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A
A type of commission
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B
A condition that must be met for the contract to proceed to closing — common examples include financing, inspection, and appraisal contingencies; if a contingency is not satisfied, the buyer can typically cancel and recover earnest money
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C
The closing date
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D
The down payment amount
Why this is the answer
CONTINGENCY: A CONDITION written into a purchase contract that must be satisfied (or waived) for the contract to proceed to closing. If a contingency is not met, the protected party (usually the buyer) can cancel the contract — typically recovering their earnest money. COMMON CONTINGENCIES: FINANCING (loan approval contingency — buyer must obtain a mortgage); INSPECTION (buyer can have the property inspected and cancel/negotiate based on findings); APPRAISAL (property must appraise at or above the purchase price for the loan); SALE OF BUYER'S CURRENT HOME (buyer must sell their existing home first); TITLE (clear, marketable title); PURPOSE: Contingencies protect the buyer from being bound to purchase if key conditions aren't met; DEADLINES: Each contingency has a deadline; failing to act/remove by the deadline may waive it; REMOVAL/WAIVER: When satisfied or waived, the contingency is removed and the contract proceeds; a contract with fewer contingencies is more attractive to sellers (more certain) but riskier for buyers; contingencies are fundamental contract knowledge on the national exam — conditions protecting parties, with earnest money typically returned if a valid contingency fails.
Source: Real Estate National — Contracts, Contingencies