It can be fine, and the right approach depends on what you plan to do with the home. Buying it as an investment and keeping the tenant? Ask for the rent roll and payment history before you commit. That record tells you whether the tenant pays on time and whether they're at market rent or well below it, which is money you may be able to capture later. A reliable, paying tenant already in place can be a real plus for an investor. Buying it to live in yourself flips the calculus. We'd strongly prefer the tenant be fully out before closing, and out a few days early, so you can do a proper final walkthrough on a vacant home. This matters most in tenant-friendly states like California, where removing a tenant who doesn't want to leave can be slow and difficult. That's exactly why your agent may suggest a contingency tied to the tenant actually vacating. Treat that as sensible protection. Tenant law varies by location, and this is general guidance rather than formal legal advice, so lean on your own agent's counsel for your specific deal. Get the rent roll if you're keeping the tenant. Insist on a vacant, walked-through home if you're moving in.