Redfin

JULY 10, 2025

Earnest money is a refundable deposit held in escrow to show your serious intent to buy, while due diligence fees are usually non-refundable payments made directly to the seller to secure time for inspections and evaluations. of the purchase price, negotiated between the buyer and seller What is earnest money? Is it refundable?

Due diligence

Redfin

JUNE 23, 2025

You can schedule inspections, review the title, secure an appraisal, and check for any red flags that could affect your decision to buy. This timeframe grants the buyer permission to thoroughly inspect the property. It’s typically refundable if the buyer backs out for a valid reason like inspection or financing issues.

Due diligence

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

What To Expect From Your Listing Agent Why For Sale By Owners (FSBOs) Fail Blog Featured Articles Home Buying Home Selling LOCAL Rochester NY Articles Earnest Money and House Deposits Explained Kyle Hiscock Kyle Hiscock | Greater Rochester NY Real Estate | Pittsford NY Realtor at RE/MAX Realty Group Have questions about buying or selling a home?

Earnest money deposit

Redfin

JUNE 27, 2025

Don’t skip critical steps like the home inspection or negotiating closing costs. These can greatly affect both the quality of your purchase and your bottom-line expense. Whether you’re purchasing your first home in Phoenix, AZ or in Trenton, NJ , here’s what you need to know before starting the homebuying process.

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. Once both parties have signed a legally binding purchase agreement , the seller is obligated to uphold its terms. Generally, no.

Backup offer

Redfin

JULY 9, 2025

Whether you’re purchasing your first home or need a refresher, understanding each step in the home buying process timeline can help you avoid surprises and feel more confident along the way. Are you looking at homes for sale in Juneau, AK or Miami, FL ? There are many steps involved, each with its own timeline.

Pre-approval

Redfin

MARCH 18, 2025

When buying a home, youll likely come across the term earnest money – a deposit that shows the seller youre serious about the purchase. This deposit is usually between 1% and 3% of the homes purchase price, but the amount can vary based on the local market and the agreement between you and the seller. Do you get it back?

Closing

Redfin

JULY 11, 2025

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. That means if the sale is completed, the money is not refunded – it’s credited toward what you owe.

Earnest money deposit

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Your Housing Budget The purchase price of the home shouldn’t be your only consideration. But if you have a down payment of 20% or more of the purchase price, you can avoid expenses like private mortgage insurance and should benefit from a lower interest rate. (585) 704-7095 Contact Now Search Homes Home Fair Housing S.O.P.

Purchase and sale agreement

Redfin

JUNE 17, 2025

Selling a house can be a long process, and it makes sense that the seller would want to know when the seller gets money after closing – especially if those funds are being used to purchase a new home. What needs to be done before settlement It typically takes between 30-60 days from accepting an offer on your home to closing a sale.

Closing

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Here are the top frequently asked questions that home sellers ask before listing a home for sale, questions relating to home value & pricing, questions relating to contracts, and questions relating to purchase offers. Frequently Asked Questions Before Listing Their Home For Sale When is the best time to sell my home?

Purchase and sale agreement

Redfin

JULY 21, 2025

The best and least complicated time to walk away from a home purchase is before signing the purchase agreement. Reasons for backing out of buying a house There are several legitimate reasons why a buyer might back out of a home purchase before closing. When is an ideal time to back out?

Earnest money deposit

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

A housing market marked by relatively high interest rates and tight inventory — and punctuated by the practice of home inspection waivers to sweeten offers — are taking a bite out of business for home inspectors, who play a key role in the sales process by ensuring that buyers are not being sold a lemon of a house. and Canada.

Inspection

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. What does this mean to a buyer?

Earnest money deposit

Realty Biz

DECEMBER 5, 2022

One of the most vital phases of buying a house is having it inspected. Home inspections over the last few years were few and far between. The crazy hot seller's market forced many home buyers into forgoing their inspection. It has led to home inspections coming back in vogue again.

Inspection

HomeLight

MARCH 2, 2022

Up next: The home inspection. Once the buyer orders a home inspection, your home is in the hot seat. Even if you’ve gone through the house with a fine-tooth comb and listed anything and everything on the seller’s disclosure , the home inspection might reveal issues that you weren’t aware of or are worse than you thought.

Inspection

HomeLight

JANUARY 31, 2025

Your to-do list when you sell your home is already sizable by the time you arrange for a home inspection. What fixes are mandatory after a home inspection? Although 20% of buyers waived inspection contingency , you may still be obligated to resolve certain issues, depending on your states and the buyers lenders policies.

Inspection

HomeLight

JUNE 9, 2023

A property listed as “contingent” in real estate means the seller has accepted an offer, but the deal isn’t fully closed yet. The final sale hangs in the balance, waiting for certain conditions or “contingencies” to be met. Get Started Are contingencies common in real estate?

Home sale contingency

Realty Biz

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

Many buyers and sellers are not well educated about the intricacy of some real estate contingency clauses. Given they are significant legal terms in a purchase and sale, it is essential to have a strong working knowledge of how they work. Most buyers will have a home inspection contingency in their contract.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

JANUARY 31, 2024

You can then make a strong offer on your next home with no home sale contingency. Learn More What does contingent mean? In real estate, when a house is listed as “ contingent ,” it means the sale of the property is conditional upon certain criteria being met. How long can a house be contingent?

Purchase and sale agreement

Redfin

JANUARY 26, 2022

One of these important pieces of paperwork is a purchase and sale agreement. . To help you navigate this document, we’ll go over what a purchase and sale agreement is, what makes up the agreement, and what happens after the agreement is signed. What is a purchase and sale agreement?

Purchase and sale agreement

Realtor.com

OCTOBER 29, 2020

Get all contingencies squared away. Most purchase agreements have contingencies —things that buyers must do before the real estate transaction is official, explains Jimmy Branham , a Coral Springs, FL, real estate agent at the Keyes Company. It’s rarely advisable to waive an inspection contingency.

Closing

Realty Biz

AUGUST 22, 2022

I didn’t even include an inspection contingency. In a few short weeks, the market has gotten much softer in this neighborhood and I’m not even sure the house will appraise for my purchase offer. The more prices slump, the more likely the house will not appraise for the amount of your purchase offer.

Purchase and sale agreement

Redfin

AUGUST 26, 2020

A savvy homebuyer will schedule a home inspection for any home they’re serious about buying. In case you’re thinking of waiving the home inspection contingency, you should also be aware that some lenders require a home inspection as a necessary step before they finalize your home loan. Local laws.

Inspection

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. Most purchase agreements have some terms in place that must be met for the deal to go through, such as having a home inspection completed.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

JANUARY 3, 2024

Sometimes you come across a home for sale that checks off every box on your list, but the listing status says that it’s “under contract” or “sale pending.” In most cases, there are contingencies in the buyer’s offer that need to be cleared before the transaction is moved to the more solid “sale pending” status.

Purchase and sale agreement

Point2Homes

DECEMBER 8, 2020

But, what does contingent mean and how does it affect your purchase? A home listed as contingent means the seller has accepted an offer. However, before the sale can go to closing, certain contingencies must be met. Contingent Statuses. A backup offer is not uncommon in real estate sales. No Showings.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

SEPTEMBER 10, 2022

Say you’re visiting yard sales on a Saturday morning and you come across the perfect wicker patio set, exactly what you’ve been looking for. These clauses are most often used when a buyer needs to sell their current home before purchasing a new one. A contingency is a condition that must be met for the purchase to proceed.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

MARCH 20, 2023

That means a large majority of homebuyers must consider the sale of their current home prior to buying a new one. Most often, this type of scenario calls for a home sale contingency. Find a Buyer's Agent What is a home sale contingency? If the buyer’s current home sells, the sale of the new home can proceed.

Home sale contingency

HomeLight

DECEMBER 30, 2023

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.” What buyer contingencies might put a listing back on the market? What buyer contingencies might put a listing back on the market?

Home sale contingency

HomeLight

OCTOBER 1, 2020

But for some buyers, that excitement can quickly turn to anxiety when it comes time to sign the purchase contract. Once you and the seller sign the purchase agreement, things start to get real. Which contingencies you included in your contract with the seller. What are contract contingencies?

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

MARCH 17, 2021

There’s still a major hurdle to overcome in your homebuying process: the home inspection. And to follow along, you’re going to want a home inspection checklist specific to you as a buyer. A home inspection is much more than a mere formality. Get Your Home Inspection Checklist! What is a home inspection?

Inspection

RIS Media

APRIL 12, 2021

A standard home purchase agreement typically includes contingencies. If the contingency terms are not met, the contract is no longer enforceable and one party may even back out of the deal. Types of Contingencies . Purchase contracts typically include an appraisal contingency.

Purchase and sale agreement

Realty Biz

APRIL 20, 2022

What to Know About Terms and Conditions Found in an Offer to Purchase. It will state your offer price and many other clauses that could be crucial to the success of the purchase. Common Contingencies Found in an Offer to Purchase. Home Inspection Contingency. Mortgage Financing Clause. Help From the Seller.

Purchase and sale agreement

Realty Biz

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

Let’s look at whether it makes sense to put in an offer on an already contingent home. What Does Contingent Mean in Real Estate? Listed homes for sale are classified in different ways to help you understand how far along in the sales process they are. Can I Still Buy a Contingent Property? Low Appraisals.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

If a homeowner falls behind on their mortgage payments, a short sale is one potential way of correcting course. That being said, the home purchase process is a lot more complicated and drawn out with a short sale because it all hinges on the oversight and approval of a third party: the mortgage lender. Short sales 101.

Short sale

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. Problems come up during inspection.

Closing