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.
A home sale contingency can be risky to sellers because there is no guarantee that the home will sell. Even if the contract allows the seller to continue to market the property and accept offers, the house may be listed “under contract,” making it less attractive to other potential buyers.
Contingency with a kick-out clause That means the seller can continue to show the home and accept offers during the sale contingency period. If the seller gets a better offer, they'll allow the original buyer 72 hours to drop the sale contingency and proceed with the deal.
A home sale contingency is the highest risk and least common contingency clause. It is unlikely a seller will agree to this offer but if they do, their deal will depend on the buyer's terms.
Owners whose home is in contingent status can accept a backup offer, and that offer will have precedence if the initial deal does not go through, so if you like a contingent property, it makes sense for you to make an offer on the listing so that you are in position to buy if something goes wrong with that transaction.
Can you put an offer on a house that is contingent? Most contingent listings will allow other buyers to place offers on the home. This is because contingent deals are still technically active listings and can fall out of the contract if the buyer does not meet the requested provisions.
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.
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.