Economists' Outlook

Housing stats and analysis from NAR's research experts.

76 Percent of Homes Sold in January 2018 Had Buyer Contingencies

In a monthly survey of REALTORS®, the survey asks buyer’s agents about the characteristics of their most recent sale for the month. The survey asks, “Was there a contingency?”

According to a survey of REALTORS® who responded to the  January 2018 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey, 76 percent of buyer’s agents who closed a sale in January 2018 reported that the closed sale had a buyer contingency.

Home inspection was the most common contingency, reported by 58 percent of buyer’s agents who reported a buyer contingency.[1] Getting the correct appraisal and obtaining financing were the next most common buyer contingencies, which were reported by nearly four in ten of buyers’ agents who closed a sale.

Buyers’ contingencies are a safeguard for buyers, and as the data shows, most contracts that closed do have a buyer contingency.  So as a buyer’s agent assisting a buyer nail a home in this seller’s market, don’t skip out on including a contingency that safeguards the buyer’s interest. You won’t be the odd man out.

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[1] Based on the respondent’s most recent sale for the month. These most recent sales can be deemed to be a random sample of all sales.

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