Selling a home takes patience. Especially when you’re balancing your time between settling into your new home, and keeping up with your work and family life. So, when you’ve finally gotten to the point of accepting an offer on your home, you’ll probably breathe a sigh of relief--and you should!  However, there are still a few more things that will need to happen and a couple of things to consider before closing the deal on your home sale.

Contingencies on the purchase contract

A purchase contract typically includes contingency clauses that are designed to protect the interests of both the buyer and the seller. These clauses mean that the contract is contingent upon the actions being completed before it can be legally valid.

There are three main contingencies that will likely be included in the purchase contract before closing--inspection, financing, and appraisal.

Inspection contingency

The inspection contingency allows the buyer to have the home inspected by a professional before closing (the time should be specified within the contract, but the inspection should usually occur no more than two weeks after you accept the offer). A home inspection lets the buyer know what to expect in terms of repairs that the home needs now or will need in the near future.

Financing contingency

Since the vast majority of buyers will be purchasing their home through a loan, a financing contingency is included to allow the buyer time to secure their mortgage. Getting pre-qualified and pre-approved makes this process easier, but the buyer will still have to finalize and close on their mortgage before their financing is official.

This clause exists to protect the buyer in the event that their mortgage application is denied, ensuring that they aren’t penalized.

Appraisal contingency

The third contingency most often found in purchase contracts is a home appraisal. The buyer will order an appraisal and then the appraiser will reach out to you to find a day to come and value your home.

If the home is then appraised at the amount agreed upon in your contract, this contingency is met. However, if the appraisal comes up lower than the purchase amount, the buyer can renegotiate the price.

Walkthrough and closing

Once the appraisal and inspection have been met and financing secured, the buyer will have a chance to do a final walkthrough of your home. The walkthrough usually occurs no more than two days prior to closing on the sale. A walkthrough allows the buyer view the home one last time to ensure that the condition of the home hasn’t drastically changed since the home was inspected or appraised. So, make sure the buyer is aware of any changes you planned to make to the home before closing.

Now you’re ready to close on your home sale. You’ll receive a disclosure form to review (read it carefully!) and sign. Once closing is complete, ownership of the home is officially transferred to the buyer.

While the closing process does include several steps, it’s important to be available and cooperative along the way to ensure a smooth sale and transition into your new home.

Many times, advertisements create a false impression about reverse mortgages. Marketing depicts them as a simple, cheap way by which older homeowners can finance their retirement. It is critical to understand how reverse mortgages work because failure to do so might harm your financial future.

Studies show that many homeowners do not have a proper understanding of reverse mortgages. For a better understanding of what reverse mortgages are all about, here are some facts that you need to know:

You should understand that reverse mortgages are a home loan

Reverse mortgages are equity-secured, interest-bearing loans. You should also know that a reverse mortgage is not a government benefit. What it does is that it gives you the opportunity to convert your home equity into funds that can to use to cover any needs. 

Also, you must not forget that it comes with compounding interest and fees that, like any other loan, require repayment. Reverse mortgages are different from other home loans because there is no principal payment or interest during the time of the loan. Instead, your principal balance grows by the addition of this interest.

It is possible to forfeit your property with a reverse mortgage 

Another important fact that you should bear in mind concerning a reverse mortgage is that you can lose your home. Contrary to popular reverse mortgage advertising that you can always retain the ownership of your home, and that you can stay there for as long as you like, you might forfeit your property if you do not meet all their loan requirements. 

Examples of some loan obligations are home maintenance costs, property taxes, and others. If you are unable to meet all the loan requirements, you might lose your property to the lender. Losing your home not a palatable situation because you no longer have a place to rest your head and there is no more home equity.

You can outlive your loan money

Advertisements on reverse mortgages may tell you that they guarantee your financial security for the rest of your life. Do not rely on this statement. It is essential that you make necessary financial backup plans for your future.

Talk to your qualified financial advisor and consider all your options before signing up for a reverse mortgage. If you have a home with a reverse mortgage that you wish to sell, speak to your real estate professional about your options.