Redfin

JUNE 27, 2025

Don’t skip critical steps like the home inspection or negotiating closing costs. Take note of closing costs, loan terms, and any additional fees. Missing out on first-time homebuyer programs Between saving for a down payment and covering closing costs, buying a home can feel financially overwhelming.

Pre-approval

Redfin

JULY 11, 2025

When you make an offer on a home, you’ll usually include earnest money – a deposit that shows the seller you’re a serious buyer. This good-faith payment, typically 1% to 3% of the purchase price, is held in escrow and applied to your down payment or closing costs if the sale goes through. When is earnest money refundable?

Earnest money deposit

Redfin

JULY 10, 2025

Credited toward the purchase price at closing Credited toward the purchase price if sale closes Fee amount 1-3% of the purchase price Often 0.1% of the purchase price, negotiated between the buyer and seller What is earnest money? Earnest money is a payment a buyer makes to show commitment to buying the property.

Due diligence

Redfin

JULY 9, 2025

Between setting a budget, getting pre-approved, and closing the deal, getting everything squared away can make all the difference. You may have saved enough for your down payment, but make sure to also account for closing costs, taxes, insurance, and any other unforeseen expenses that may arise.

Pre-approval

Redfin

MARCH 7, 2025

While it’s not the norm, there are situations where the seller pays for the home inspection. This typically happens when: In a buyers market : Sellers may be more willing to cover the cost of the home inspection or offer concessions to attract buyers and close the deal. Is a home inspection required when buying a home?

Inspection

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

If your offer is accepted, you will sign a purchase agreement and pay an earnest money deposit. Home Inspection The home inspection will show if this is a property you want to buy. If major issues are highlighted in the inspection report, you can negotiate with the seller over repairs, or they could credit you.

Purchase and sale agreement

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

They have put in offers on several homes and all of them were purchased by others who were willing to waive the home inspection. It puts them in a position where they feel they may have to take that risk to finally close on a home! An inspection can be an eye-opener though, and it can help with the final decision on a place.

Inspection

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

Like with the amount of earnest money deposit or including an inspection contingency, the amount the buyer is asking the seller to pay her agent is a term that impacts the strength of the offer,” Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather said in a statement.

Earnest money deposit

Realtor.com

OCTOBER 29, 2020

That’s why we’ve put together a home closing checklist, which outlines your action points in those few days leading up to settlement. Keep this closing process list handy to know you’ve done what you need to in order to close the deal. Get all contingencies squared away. Review your closing disclosure.

Closing

HomeLight

JANUARY 10, 2024

Understanding these contingencies is crucial as they play a significant role in the homebuying process. They influence both your decision-making and whether you are able to close the sale on the home you want. As a buyer, a home inspection contingency offers you a layer of protection. What does this mean to a seller?

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

OCTOBER 30, 2020

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. With a mortgage, there are all kinds of things that can go wrong to delay closing — financing issues and appraisals coming in low are two of the most common.

Closing

Dwell Real Estate

JULY 10, 2020

The earnest money deposit—the cash you as a buyer offer to essentially call dibs on real estate—is one of the most important (and often misunderstood) parts of the home-buying process. In the Sarasota area, home buyers will usually put down anywhere from 1 to 5 of the real estate purchase price as earnest money. (If

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

MARCH 2, 2023

People who live here love the proximity to some of the west coast’s best beaches, as well as being close to destinations like Disneyland, Joshua Tree National Park, and the deserts of Palm Springs. Closing costs in California average about 1% of the home’s sale price , and there are other pre-paid costs you might have as well.

Closing

Dwell Real Estate

JULY 10, 2020

The earnest money deposit—the cash you as a buyer offer to essentially call dibs on real estate—is one of the most important (and often misunderstood) parts of the home-buying process. In the Sarasota area, home buyers will usually put down anywhere from 1% to 5% of the real estate purchase price as earnest money. (If

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

MARCH 6, 2023

The Bay Area is also close to beaches, national parks, and the wineries of Napa Valley. Consider factors such as how long you plan to be in the area, if you have steady employment, and if you have enough money saved for not just the down payment, but for closing costs , maintenance, property taxes, and more.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

That means buyers who want to close a deal need to come prepared with their A-game when it comes to making an offer. Yes, writing a high offer will incentivize the seller, but money isn’t the only factor! Determine how much earnest money to offer. In highly competitive markets, deposits as high as 10% could be offered.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

JANUARY 3, 2024

It means the buyer and seller have agreed to the terms of the contract, such as the price, the closing date, the personal property, the earnest money, tax preparation, and contingencies.” There are four common types of real estate contract contingencies. It sounds pretty straightforward, right?

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

OCTOBER 1, 2020

You now have skin in the game in the form of your earnest money deposit, plus you have a legal duty to buy the home (barring certain circumstances). According to the latest data from the Realtors Confidence Index (RCI), 76% of purchase contracts contain contingencies , and around 7% of contracts are terminated.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

SEPTEMBER 22, 2020

You’ve got an incredible opportunity to make the most of this deal, if only you can avoid tripping up before closing. The “best” component refers to all the other terms included in a contract that can be tweaked to sweeten the deal — such as waived contingencies , putting down more cash upfront , or offering a more flexible closing date.

Earnest money deposit

Realty Biz

DECEMBER 5, 2022

How to Negotiate Problems Found at a House Inspection. What Will Happen After a Home Inspection? The home inspection contingency in a real estate contract allows the buyer to back out of the sale when there are issues. The buyer can have their earnest money deposit returned when this happens.

Inspection

Norada Real Estate

APRIL 15, 2023

The length of time a house can be under contract can vary, but understanding the contingencies and obligations during this period can help both parties prepare for a successful closing. Purpose of Under Contract The purpose of the under-contract period is to allow both parties to fulfill any contingencies and prepare for closing.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

JULY 26, 2022

At this stage, you’ll want to shop around and get preapproved by at least two different lenders to compare interest rates , closing costs , and terms. If the owner isn’t offering to pay a buyer’s agent commission, Allen says the buyer can agree to put the commission on their side of the closing costs. Appraisal contingency.

Earnest money deposit

Realty Biz

APRIL 20, 2022

Let’s look at the most common contingencies in an offer and what they mean to buyers and sellers. Common Contingencies Found in an Offer to Purchase. Home Inspection Contingency. One of the most common terms in an offer is the home inspection contingency clause. Closing Date.

Purchase and sale agreement

RIS Media

MAY 19, 2021

However, this is just the start with many things to do before the status changes to “Closed.” ” There are other statuses in the MLS listings like “Pending,” “Contingent,” “Coming Soon” and “Expired.” Not all sales will have contingencies with them, but most will.

Purchase and sale agreement

Realtor.com

SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

.” Why people are waiving home inspections during the COVID-19 era. Offers that waive a home inspection contingency can be more attractive to home sellers since there’s less likelihood that the buyers will find some expensive problem that they’ll demand is fixed before they move forward.

Inspection

Point2Homes

DECEMBER 23, 2021

Most likely, the buyer will then be expected to make an earnest money deposit fairly quickly, which will go into an escrow account until closing. It can also be used toward the down payment or to cover other costs at closing. What Happens with Escrow at Closing? Escrow & Lenders. Escrow Accounts.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

SEPTEMBER 1, 2022

Consider factors such as how long you plan to be in the area, if you have steady employment, and if you have enough money saved for not just the down payment, but for closing costs , maintenance, property taxes, and more. Homebuyers in Connecticut pay an average of just over $2,700 in closing costs when purchasing a home.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

SEPTEMBER 1, 2022

Consider factors such as how long you plan to be in the area, if you have steady employment, and if you have enough money saved for not just the down payment, but for closing costs , maintenance, property taxes, and more. During this time, review your credit score and determine if it’s considered excellent, good, fair, or poor. “The

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

JULY 31, 2022

Some states require that a real estate attorney be involved in every home closing while other states allow real estate agents and title companies to handle it. South Carolina, where Rhyne practices, is one of the states that requires a real estate attorney to conduct real estate closings in person. Appraisal contingency.

Earnest money deposit

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. How long is a contingency period? Inspection contingency.

Purchase and sale agreement

First Team Real Estate

AUGUST 8, 2021

Approximately 25% of all escrows fall through because of inspection contingencies, lending hiccups, appraisal surprises, and more. That’s why accepting backup offers can be a great way to tip the odds in your favor and ensure you close as quickly as possible. Will backup offers have to submit earnest money?

Backup offer

Realty Biz

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

When a home sale is listed as contingent, it means that the seller has accepted an offer with contingencies. This means that certain clauses have to be completed, by perhaps both buyer and the seller, for the sale to close. If these contingencies aren’t met, the buyer can walk away from the deal.

Backup offer

Redfin

AUGUST 29, 2024

However, there are a lot of things to learn about how to buy a house, like current mortgage rates, your credit score, home inspections, and closing costs. Additionally, it’s important to account for other upfront costs such as the down payment, closing costs, and potential home maintenance or repair expenses.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

JULY 31, 2021

The bills are stacking up or perhaps you lost some income recently, and the money tied up in your home would help a ton at a time like this. turn four walls and a roof into money in the bank, without the need for inconvenient showings, nail-biting appraisals , or a 50-day closing. If only there were a way to — poof!

Earnest money deposit

The Close

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Sellers want to work with buyers they can trust and experience a painless closing. For most sellers, the fear of a buyer’s financing falling through and not getting to the closing table. Working closely with a lender should be mandatory before showing any homes. Include an As-is Home Inspection Contingency.

Home sale contingency

HomeLight

JUNE 30, 2021

When you closed on your first home, you probably weren’t thinking that one day you’d want to sell. Getting the timing right — selling your old house, closing on a new house, and then moving into your new house — can be a challenge. This is why many buyers make offers on their new home that include a sales contingency.

Rent back

HomeLight

MARCH 20, 2023

Other common contingency clauses include: Inspection Contingency: If the buyer finds fault with the home inspection report, they can ask for the seller to make repairs, or they can cancel the contract within the contingency period. Will a seller accept my home sale contingency offer? Money talks!

Home sale contingency