What does contingent mean in real estate? Contingent means the seller has accepted an offer, but certain conditions need to be met before the sale closes. This means there's still a chance that the sale could fall through and the house goes back on the market, should those conditions go unmet.
We want to help you prepare for the worst-case scenario, which is why we created this straightforward guide to three types of contingencies: Design contingencies. Bidding contingencies. Construction contingencies.
Even so, we'll concentrate on the top five most common contingencies: Financing Contingency. The most common contingency in real estate is the Financing Contingency. Inspection Contingency. Appraisal Contingency. Title Contingency. Home Sale Contingency.
A home inspection contingency is often the most common real estate contingency. The National Association of Realtors® estimates that about 80% of buyers include a home inspection contingency in their contract.
Some of the most common real estate contingencies include appraisal, mortgage, title and home inspection contingencies. Many home buyers also include a sale of prior home contingency, which allows them to withdraw an offer if they are unable to sell their current home within a specified timeframe.
Your REALTOR® should be able to help you decide which contingency waivers, if any, are right for you. Appraisal Contingency – Low Risk. Financing Contingency – High Risk. Home Inspection Contingency – Medium Risk. Home Sale Contingency – Low Risk. Title Search Contingency – High Risk.
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.
When a buyer makes a contingent offer on a house, they're saying, “I want to buy this house, but only if certain conditions are met.” These are the conditions, or contingencies, that can be: The buyer needs to sell their current home first. The house needs to pass a home inspection.
Best practices for drafting a contingent contract #1 Define the conditions clearly to activate the contract obligations. #2 Include detailed descriptions of all parties' obligations. #3 Keep the contract simple to avoid misunderstandings. #4 Regularly update your contracts to keep them relevant and enforceable.