Purchase-contract contingencies, explained
A contingency is an escape hatch: a condition written into the contract that lets one party walk away — usually with their deposit back — if it is not met. Tap any one below for what it protects, who it protects, the typical window, and what waiving it really means.
Every contingency shifts risk. A buyer with many contingencies is well protected but looks weaker to a seller weighing offers; a buyer who waives them looks stronger but takes on real exposure. There is no universally right number — only the trade-off that fits your deal, your finances, and your market. Each card is tagged with whose interest the contingency mainly protects:
Tap a contingency to expand · tap again to close
Educational only — not legal or financial advice. Contingencies, timelines, and what is customary vary by state, contract, and market; your agent and attorney guide your specific deal. The windows shown are typical ranges, not rules — your contract controls. Nothing here guarantees any outcome, and waiving a contingency can carry real financial and legal risk.
DealDesk tracks every contingency deadline on every deal — so a window never quietly expires.
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