New Home and Covid-19 Contingency

[Elizabeth Matos]

I am buying a newly built home on contingency but the builder is saying that because of Covid-19 they have taken a different route and will not start building my new home or any other contingency home, until our homes are in escrow.  Is this normal?  Are they trying to circumvent my purchase?  I am trying to think of some options.  Does that mean I need a 120 day escrow?  90 Days?  Most buyers are not going to like that.  The sales agent tells me it takes 84 days to build the house, plus weekends and holidays.  I had a buyer that I turned away because they had sold their house and only had a 45 day escrow.  Any ideas out there?