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THE ROOTS

Expiration

All Terms
Core termContracts, Legal & TitleBuying

Definition

This is your expiration time—if the seller hasn't accepted by this time, the offer is dead and you're no longer bound by it. It creates urgency and prevents offers hanging around forever.

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About this term

An expiration deadline is standard practice in real estate offers and protects the buyer by preventing the seller from considering the offer indefinitely. Once the expiration time passes, the buyer is no longer obligated to the offer terms unless it has already been accepted. Expiration times are typically 24-72 hours, though this varies by market conditions and agent strategy.

Pro Tip

Set reasonable expiration deadlines. Aggressive deadlines may offend sellers.

Example

The buyer's offer expired at 5:00 PM on Sunday if not accepted by the seller.

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