A contingent sale means a buyer's offer is conditioned on something else happening first, most commonly the sale of their current home. Under the California Association of REALTORS® standard form for this situation, called the Contingency for Sale of Buyer's Property, the buyer typically gets a default window of 17 days after acceptance to get their current home into contract. That number, like most of the deadlines in this form, is negotiable and can be shortened or lengthened depending on the seller's needs and how confident the buyer is in their local market. A few other provisions inside this form are also worth understanding before signing: Proof along the way: Once the buyer's home is under contract, they generally need to deliver documentation to the seller, often within just a couple of days, showing the sale is real and the listing and escrow details check out. Keeping each other informed: Buyers are typically expected to keep the seller updated on the status of their own sale, including any changes or delays, for as long as the contingency remains in place. The seller's right to keep showing: Sellers can continue marketing their home for back-up offers even after accepting a contingent offer. If a stronger back-up offer comes in, the form gives the seller a path to require the original buyer to remove their contingency within a short window, often just a couple of days, or risk losing the home to the back-up buyer. Negotiating when that clock starts: Parties can agree on whether the seller has that right immediately after acceptance, only after a delay (commonly 17 days), or not at all for the life of the contract, giving buyers some breathing room depending on how the terms are negotiated.
Why having your own REALTOR® at your side could be the smartest move you make
