What Does Under Contract Mean In Real Estate?

If you’re looking to buy or sell a house, you may ask yourself: What does “under contract” mean? We don’t blame you – it’s not uncommon to see it posted alongside many real estate listings.

“Under contract” in real estate means that a seller accepts an offer from a buyer to purchase their home. However, the home isn’t considered sold until all of the contingencies (if any) on the property are met.

Let’s explore more of the specifics around what it means when a house is under contract.

A property that’s under contract is one that the seller has previously accepted an offer on from a buyer. However, until all contingencies on the home are met and ownership transfers to the new homeowner during the closing process, the deal can still fall through.

If a property is under contract and the deal doesn’t come to fruition, backup offers may then come into consideration. A backup offer is a legally binding contract that ensures a home offer is accepted if a previously accepted deal falls through. If you’re interested in a home under contract and want to make a backup offer, be sure to talk about the pros and cons of doing so with your real estate agent or REALTOR^®.

Deals on properties under contract fall through more often than you might expect. That’s because real estate contracts often contain a number of contingencies that must be met and clauses that must be fulfilled prior to the sale, or closing, of a home.

It’s common for deals to hinge on the following common contingencies.

Financing Contingency

Homes are expensive purchases, and most buyers require outside financing, like a mortgage, to acquire them. As part of real estate contracts, prospective homeowners are often required to secure this necessary financing to purchase the property within a set amount of time after an offer is accepted.

While many prospective buyers may obtain prequalification letters from their mortgage lenders before searching for properties, they must still meet their individual lender’s requirements and secure approvals to obtain the home loan.

Home Appraisal Contingency 

Lenders want to make sure that they’re not lending more than a property is worth. This is a point they typically verify by requiring a home appraisal. If the home appraises for lower than the agreed-upon purchase price, it’s up to buyers and sellers to figure out how to cover the difference.

This could be done by the buyer paying more out of pocket or by the seller agreeing to lower the home’s total cost. If the home buyer has an appraisal contingency, they’ll have more leverage when negotiating the sale price with the seller. 

Home Inspection Contingency

Of course, it’s also common for home buyers to place contingencies based on a home inspection checking out. In effect, it serves as an escape clause should inspectors find mold, structural issues, water leaks or other red flags that purchasers are unwilling to take a risk on.

Should a home inspection turn up problems, many buyers may opt to request money for repairs or that maintenance be done prior to the sale of the property by the seller. They may also negotiate for a lower sale price or walk away from the contract outright.

Home Sale Contingency 

Many buyers who are currently homeowners make their offers contingent on the sale of their existing home, so they’re not inadvertently stuck paying two mortgages. But there’s no guarantee, especially in uncertain markets, that this property will be sold in the time allotted.

If not, buyers may be unwilling to proceed with the deal or unable to qualify for financing based on the added expense on top of that associated with their current home.

Let’s say Taylor, a 30-year homeowner, is looking to buy a house that’s larger than their current home, and offers more space for their growing family. When they make an offer on a property and put down earnest money, Taylor might include a few fail-safes, like a home inspection contingency, that requires any deficiencies that an inspector finds to be taken care of within 10 days.

The contingency also includes a clause that makes any purchase offer contingent on the sale of their existing home prior to closing. Both may prove a handy way out of the home sale if, for instance, there’s evidence of flooding on the property or if Taylor is unable to sell their existing home and can’t afford to pay for two mortgages simultaneously.

Just like “under contract,” a pending sale means that a homeowner has accepted a buyer’s offer. However, it generally means that most contingencies have already been addressed and a contract has been signed. All that remains of the process is to finalize closing and escrow.

At this point, the sale of the property is nearly final – but the property still hasn’t officially traded hands. If a home currently has a pending status, you may still be able to put in a backup offer. However, be advised that the seller’s hands are largely tied, and odds are you won’t acquire the property unless the original deal falls through.

Yes, due to contingencies and/or unexpected events that arise leading up to closing, home buyers can back out of a sale. There are many reasons real estate purchase agreements may never come to fruition, despite both buyers’ and sellers’ best intentions.

Among the most common are:

• Low appraisals, and the subsequent inability to either secure a loan from a mortgage lender or work terms out with the property seller.

• Home inspection issues, which must be addressed within a certain time-limited period, and the prospective issues and concerns that they may uncover.

• Problems with the buyer obtaining financing, which can occur for many reasons, such as job loss or issues relating to debt-to-income (DTI) ratio.

• A buyer’s inability to sell their existing property.

While there are many reasons a buyer can back out of a sale, it doesn’t always mean they will get their earnest money deposit back.

A home that’s under contract indicates a seller has accepted a buyer’s offer to purchase the property. But before the sale of the home can actually close, certain contingencies must first be met. Otherwise, the deal can still fall through.

The next time you’re browsing a listing service and see that a home is under contract, don’t assume that it’s off the market for good. You may get a chance to take a crack at buying it.

Ready to purchase a property for sale in your area? You can start the mortgage process today in minutes with help from Rocket Mortgage^®.