a real estate contingency is a provision that something must be overcome or approved to consummate a transaction. the major ones are for property condition or inspection and loan or finance (to include appraisal). (on rare occasions, such as some tenant occupied properties, the buyer may have to make an offer first and then, after it’s accepted, view the home or apartment building. in that case it’s “write offer subject to inspection” – a contingency that you’ll accept it after you get into escrow! the two we see most common are these: some homes are part of a co-op (cooperative) and in a few areas around the country, i think mainly in new york city, a board must approve whomever wants to purchase the home or unit.