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Why is the home seller taking a risk accepting a first refusal #shorts

Why is the Home Seller Taking a Risk Accepting a First Refusal? #shorts

When you make a real estate offer contingent on selling your own house, coupled with requirements for a home inspection and mortgage approval, both parties enter a challenging and often risky phase. Here's how it typically unfolds:

You submit an offer, contingent upon the sale of your house. Additionally, you demand a home inspection and mortgage approval. Once these initial conditions—standard in many real estate transactions—are met, you wait for your house to sell.

For the seller, this situation is fraught with risk. They must hold out until your property sells, which could deter other interested buyers. Meanwhile, another prospective buyer might enter the scene, willing to buy the home without any need to sell their own first.

In such a case, the second buyer faces a similar dilemma. They might pay for home inspections, including specialized tests for wells and septic systems if it's a country property. These inspections can quickly accumulate costs. However, if your initial offer remains contingent upon your home sale, the second buyer risks being "bumped" off the deal, effectively wasting their time and money.


Keywords

  • Real estate offer
  • Contingent sale
  • Home inspection
  • Mortgage approval
  • Seller risk
  • Second buyer
  • Well inspection
  • Septic inspection

FAQ

Q: What does it mean for an offer to be contingent on the sale of my house?
A: It means that the purchase of the new home depends on the successful sale of your current home.

Q: Why is the seller at risk when accepting a contingent offer?
A: The seller takes a risk because the sale of their property is uncertain and hinges on the buyer's ability to sell their existing home, which could take time or even fail to happen.

Q: What are the potential financial pitfalls for a second buyer?
A: The second buyer may spend money on various inspections (home, well, and septic) only to find out that the contingent offer still stands and they are unable to proceed with their purchase.

Q: Can the second buyer remove the first buyer from the deal?
A: They cannot remove the first buyer, but they can make an offer. If the first buyer is able to waive their contingencies (like the sale of their house), they can prevent the second buyer from acquiring the property.

Q: What inspections might be needed for a country property?
A: For a country property, well and septic inspections, in addition to a general home inspection, might be necessary.