3 Home Buying Contingencies You Could Waive

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Updated on September 16th, 2021

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Home buying contingencies you can waive
In a bidding war, all-cash offers often win. But if you need a loan to pay for your home, waiving contingencies may help.

When a homebuyer submits an offer to a home seller, the buyer has the option to include certain home buying contingencies that must be met in order for the home purchase to be finalized. These are called contingencies, and they are in place to protect the buyer.

In some competitive areas, a buyer may submit an offer without certain contingencies as a way to make the offer stand out and win a bidding war. This may increase an offer’s attractiveness to a seller, but it can be more risky for the buyer.

Each offer is different, so you should always work with your agent to determine what to include, but here are three of the most common home buying contingencies – inspection, appraisal and financing – and what they cover.

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Inspection Contingency

What is it? With an inspection contingency, the buyer has a specific time period during which he must conduct a home inspection after mutual acceptance or contract ratification. The buyer may be able to negotiate with the seller or even walk away based on what comes up during the inspection, without losing his earnest money deposit. Because the buyer has the ability to void the contract based on the inspection report, this contingency is often the scariest from a seller’s perspective. With some types of inspection contingencies, a buyer can also request and negotiate repairs from the seller as a condition of the purchase; this can also be off-putting for the seller. In many markets, a buyer can choose to conduct a pass-fail inspection rather than one where the buyer can ask for repairs; that may be preferred by the seller.

To waive or not to waive? In some parts of the country, home buyers regularly waive the home inspection contingency and instead conduct a pre-inspection. The pre-inspection is done before a buyer makes an offer. With a pre-inspection, the buyer still gets an inspection report, but makes an offer with full knowledge of any issues – and the seller doesn’t have to worry that the buyer will back out after the ratification. In a competitive market where a buyer may make a number of offers on homes without winning, paying for these pre-inspections can add up quickly! Depending on where you live, a buyer may have some options that can set the seller’s mind at ease without waiving this contingency. For example, the buyer could offer a shorter contingency than the norm, say five days instead of a customary seven.


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Appraisal Contingency

What is it? The appraisal contingency allows the buyer to renegotiate or walk away from the deal if the appraisal comes back lower than the ratified price. The appraisal is an independent assessment of the value of the property and required by any lender. The appraisal contingency and the financing contingency are interconnected because your lender will base your loan amount on the appraisal value, or the ratified price, whichever is lower. 

For example, if you are making a 20 percent down payment on a $500,000 home, your lender has agreed to loan you 80 percent of the home’s value, or $400,000. If the appraiser determines the value of the home to be the same or higher, then those numbers stay the same. But if the appraisal comes back saying that the home is only worth $450,000, the bank will still loan you 80 percent, but 80 percent of the lower value, and thus will only loan you $360,000. You are still under contract to pay $500,000 for the home, and so you’ll have to come up with the difference or use one of the options the appraisal contingency offers, which is 1- void the contract, 2- accept it and increase your down payment, or 3- renegotiate with the seller.

To waive or not to waive? Each situation is unique, but I don’t often recommend waiving the appraisal contingency if you are financing the purchase. If a buyer is set on purchasing a particular house and is willing and able to increase the down payment if the appraisal comes back low, then waiving this contingency can strengthen an offer.

Financing Contingency

What is it? The financing contingency is a clause that says your purchase of the home is contingent on securing financing within a set period of time, and the buyer sets the length of the contingency in the contract. It protects you in case something goes wrong and you are unable to get a mortgage. As I mentioned above, the financing contingency is intricately tied to the appraisal.

To waive or not to waive? If you are paying all cash for a home, you would certainly waive this contingency. However, if you can’t pay with all cash, waiving the financing contingency can be risky for some buyers, especially when purchasing at the upper edge of their affordability. If for some reason your loan falls through, you would still be legally obligated to the purchase agreement of the home; this contingency can protect you in this unlikely event. In some cases, a buyer may opt to keep the appraisal contingency but waive the financing contingency. The appraisal contingency will protect the buyer if the appraisal affects financing. But the financing contingency could be your only protection if something unforeseen happens, such as the loss of a job.

It is important to understand all these home buying contingencies and what they mean in your individual situation. Work closely with your real estate agent to weigh the risks and benefits and make sure you are properly protected before you decide to waive any contingencies. For more information, check out Redfin’s guide to winning a bidding war.

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If you are represented by an agent, this is not a solicitation of your business. This article is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice from a medical provider, licensed attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional. Consumers should independently verify any agency or service mentioned will meet their needs. Learn more about our Editorial Guidelines here.
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Leslie White

Leslie is a Redfin real estate agent in Washington D.C. She appreciates Redfin’s focus on customer satisfaction and transparency, because it aligns with her approach as a partner, not a salesperson, in the home buying process. She is a native Washingtonian and loves the city and neighborhoods. Her favorite part of being a real estate agent is helping people purchase the home that makes them happy. You can contact Leslie and read her past client reviews on Redfin.com.

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