How Often Do Contingent Offers Fall Through? What You Should Know

Apr 4, 2024

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Ready to buy a home but worried you might be asked to pay more than what a property is worth? Maybe you need to sell your current home before you can afford a down payment on a new one. In either of these scenarios, and a few others, making a contingent offer might be the safest way to go.

But, while contingent offers provide protection to buyers, they carry some risks – especially for sellers. That’s because contingent offers, which are “contingent” on one or more circumstances coming to fruition, can fall through.

Most contingent offers ultimately do pan out, but buyers and sellers should be aware of any warning signs that a contingent offer won’t result in a completed sale.

How Many Contingent Offers Fall Through?

If you’re a seller, you might worry that accepting a contingent offer might delay or completely scuttle your home sale. But, here’s some good news: Most home sales reach closing, even with contingencies attached.

A survey from the National Association of REALTORS® found that in early 2024 only 5% of sales contracts on homes were terminated. Only 13% of sales contracts during those months were delayed before being settled.

Buyers and sellers, then, shouldn’t assume that a contingency dooms a home sale.

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