An appraisal gap contingency in real estate transactions in Virginia is a clause included in a purchase agreement that addresses the scenario where the home’s appraised value comes in lower than the agreed purchase price. This contingency protects buyers by allowing them to renegotiate the price, request the seller to lower the price to match the appraisal, or walk away from the deal and recover their earnest money if the home does not appraise for at least the contract price.

Regular Market: In Virginia’s competitive real estate markets, this contingency can be crucial for buyers, especially if they are not prepared to pay the difference out of pocket between the appraised value and the sale price.

Hot Market: However, in hot markets, some buyers might waive this contingency to make their offer more attractive, accepting the risk of covering any appraisal gap themselves. The specifics of how this contingency works can be outlined in the contract, often including a deadline by which the appraisal must be completed and the options available if the appraisal is low.

Recommendation: Opt for an appraisal gap contingency with limited protection. For instance, if you’re buying a property for $100,000, your contract might specify that you agree to cover any shortfall up to $5,000. Here’s how it works: if the appraisal comes in at $96,000, there’s a $4,000 gap, which you would cover without any negotiation on the purchase price. However, should the appraisal dip to $94,000, creating a $6,000 gap, you would then have the right to renegotiate the terms of the original agreement