Quick answer: A contingent home purchase is an offer to buy a home that only becomes binding if a stated condition is met. For people relocating, the most common one is a home sale contingency: you agree to buy the new home only if your current home sells by a set date. It lets you line up a home in your new state without owning two homes at once, but sellers often see it as a weaker offer than one with no sale condition.
How a home sale contingency works
Your offer on the new home includes a clause that ties the purchase to the sale of your current home. The clause names a deadline. If your home sells in time, the purchase moves ahead. If it does not, you can usually cancel and get your earnest money back, depending on how the contract is written. The exact terms vary by state and by contract, so read the clause with your agent before you sign.
Two versions come up most often:
- Sale and settlement contingency. Your current home is not under contract yet. The purchase depends on you finding a buyer and closing.
- Settlement contingency. Your current home is already under contract. The purchase depends only on that sale closing on schedule. Sellers are generally more comfortable with this one.
Many sellers who accept a sale contingency add a kick-out clause. It lets them keep showing the home, and if another offer comes in, you get a short window to remove your contingency or step aside.
Why it matters for an out-of-state move
Moving across state lines adds distance to a process that is already tightly timed. You are working with two markets, often two agents, and two closing dates. A contingency is one way to keep those dates tied together so you are not carrying two mortgages or moving twice.
Your options, compared
| Approach | How it works | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Sell first, then buy | Close on your current home, then make an offer with no sale condition. | Strongest offer, but you may need temporary housing. |
| Buy with a sale contingency | Make the offer now, conditional on your home selling by a deadline. | One move, but a weaker offer in a competitive market. |
| Buy first, then sell | Buy the new home before the current one sells. | Most flexibility, but you carry both homes for a while. |
Which one fits depends on how fast homes are selling where you live now, how competitive your destination market is, and your financing. Ask a lender early how your current mortgage affects what you can qualify for on the next home. This article is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice.
How to make a contingent offer stronger
- List your current home before you make the offer, or have it ready to list right away.
- Get a full loan pre-approval, not just a pre-qualification.
- Keep the contingency deadline realistic for your local market.
- Have your two agents talk to each other so the closing dates line up.
Where Conservative Move fits
Conservative Move matches you with a vetted, like-minded real estate agent in the state you are moving to. If you also need an agent to sell your current home, we can connect you with one there too. If you already have a listing agent, keep them. Our referral service comes at no additional cost to you. The agent we introduce pays us a referral fee only when your move succeeds, and represents you under their own separate agreement.
Start your move or read our step-by-step guide to buying and selling a home across state lines.
Frequently asked questions
What is a contingent home purchase?
A contingent home purchase is an offer to buy a home that only becomes binding if a stated condition is met. For people relocating, the most common condition is that their current home sells by a set date.
Can I make a contingent offer on a home in another state?
Yes. A home sale contingency can be written into an offer in another state. The terms vary by state and contract, so review the clause with the agent representing you in the state where you are buying.
Will sellers accept a home sale contingency?
It depends on the market. In a competitive market sellers often prefer offers with no sale condition. An offer is stronger when your current home is already listed or under contract and you have a full loan pre-approval.
What is a kick-out clause?
A kick-out clause lets the seller keep showing the home after accepting a contingent offer. If another offer comes in, the first buyer gets a short window to remove the contingency or step aside.
Does Conservative Move charge a fee to help with this?
Our referral service comes at no additional cost to you. The agent we introduce pays us a referral fee only when your move succeeds, and represents you under their own separate agreement.