By Emeri & Joe Lewkowicz, The Lewkowicz Group
If you’re selling your home in Tampa, one of the biggest emotional rollercoasters you can experience is this: you go under contract… you start packing… you’re mentally moving on… and then suddenly, the buyer’s financing falls through.
After more than 40 years combined in Tampa Bay real estate, we can tell you this — financing fall-throughs happen. But they don’t have to derail your sale.
Let’s walk you through what every Tampa seller should understand, and more importantly, how to protect yourself.
First: Why Do Financing Fall-Throughs Happen?
In our market, we see financing issues fall into a few common categories:
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The buyer’s loan wasn’t fully underwritten upfront
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A low appraisal affects loan approval
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Debt-to-income ratio changes (buyer makes a large purchase before closing)
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Employment verification issues
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Condo financing challenges (very common in Florida)
Tampa has a diverse housing inventory — waterfront condos, historic homes in Seminole Heights, new construction in Wesley Chapel, luxury properties in South Tampa — and each property type comes with its own financing nuances.
For example, condo associations that don’t meet lending guidelines can cause sudden loan denials. This is something many agents don’t proactively investigate — but we do.
The Contract Matters More Than You Think
In Florida, most contracts include a financing contingency. This protects the buyer if they can’t secure a loan within a certain timeframe.
What sellers need to understand is this:
The financing contingency has deadlines.
If a buyer fails to secure financing and properly notifies you within the contingency period, they may be entitled to their deposit back. But if deadlines pass and procedures aren’t followed correctly, you may have leverage.
This is where experience matters.
We actively track contingency timelines and communicate with lenders from day one. We don’t wait until the last week to “see what happens.” Proactive communication prevents surprises.
Pre-Approval Is Not the Same as Loan Approval
Here’s something many sellers don’t realize: not all pre-approvals are created equal.
Some buyers are only pre-qualified based on unverified information. Others have gone through full underwriting upfront.
Before we advise our sellers to accept an offer, we look closely at:
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The strength of the lender
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Whether income and assets have been verified
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The buyer’s down payment structure
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The type of loan (FHA, VA, conventional, jumbo)
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Any condo or HOA red flags
Sometimes the highest offer isn’t the safest offer. A slightly lower offer with strong financing can close faster and with fewer risks.
That’s a strategic conversation we have with every seller.
Appraisal Issues in Tampa
In certain Tampa neighborhoods — especially rapidly appreciating areas like South Tampa, Water Street, or parts of St. Pete — appraisal gaps can cause financing problems.
If a home doesn’t appraise at the contract price, the lender will only finance up to the appraised value.
At that point, three things can happen:
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The buyer brings more cash to closing
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The seller lowers the price
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The deal falls apart
We prepare our sellers for this possibility ahead of time and negotiate appraisal gap clauses whenever possible.
How We Protect Our Sellers
After decades in this market, we’ve developed systems to minimize financing fallout:
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Vetting lenders before accepting offers
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Calling the loan officer personally
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Reviewing buyer strength beyond the surface
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Monitoring contingency deadlines
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Having backup buyers when possible
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Keeping marketing active strategically during early escrow
We treat every contract like it could hit turbulence — because sometimes it does.
And when it does? We don’t panic. We pivot.
What If the Deal Falls Through?
Here’s the part many sellers fear — but it’s not the end.
Tampa remains one of Florida’s strongest real estate markets, with consistent buyer demand driven by relocation, lifestyle appeal, and investment activity.
If a financing issue arises, we:
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Immediately re-market to our active buyer database
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Contact previous interested parties
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Reassess pricing strategy if needed
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Use the momentum of “back on market” strategically
In many cases, homes go back under contract quickly — sometimes at the same or even stronger terms.
The Bottom Line for Tampa Sellers
Financing fall-throughs aren’t common — but they’re possible.
The difference between a stressful experience and a smooth one often comes down to representation. When you work with experienced Tampa professionals who understand contract law, lending structures, neighborhood-specific appraisal trends, and local market dynamics, you dramatically reduce risk.
We don’t just put a sign in the yard.
We manage risk.
We protect your leverage.
And we guide you through every step with clarity and strategy.
If you’re considering selling in Tampa or anywhere in the greater Bay area, let’s talk. The right preparation upfront makes all the difference — and that’s where experience truly counts.
