April 22, 2023
Real Estate Tips
When you're looking online for a new home, you'll often see that some listings are marked as ""pending"" or ""contingent."" There are differences between the two, and understanding those differences can help you know if a house is worth trying to pursue.
Contingent
""Contingent"" means that a seller has accepted an offer. These listings are still active, so you may see them when you're searching online. They could fall out of contract if all the provisions aren't met.
The closing on a contingent house doesn't happen until all contingencies listed in a purchase agreement are met.
Common contingencies include:
It's fairly common for deals to fall apart because of contingencies. If you're selling a home, you can accept a backup offer in case your first offer and deal don't go through.
What Does Pending Mean?
When a home is marked as ""pending"", it means that there is an agreement, and all the contingencies have been met. In this case, the home is much closer to actually being sold.
The deal could potentially fall through still at this stage because of something with financing or the inspection, but it's a lot less likely than it is at the contingency phase.
Most real estate agents won't accept additional offers when a home is pending, but there's not a legal reason for that. It's more preferential.
What About Under Contract?
Finally, you might also see that a house is under contract. That means the terms are agreed upon, but the deal is new and could break down. A house under contract can go back on the market pretty easily, and a new offer for the property can be made.
Essentially what this all means is that you shouldn't let ""contingent"" or ""under contract"" scare you away from making contact with a seller or their agent. There are myriad reasons why a deal can fall apart. Just keep in mind that if a home is ""pending,"" there's a much lower likelihood you have a chance.
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