Typical real estate offers include a wide variety of standard contingencies. These can include home inspections, appraisal, and loan approval. In a fast-moving, seller’s market, one of the ways to make an offer more appealing is to remove contingencies.
Real estate contingencies are intended to protect the buyer from unforeseen issues. Once these contingencies are removed, the buyer typically has no recourse from these issues. The most important contingencies include:
• Home Inspections – including mold, well/septic, structural, geological
• Lending Approvals – including appraisal, title, loan rate and terms, final loan approval
• Property Condition – this relates to the final walk-through, ensuring the property has been maintained during the escrow period
Any, or all of these items can create problems during, and even after, the closing period. Without the contingencies in place, the buyer is obligated to conclude the sale and any financial costs incurred by the seller for not doing so, including the forfeiture of their deposit.
Regardless of what’s happening in your local market, ensure you thoroughly review all contingencies or the waiver of them with your agent prior to making an offer.
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