Redfin

JULY 10, 2025

Whether earnest money is refundable depends on the contingencies in the purchase agreement. If the contract is canceled due to issues like a failed inspection or financing problems, the buyer typically gets the money back. >> Read: What Happens to Earnest Money as Closing?

Due diligence

Redfin

JUNE 27, 2025

But stretching your finances too thin can lead to years of stress, missed payments, or even having to sell before you’re ready. If major repairs are needed, you may be able to use the inspection report to negotiate repairs or a lower purchase price. How much money do I need to buy a home?

Pre-approval

Redfin

JULY 9, 2025

It’s also a good time to check your finances. Decide on important terms like earnest money deposits, contingencies (inspection, financing), and closing dates that can make your offer stand out. Make sure you’ve paid down your credit cards and that your credit score is in good shape.

Pre-approval

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Are your finances ready to buy a home, or will you be better off renting for a few more years? 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.

Purchase and sale agreement

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

They can be expensive to take care of, putting a huge hit on your finances. There are many reasons to have a home inspection when buying a house. When a home seller gets an offer that doesn’t have a home inspection contingency to complete the sale, they often jump on it.

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

HomeLight

JANUARY 10, 2024

Most purchase agreements are contingent on two key items: home inspection and financing. As a homebuyer, knowing what these contingencies mean for you and the seller can help you make decisions with more confidence and avoid unexpected surprises and pitfalls. Most purchase agreements are contingent on which two items?

Earnest money deposit

Realtor.com

OCTOBER 29, 2020

These are the most common contingencies that are part of your new home closing process: Home inspection contingency: This gives buyers the right to have the home professionally inspected. It’s rarely advisable to waive an inspection contingency. Review your closing disclosure.

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

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

Realty Biz

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

Home inspection: often called a due diligence contingency, will give the buyer rights to have the house inspected. Most buyers will have a home inspection contingency in their contract. Obtaining financing: allows the purchaser to get the funds to buy the property from a lender of their choice.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

JANUARY 3, 2024

After you open escrow and the buyer submits a good faith earnest money deposit, some or all of the following contingencies may need to be addressed: The financing contingency will appear in contracts where a buyer needs to finalize a mortgage loan to purchase the home.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

Determine how much earnest money to offer. An earnest money deposit (also called a “good faith deposit”) is money that accompanies your offer and communicates your seriousness to the seller. The customary amount to put down as an earnest money deposit will vary based on your market.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

JANUARY 12, 2024

They are essentially clauses in your purchase agreement that are designed to protect you from unforeseen issues, like problems unearthed during a home inspection or difficulties securing financing. What is a loan contingency? How does a contingency removal work?

Loan contingency

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). So as a buyer, you should have a contingency in your contract to protect you in case you can’t get proper financing for the home. Financing contingency.

Earnest money deposit

Norada Real Estate

APRIL 15, 2023

However, the duration can be influenced by several factors, such as contingencies, negotiations, and local regulations. Additionally, the type of financing being used, such as FHA or VA loans, can also impact the length of the under-contract period. Factors that Affect the Length of Under Contract A.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

OCTOBER 30, 2020

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. And if you add a home sale contingency into the mix (that is, if you need to sell your current home before you can buy a new one), closing the deal can take even longer. Financing issues.

Closing

HomeLight

SEPTEMBER 22, 2020

To combat the confusion, Lunger entered each offer into a spreadsheet so he could clearly outline the terms and finances behind each buyer’s interpretation of “best and highest.”. 260,000 offer with financing and inspection contingency, 60-day close. 248,000 offer with all contingencies waived, 30-day close.

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. Mortgage Financing Clause.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

NOVEMBER 29, 2021

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. According to Ruiz, the average timeframe for an appraisal contingency in his area is 17 to 20 days. Financing contingency. Inspection contingency.

Purchase and sale agreement

RIS Media

MAY 19, 2021

Not all sales will have contingencies with them, but most will. Common real estate contingencies include the following: Inspection Contingencies. The most common contingency is the home inspection contingency. The home inspection can lead to some delays in the process, too, for around 10% of cases.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

JULY 26, 2022

When you make an offer, be sure to include any contingencies that you want fulfilled. Common contingencies include, but aren’t limited to: Inspection contingency. Appraisal contingency. Financing contingency. Home sale contingency. Final walkthrough contingency. Title contingency.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

SEPTEMBER 1, 2022

These programs include: Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) : The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority offers down payment assistance to first-time buyers in the form of a second mortgage called a DAP loan. Both the down payment and closing costs can be financed up to $20,000, with an interest rate of just 1.0%.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

MARCH 2, 2023

My Home California Down Payment Assistance : California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), offers first-time homebuyers deferred payment loans through both FHA and conventional programs, to assist with down payment and/or closing costs. Borrowers must meet specific income requirements and must contribute at least 3% of the purchase price.

Closing

HomeLight

MARCH 6, 2023

Consider the following down payment assistance programs in the Bay Area: Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) : The GSFA offers several programs that can help low-to-moderate-income homebuyers in California purchase a home by providing up to 5.5% down payment and/or closing cost assistance. Loans are between 3%-3.5%

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

SEPTEMBER 1, 2022

While it is not always recommended to completely waive contingencies to impress a seller, you might consider pairing down to just the inspection contingency and financing contingency to remain competitive. Earnest money deposit amount. Contingencies: Financing, home inspection, and appraisal.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

JULY 31, 2022

The template will include your offer price, down payment amount, earnest money deposit, contingencies, and desired closing date. Earnest money , also referred to as a “good faith deposit,” is an amount that a buyer agrees to pay the seller to indicate their seriousness about buying the property.

Earnest money deposit

The Close

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

For most sellers, the fear of a buyer’s financing falling through and not getting to the closing table. Tell them in no uncertain terms the seller NEEDS the assurance of strong financing, and a proper approval letter is the best way to give it to them. Include an As-is Home Inspection Contingency. Congratulations.

Home sale contingency

Realty Biz

AUGUST 22, 2022

I didn’t even include an inspection contingency. I’m almost certain that your biggest concern is about what will happen with your earnest money if you back out of the deal. As the buyer, you submit an earnest money deposit when you make an offer on a home. Now I have buyer’s regret.

Purchase and sale agreement

Realty Biz

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

If these contingencies aren’t met, the buyer can walk away from the deal. They will also get their earnest money deposit back , and the home will go back on the market. The home could be subject to a few different types of contingency. Home Inspection Contingency. These appraisal tips will help.

Backup offer

HomeLight

JULY 31, 2021

Brian Martucci , a personal finance expert for Money Crashers , says that cash buyers tend to target the types of properties and sellers that reinforce the inherent advantages of their strategy. A 10-day closing translates as getting your home sold around five times faster than with a buyer who needs financing in today’s market.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

JUNE 30, 2021

If your current house doesn’t sell, or the settlement doesn’t happen, as the buyer, you can walk away from your new purchase with your earnest money. There are lots of other kinds of contingencies — inspection contingencies, appraisal contingencies — but the sales contingency can be especially tricky.

Rent back

Redfin

AUGUST 29, 2024

See how much you can afford After you’ve assessed your goals and finances, the next step in the homebuying process is to determine your budget. The offer letter will include details like your name, address, the price you want to pay, contingencies, and possibly, your earnest money deposit.

Earnest money deposit

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. Offer a larger earnest money deposit. Money talks!

Home sale contingency

Redfin

JANUARY 26, 2022

For instance, if the buyer’s home inspection turns up a problem with the home, the buyer may be able to negotiate a reduced purchase price. 2) Earnest money details: The PSA will include information on the earnest money deposit, such as the dollar amount and instructions for making the deposit.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

JULY 29, 2022

If you committed to making an earnest money deposit as a part of your offer, you will submit your earnest money at this time. You typically deposit earnest money in an escrow account where it will be held until closing. Your options include: Trying to renegotiate the deal to a lower price.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

FEBRUARY 28, 2021

Real estate experts recommend considering the following tactics to get a leg up in the current market: Include a sizable earnest money deposit with your offer. Waive home inspection contingencies — but NOT the home inspection. Waive appraisal and finance contingencies.

Earnest money deposit