Real Estate Contract: A Beginner’s Guide

If the real estate investment is new for you, you might not know what a real estate contract is or what types of contracts are available.

In real estate investing, contracts are quite important. When you strike a real estate deal as a property investor, you will need to negotiate and execute contracts. So, you must be well-versed in the numerous contracts you may encounter during your real estate profession. 

This article will provide you with a solid understanding  of what contracts of real estate are and their types so that you can make educated investment decisions.

What is a real estate agreement or a contract?

A real estate contract, a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties to exchange, purchase, or sell real property, contains the terms the parties agreed upon following the negotiations. 

Contracts of real estate, like any other legal transaction, are necessary for the completion of real estate transactions. They safeguard both parties and serve as the foundation for taking legal action if one of the parties fails to satisfy the contract’s requirements. 

The real estate contract law may differ from state to state. As a result, it’s better to consult an attorney before signing anything.

Requirements of contracts of real estate

For contracts of real estate to be enforceable, the following requirements must be as per the real estate contract law.

  • Offer

A written real estate contract is typically prepared, signed, and handed over to the opposing party when one party makes an offer. The other person either accepts, counters, rejects, or does not respond to the offer.

  • Acceptance

The other party can accept the offer by signing it. The contract must have both parties’ original signatures to be enforceable, and both parties should initiate if any change is required. The original offer will get terminated on making a counteroffer, and it will not be legally binding because both parties did not agree to the terms. 

  • Consideration

In a real estate transaction, this is something of value traded between the two parties, and money is the most common kind of consideration. 

  • Legal Authority

A contract should only be entered into by parties who are legally capable of doing so. They should not be mentally ill, minors, or anyone else.

Most common types of contracts of real estate

  • Purchase Contract

It is the most popular sort of contract of real estate out of all of them. A purchase agreement (sales contract) is a legally binding agreement among two parties (a property buyer and a property seller) to transfer ownership of a certain property. 

  • Real estate assignment contract

This type of real estate contract is typically utilized in a wholesale strategy to facilitate the sale of a home between a homeowner and a final buyer. A real estate assignment contract gets started when a property owner decides to sell the rights to buy the property to an investor, and both parties sign a contract committing to the upcoming transaction.

  • Lease agreement

A lease agreement is a contract that links a landlord (landlord) and a tenant (tenant) to a property. The landlord agrees to let the renter live in his or her property for a certain monthly fee.

  • Power of attorney

It is one of the most unusual sorts of contracts of real estate. When the principal (a person who has given authorization for someone else to act in his or her place) cannot physically sign a real estate deal, a Power of Attorney is employed. 

In this situation, the principal will choose someone to act as their power of attorney and sign the contract on their behalf.

To Conclude:

You’ll almost certainly sign a real estate contract if you’re buying your first investment property or conducting any other real estate operations. In real estate, both novice and experienced investors utilize various contracts, and each one has its own set of uses and requirements. As a result, having a good understanding and knowledge of these types of contracts of real estate will help you navigate the real estate industry more easily. 

When it comes to the fine print, it is wise to employ a real estate attorney familiar with these types of transactions.

Scroll to Top