Don't give them shit for money. If that contract doesn't have the roof in it and you give them 1,000 then you are agreeing to the contract. You can still get your 1,000 back, but if you signed the contract contingent on the inspection, obviously the inspection now shows some issues.... If that's the case, walk away or make whatever Realtor is demanding the earnest money, re-write the contract pending the repair of the roof. Also, Fannie Mae isn't the one that is writing the contract, they just give the guidelines, so that Realtor can definitely put the roof issue in the contract. I had a bad front door, and missing vent cap when I was buying my house, they didn't want to fix either, I told them I would walk, both were in the final contract, fixed for free. All of the above is valid info that others have posted, but no way in hell I would agree to a house knowing it needed a new roof, even if it was 1,500 bucks unless I was getting a credit on the HUD1 from seller for 1,500. Then sure.