What Is Appraisal Contengency
What Is Appraisal Contingency: A Key to Protecting Your Home Purchase An appraisal contingency is a clause in a real estate contract that protects buyers by allowing them to back out of the deal if the home appraises for less than the agreed-upon purchase price. Essentially, it’s a safeguard that ensures buyers don’t overpay for a property while reassuring lenders that the home’s value justifies the loan amount. When you purchase a home, especially with a mortgage, the lender requires an independent third-party appraisal to assess the home’s market value. This appraisal helps determine how much the lender is willing to lend. If the appraisal comes back lower than the sale price, the lender may only approve a loan for the appraised value, leaving the buyer responsible for covering the difference out-of-pocket. With an appraisal contingency in place, the buyer has several options if the appraisal is lower than the purchase price. They can renegotiate the price with the sel...
