HomeLight

JULY 24, 2025

With homes taking longer to sell, aligning the timing of your sale and next purchase becomes even more challenging. A bridge loan could be the tool you need to help everything fall into place — giving you the flexibility to buy your next home without rushing to sell your current one first.

Equity

Redfin

JUNE 13, 2025

Buying your second home comes with experience on your side and valuable advantages: financial history, equity from your current home, and a clearer sense of what you want. Still, each home purchase is different, the market may look very different, and your goals might have shifted. In short, yes—and no.

Debt-to-income ratio

Lab Coat Agents

MAY 15, 2025

home listings are well below where they were pre-pandemic. If the buyer is financing the home, encourage them to get pre-approved for a loan so that sellers will take them more seriously and the sale is more likely to go through. Master the Art of Seller Persuasion One reason home inventory is low is hesitant sellers.

Pre-approval

Redfin

JULY 16, 2025

Key takeaway: Once a home is under contract, the seller is legally bound to the agreement and cannot accept another offer – unless specific clauses or contingencies allow it. Under contract stage: Once under contract , the primary buyer is locked in unless contingencies fail. Generally, no.

Backup offer

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Earnest Money and House Deposits Explained What to Know About Home Deposits and Earnest Money Once you’ve found your dream home, you need to convince the seller that you’re serious about buying. This will assure them that they can safely take their home off the market and sell it to you. Let’s take a look.

Earnest money deposit

Redfin

JULY 9, 2025

Remote closing makes the process smooth and stress-free. Buying a home is a huge milestone for many, but that excitement can turn to worry when buying a house in another state. The potential unknowns are daunting, but luckily, the process of buying a house out of state is very similar to an average home buying process.

Pre-approval

Redfin

JUNE 17, 2025

Whether you’re selling your home in Kansas City, MO and looking to rent a home in Portland, OR or an apartment in Los Angeles, CA or even if you’ve got a home sale contingency on your own offer to your new home, understanding contingent offers can help you navigate the process of selling your home with more confidence.

Inspection contingency

HomeLight

MARCH 11, 2025

Both meanings can apply to a home. But when its time to sell or borrow, what does it mean if your home appreciates? In this post, well help you gauge the growth of your homes value. When your home appreciates, it means the value of your property increases over time, leading to a larger profit when sold.

Equity

Redfin

JULY 14, 2025

Whether you’re a first-time home buyer looking to buy a home in Chicago, IL or a house in Sedona, AZ , here’s what to know before taking that leap. Is it legal to make offers on multiple homes? Maybe you’ve already lost out on a few homes. Yes, it’s legal but there’s a catch.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

As of December 2024, 18% of buyers waived the appraisal contingency , with other buyers waiving, for example, inspection contingencies to likewise make their offers more enticing to sellers. The appraisal contingency is there to protect the buyer in case of any issues surrounding your appraisal. What is a contingency?

Inspection contingency

Redfin

JUNE 17, 2025

You’ve found a home you love, but the listing says “bumpable buyer.” A bumpable buyer is a homebuyer whose offer is accepted but contingent on selling their current home. While the home is under contract, the seller can still accept other offers, potentially “bumping” the first buyer if a better offer comes in.

Backup offer

HomeLight

MARCH 20, 2023

Most often, this type of scenario calls for a home sale contingency. With the help of real estate agent Jesse Allen , a single-family home expert in southern Indiana , we’ll help to explain the ins and outs of home sale contingencies, and offer additional alternatives for buyers who currently own a home.

Home sale contingency

HomeLight

MARCH 31, 2022

Cash offers or flexibility in choosing a closing date can also be attractive enticements to a seller. But one of the most influential bargaining tools is eliminating contingency clauses, especially the seller contingency clause, also known as the home sale contingency. What is a contingency clause?

Home sale contingency

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 14, 2024

Jeremy Foster, founder and chairman of Calque Buying a home today can be stressful and fraught with complicated issues, such as contingencies requiring the buyer to sell their current home before qualifying for the home they want to buy. Jeremy Foster: The traditional home purchase process for homeowners is broken.

Backup offer

HomeLight

JUNE 9, 2023

But as your eyes scan the details of the listing, you come across a term that makes you pause: “Contingent.” ” So, what does contingent mean in real estate? A property listed as “contingent” in real estate means the seller has accepted an offer, but the deal isn’t fully closed yet.

Home sale contingency

HomeLight

OCTOBER 30, 2020

If you’re looking to buy a home, you’ve probably heard that cash is kind of a big deal in real estate. But is the cash closing process always seamless? A cash deal can close in as little as 7 days, while financed home purchases tend to take an average of 45 days to close. Why do sellers love cash so much?

Closing

Point2Homes

DECEMBER 8, 2020

When searching for the ideal home, expect to encounter a few issues along the way, such as homes listed as contingent. But, what does contingent mean and how does it affect your purchase? A home listed as contingent means the seller has accepted an offer. How is Contingent Different from Pending?

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

JANUARY 31, 2024

Contingent listings can be puzzling and sometimes frustrating — especially when you’re searching for your dream home. In this post, we’ll unpack real estate contingencies, clarify the difference between contingent vs. pending, and explain how long a house might remain labeled as contingent. Why Move Twice?

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

NOVEMBER 29, 2021

You’ve found the house of your dreams, your offer has been accepted, and you’re ready and eager to reach the closing table. But first, you have to sell your old home, potentially secure financing, and secure a home appraisal (and likely an inspection) on your new house. Do contingencies benefit homebuyers?

Purchase and sale agreement

Realty Biz

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

When you begin an online search for a home, you may find some sale statuses you don’t fully understand. It is fairly obvious what is meant when homes have a status of “for sale” or “sold,” but some statuses may not be as clear. For example, if a home sale is contingent or pending, can you still make an offer?

Backup offer

HomeLight

DECEMBER 30, 2023

Searching for a home to buy can be a time of excitement and anxiety. You may be building an online watchlist of homes you’re interested in seeing, but then you notice a label tagging your favorite property listing as “under contract” or “sale pending.” Can you make an offer on a home that’s under contract?

Home sale contingency

HomeLight

MARCH 18, 2022

As a homeowner, there’s a good chance that your next move will have you straddled with two major decisions at one time: selling your current home and buying a new one. Here are the four primary options available to you when it comes time to buy a house that is contingent on selling yours. ?. What is a home sale contingency?

Home sale contingency

RIS Media

APRIL 8, 2022

Once you find your dream home and it happens to be marked as contingent, you can still place an offer. Here’s all you should know about contingent sales as a potential home buyer. Contingent meaning. An active listing means the home in question is currently on sale, and sellers are actively open to offers.

Debt-to-income ratio

HomeLight

SEPTEMBER 10, 2022

Kick-out clauses are often employed when the buyers have to sell their current home first, and the sellers want to continue marketing their home in the meantime. Single Family Homes. A seller is most likely to want a kick-out clause if there’s a contingency to your offer. What is a 72-hour kick-out clause? Teresa Cowart.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

DECEMBER 13, 2023

You might think your only choice is to sell your current home, find a temporary place to live, and search for your new house. A bridge loan is a short-term financial tool that “bridges the income gap”, enabling you to purchase your new home before you’ve sold your old one. What is a bridge loan, in simple words?

Equity

HomeLight

DECEMBER 7, 2023

trying to sell your old home while buying a new one? It can be difficult to juggle the timing and financial details when you’re pressed to sell before you can invest in your new home. You can then make a strong offer on your next home with no home sale contingency.

Equity

HomeLight

DECEMBER 15, 2023

Selling your Atlanta home while looking to purchase a new one can be tricky. Lining up the sale of your current home while trying to close the deal on a new one, particularly in a competitive market where inventory is low, may feel impossible. What is a bridge loan, in simple words?

Equity

HomeLight

JULY 30, 2024

You can then make a strong offer on your next home with no home sale contingency. Additionally, fees such as origination and closing costs can add to the total expense. Learn More Editor’s note: This post is for educational purposes and is not intended to be construed as financial advice.

Hard money loan

HomeLight

JUNE 19, 2024

Whether you’re aiming to flip a historic Craftsman in Echo Park or invest in a rental property in Silver Lake, hard money lenders in Los Angeles offer the flexibility and speed needed to close the deal. You can then make a strong offer on your next home with no home sale contingency. What is a hard money lender?

Hard money loan

HomeLight

JULY 5, 2024

You can then make a strong offer on your next home with no home sale contingency. Borrowers also face costs like origination fees, closing costs, and points. Learn More Editor’s note: This post is for educational purposes and is not intended to be construed as financial advice. What is a hard money lender?

Hard money loan

HomeLight

JULY 18, 2024

Start Making Offers Without Waiting to Sell Your Home Through our Buy Before You Sell program, HomeLight can help you unlock a portion of your equity upfront to put toward your next home. You can then make a strong offer on your next home with no home sale contingency. What is a hard money lender?

Hard money loan

HomeLight

DECEMBER 13, 2023

You might think your only option is to sell your current home, temporarily relocate, and then begin the hunt for your dream house. A bridge loan is a short-term loan that “bridges the income gap” between selling your existing property and purchasing your next home. What is a bridge loan, in simple words?

Equity

Realty Biz

APRIL 20, 2022

When you find a home you want to buy, your offer will contain many important terms and conditions. When you are not buying or selling a home everyday some of the terms may be foreign to you. Let’s look at the most common contingencies in an offer and what they mean to buyers and sellers. Home Inspection Contingency.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

For many Idaho homeowners, it might seem like the only path forward is to sell first, move into a temporary location, and then embark on the hunt for a new home. You can then make a strong offer on your next home with no home sale contingency. What is a bridge loan, in simple words?

Equity

HomeLight

JULY 25, 2024

Start Making Offers Without Waiting to Sell Your Home Through our Buy Before You Sell program, HomeLight can help you unlock a portion of your equity upfront to put toward your next home. You can then make a strong offer on your next home with no home sale contingency. What is a hard money lender?

Hard money loan

HomeLight

JULY 8, 2024

Louis homeowners not involved in real estate investment but needing to bridge the gap between buying and selling a home, there are alternatives to consider. You can then make a strong offer on your next home with no home sale contingency. HomeLight always encourages you to consult your own advisor.

Finance

HomeLight

JULY 31, 2024

You can then make a strong offer on your next home with no home sale contingency. Borrowers also need to be aware of origination fees, closing costs, and other expenses. Additional costs can include origination fees, closing costs, and points, which are a percentage of the loan amount paid upfront.

Finance