Back Up Offer? What Is That?

By
Real Estate Agent with Assoc. Broker/Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, @HomesBirmingham & Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL

Back Up Offer?  What Is That?

As a potential home buyer, you may have started to wonder how and when you are going to find your home... your perfect home.Back Up Offer?  What Is That?

The home that calls your name and makes you feel like you could never leave. The home that you see in your dreams.

Or perhaps you've adjusted your mindset and determined that you don't need "everything" on your want/need list for your new home. Maybe you've even gotten to the point where you are just grateful to have at least found a home that is for sale.

In areas with tight inventory, you may be having a hard time finding your home and, as such, you may be considering writing a backup offer for the home(s) you are considering.

A backup offer is an agreement you make with the home seller after they have accepted another offer by a different buyer. A backup offer places you second in line for the property.

If the first offer contains any contingencies requiring sale or appraisal of another home or financing or even an inspection, and they are not met, then you are the next in line and under contract to purchase the home. The offer applies unless or until you find another home that you want to place an offer on. In that case you would need to withdraw your backup offer.

In this day and age, with inventory at all time lows, finding a home, your home, can be difficult. Choosing to submit a backup offer is not easy, either, but could be worth it.  Contact me to see how I can help you "win" the home of your dreams.

Nick T Pappas

If you need a knowledgeable real estate professional in Madison or Huntsville Alabama area, why don't you let me Google that for you! I also know outstanding agents in all states and Canada should you need help relocating to a new area.

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Comments (15)

Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

With limited inventory, back-up offers seem like a great idea Nick.  You never know what's going to happen with the initial offer, so being next in line couldn't hurt. 

Mar 13, 2013 09:47 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Great advice, Nick.  Buyers these days need to pull out all the stops.

Mar 13, 2013 10:05 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Nick I am not seeing back-up offers around here yet.  But if inventory starts to tighten-up, who knows we might start seeing them.

Mar 13, 2013 10:07 AM
Kathy Stoltman
Balboa Real Estate - Ventura, CA
Ventura County Real Estate Consultant 805-746-1793

I have been lucky with some of my backup offers going through and usually for the short sale back up offers the process is much faster.

Mar 13, 2013 10:18 AM
Peggy Wester
Realty Executives Integrity - Grafton, WI
Real Estate Agent Ozaukee & Washington County

Have only had a few of these in my career, but I agree that with the way the market is going, it might be a good option for some buyers. Competition is getting tough!

Mar 13, 2013 10:21 AM
Richard Dolbeare, R(B)
eXp Realty - Wailuku, HI
R(B), ABR, CRS...Hawaii Multi-Island Specialist

More and more are commenting on the difficulty that buyers are having now that the market has shifted.  I'm seeing that here in Hawaii as well.

Aloha & best wishes.

Mar 13, 2013 10:58 AM
Mark Loewenberg
KW of the Palm Beaches - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
KW 561-214-0370

totally agree this is a great time to get a back up in.. the seller may like the peace of mind and take a lower number thinking they are golden and with mortgages today, it may be a 1 out of 3 or 1 out of 4 opportunity to win the house down the road! great odds!

Mar 13, 2013 11:46 AM
Ed Silva
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Nick, as George offers, we don't see many back-up offers around here yet, but still hoping we get that turn

Mar 13, 2013 11:58 AM
Maria Morton
Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

Nick, with inventory down, we are seeing more back up offers around here.

Mar 13, 2013 12:44 PM
Wayne Johnson
Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper REALTORS® - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio REALTOR, San Antonio Homes For Sale

Nick-I can see how a buyer would consider submitting a back up offer. At least you are on deck- which is better than being out of the game.

Mar 13, 2013 03:30 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Depending on the circumstances, back up offers can be an excellent idea.  I have some folks that should go under agreement today because they allowed me to present a back up offer last month.

Mar 13, 2013 09:41 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Nick, great post for buyers to understand what a back up offer is.    Here in Denver there are many put on homes right now with so few listings to be had.

Mar 14, 2013 07:17 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Nick, With low inventory and the lengthy waiting period for Short Sales, I encourage my buyers to go forth with back ups.

Mar 14, 2013 09:28 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Hi Nick,

I think most buyers are struggling to find the right house, based on low inventory. A back-up offer makes perfect sense.

Nice post - It pays for buyers to consult with you and hire you as their Realtor. Your experience is above the best because you're even better.

All the best to you for continued success.

Mar 15, 2013 12:27 AM
Debbie Walsh
Shahar Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Occasionally I have a listing that gets back up offers.  It is nice because than you know it is something that will sell for sure in a certain amount of time. 

Mar 15, 2013 05:25 AM

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