk for sellers is the uncertainty and potential delay in the transaction,” says Hall.
If you're interested in a property that's listed with an active contingent status, you may still be able to make an offer. While the initial offer will take precedence if all the contingencies are satisfied, making an offer can put you at the head of the line if the original deal falls through.
It won't hurt anything to look at a house listed as contingent. Nor will it hurt to submit a backup offer, if possible. That said, you should anticipate the original contract going through to close.
The contingent period usually lasts anywhere from 30 to 60 days. If you have a mortgage contingency, the buyer's due date is usually about a week before closing. Overall, a home stays in contingent status for the specified period or until the contingencies are met and the buyer closes on their new house.
In most cases, putting an offer in on a contingent home is an option to consider. Although it doesn't guarantee you'll close on the home, it does mean you could be first in line should the current contract fall through. Putting an offer in on a contingent home is similar to the homebuying process of any active listing.
You can still make an offer on a house labeled contingent or pending. However, when a property has one of these statuses, it means that an offer has been accepted, so the sale is in progress. The deal hasn't been finalized, so it still gives you an opportunity.
A contingency clause should clearly outline the conditions, how the conditions are to be fulfilled, and which party is responsible for fulfilling them. The clause should also provide a timeframe for what happens if the condition is not met.
You can still make an offer on a home if it's listed as contingent or pending, but you should consider where the property is in the process to determine the likelihood of your offer being accepted.
Can you outbid a contingent offer? No, it's not possible to outbid a contingent offer. The seller has already accepted an offer while waiting for certain conditions to be satisfied before closing. However, some sellers will accept backup bids while engaged in a contingent offer.