The term “contingent” refers to a condition that must be satisfied before another event may occur. What does contingent mean in the real estate industry? It might be one or more of the following:
Your existing home must sell before you can close on a new one.
You must acquire mortgage approval from a lender.
The house must pass inspection.
There are several varieties of contingencies. In general, house sellers prefer bids with fewer stipulations that are “cleaner.”
A Contingent Offer Provides Security
Want to pay top money for a termite-infested home or proceed with a purchase if your mortgage application is denied? You may need options if you include the appropriate conditions in a real estate purchase agreement.
Whether buying or selling a house, contingencies allow you to back out of the transaction if unfavorable conditions emerge.
In real estate deals, “contingent” refers to a condition that must be satisfied before a sale may be finalized.
As a buyer, it is prudent to condition the closing on obtaining an appropriate mortgage.
If you lack this contingency and your funding dries up, you may be forced to cancel the transaction. In this instance, you may likely lose your earnest money deposit. The seller may initiate a lawsuit to compel you to purchase the residence.
You may desire an “appropriate property contingency” as a seller. This allows you to cancel or postpone the sale until you can purchase a suitable replacement residence. Without this clause, a buyer might utilize the courts to compel the sale of your house by a specific date, leaving you homeless.
However, Contingencies Can Be Deal-Breakers
Although contingencies shield you from poor transactions by providing “escape gates,” they can also destroy a bargain.
In red-hot property markets, sellers frequently prefer house offers with little or no stipulations.
Some purchasers give a higher price to compensate for the contingencies. Others waive non-essential conditions to make their offerings more appealing. Some purchasers, especially those anxious about the property, waive all requirements.
Contingencies (such as a suitable property clause) typically lower the number of bids you get as a seller. In addition, they reduce your negotiating leverage, leading some purchasers to offer a lower price.
Generally, the more contingencies you insist upon, the greater the potential expense.
Typical Real Estate Occurrences
Among real estate professionals, some contingencies are considered indispensable.
In negotiations, less essential contingencies might be utilized as leverage.
The must-haves for the majority of house sales are:
Financing. A buyer’s offer is typically contingent on obtaining financing at or below a specific interest rate.
Home examination. Unless you intend to demolish the home, the sale should be contingent on a home inspection that reveals no costly flaws.
Settlement of closing expenses. The buyer and seller must establish who will pay for each of the closing expenses, including escrow costs, title search fees, recording fees, transfer tax, etc. Although it is normal for buyers and sellers to pay certain fees, you should refrain from assuming anything. Put it on paper.
Expiration date. Typical timelines for concluding a business transaction are 30, 45, or 60 days. Before settling on a closing date, the buyer and seller should determine the time required to complete the deal.
Existing house sale. Include this condition in your offer if you must sell your current residence to help fund the purchase of a new one.
Appropriate domestic contingency (See previous.)
When Should I Waive Contingencies?
If your finances and other circumstances permit, you might sweeten your offer by waiving some stipulations.
For instance, since most first-time homebuyers rent or reside at home, they may typically be flexible regarding closing dates.
The same holds for the financing contingency if you can pay cash. If you waive it, it might offer you a significant edge in a bidding fight.
On the other hand, only a lunatic would waive the house inspection provision. If you waive this contingency after making an offer of, say, $350,000 on a property, and the inspection shows defects worth $30,000, you’re out of luck. You have a legal obligation to pay $350,000.
Some sellers will occasionally waive the appropriate property condition. If they cannot purchase a new house before the deadline, they store their belongings and move into a motel (or stay with family) for a while.
The seller and purchaser might also agree to a “rent-back” arrangement. This allows the seller to rent the home for a defined period following the closing. The agreement delays the buyer’s move-in date, but they are (nearly usually) guaranteed the house.
Contingencies That Are Better to Waive
No contingency is 100 percent safe to waive, although several are safer:
Seller contribution to closing costs. A seller may agree to cover a portion of your closing fees in a sluggish market. In a sellers’ market, you should plan to abandon this contingency.
An HOA occurrence. This allows you to withdraw from the contract if you discover “onerous” homeowner association restrictions. If you conduct enough study on the neighborhood beforehand, you won’t need this provision.
Installations and appliances. This stipulation guarantees that specified personal property (such as kitchen appliances) will be included in the sale. Use this provision as a negotiation technique if you can afford to acquire these products.
Contingent Property Listings
If the phrase “contingent” appears in a listing, it indicates that the seller has accepted an offer, but the conditions have not yet been satisfied.
This indicates that the buyer is awaiting the house inspector’s report or that the mortgage has not yet been authorized.
Should you still make an offer?
Numerous brokers would urge you to spend your time wisely. Some vendors would not even consider an offer since doing so would look to be double-dealing. In all likelihood, the transaction will be finalized.
However, if you genuinely adore the property, proceed. Not all pre-approved mortgages are authorized, and not all contingencies are satisfied.
If you have an abundance of time, you may be able to “take” the home from the other buyer.
