Warning: ini_set(): Headers already sent. You cannot change the session module's ini settings at this time in /home/findlegalforms/public_html/xcart/bots.php on line 16
0US1 Contract For Sale Of Real Estate. Easy and Quick to Use. 2

Contract for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate Legal Forms

Agreements and forms necessary for conducting real estate transactions that do not involve a broker.

Popular - This Contract for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate Kit includes the agreement and forms necessary for conducting real estate transactions that do not involve a Broker. Included in this attorney-prepared Kit are Agreements for Residential Real Estate Sale and for Sale of Land, as well as New Loan or Assumption of Loan Agreements. These Agreements have been specifically designed to provide with all the information and forms you will need to conduct these types of transactions with ease and confidence. Available to download immediately, and for use in all states.

Contracts for the Sale and Purchase of Real Estate FAQ

What are contracts for the sale and purchase of real estate?

In order to make a purchase or a sale of real estate outside of the confines of a broker, the proper contracts must be used. These contracts – including land sale contracts, new loans or loan assumptions, and financing contracts – are what make direct sales and purchases of real estate happen with the full enforcement of legally-binding paperwork.

What types of contracts do these include?

To answer in greater detail, we’ll examine a number of contracts that fall under the umbrella of real estate sales and purchases.

  • Residential Real Estate Contracts;
  • Real Estate Contract for Sale with Cash or Seller Financing;
  • Real Estate Contract for Sales of Land;
  • Offers to Purchase Real Estate;
  • New Loan / Loan Assumption Contracts.

What is a residential real estate contract?

Perhaps the “standard” real estate contract for purchasing or selling for people with residential homes, this type of contract is designed for both buyers and sellers of residential real estate. When not working with a real estate broker, this is the type of contract that will be necessary to ensure that a purchase is made and is fully enforceable by law.

What is a real estate contract for sale with cash or seller financing?

Similar to the contracts used above, this contract comes with additional terms that outline how the financing of the purchase will be made. This contract, like many others dealing with direct transactions, is also for transactions outside of real estate brokers.

What is a real estate contract for the sale of land?

When land is being sold as the whole property itself – in other words, it doesn’t have any residential or commercial property on it – then a real estate contract for the sale of land (or simply “land sale”) is most appropriate to suit the ransaction.

These contracts are also for any transactions or land purchases made outside a conventional real estate broker; in other words, they are for direct land sales.

What are offers to purchase real estate?

Making a formal offer to purchase real estate is one of the most important steps in the entire process, which is why it’s so important to put it down in writing. These written documents outline the parties of the transaction, the description and location of the property in question, the actual amount of the offer, as well as conditions of the offer which might invalidate it if not met.

What are new loan or loan assumption contracts?

It’s important to put the conditions of new loans, as well as loan assumptions related to the purchase or sale of real estate, down in writing. These contracts help ensure that lawful actions will be enforced should any complications from real estate loans arise.

How do I know which contract I need for my real estate transaction?

You should know your specific goals in order to determine which contract will be best for you. Some answers will be obvious – a land sale contract will work for your land sale, for example – but if you aren’t sure which ones to use, you’ll likely want to hesitate before you put anything down in writing.

Additionally, you might consider reviewing all of the potential contracts you might be able to use before you settle on the one that is for your most pressing need.

How do real estate contracts vary from state to state?

Because real estate transactions are regulated mostly by the states in which they take place, there is a high degree of variability in real estate laws from state to state. In some states, lenders will retain ownership of a house until the mortgage has been paid in full; in others, the borrower will own the home right away. It’s important that you ensure you have the appropriate real estate contracts for your state before you attempt to enter into a direct transaction between you and a real estate buyer or seller.

When is a contract for the sale and purchase of real estate enforceable?

A validly-signed real estate contract (see below) will be enforceable upon its signing by both parties involved. Other details must be filled in to the contract to make it enforceable, such as the real estate involved and how the payment is to be handled on the purchase.

What are the requirements for contracts for the sale and purchase of real estate to be valid?

Every legally binding contract has a number of requirements that must be met in order to be considered valid. Typically, these include:

  • Consideration: are both parties awarded something as the result of a contract, such as payment or the ownership of a house? Most real estate transactions do not have to worry about consideration.
  • Consent and capacity: Are both parties signing the document in full mental capacity and at liberty to sign these documents on their own behalf? (Or, in some cases, do these signors have Power of Attorney to represent someone else?)

Additionally, it is important that real estate be sold with full title and deed belonging to the owner, though each state’s laws regarding real estate loans and home titles vary. Also, some real estate contracts do not require that a person guarantee their ownership of a deed before they sell this real estate.

Understanding how real estate contracts vary from state to state is an integral part of understanding how the process will be where you live. Make sure you have the right contracts for your state before you enter into any of these real estate transactions.

When is a contract for the sale and purchase of real estate effective?

Most real estate contracts will be effective upon their signing, though some may require a witness or notarization in order to be considered fully valid and enforceable. If the individual contract outlines a separate sales date, then that sales date will the date the contract is considered to be effective.

Never Miss a Deal Again with Solid Real Estate Sales Contracts

Real estate is a big business. Sure, the times are tough out there – home prices haven’t seemed to recover, and a lot of people are nervous about real estate. But in tough times, the necessity for a good real estate sales contract is even more apparent. You do, after all, want to keep the money you earn from these sales without any legal quibble or hassle.

That’s the goal of a real estate sales contract, of course – to make the agreement ironclad so that it will stand up in a court of law. Of course, any legal form that is this ironclad will discourage bad behavior, which is exactly what you want. But let’s dig a little deeper into the world of real estate sales contracts and see how you can make the most of the ones you download here at FindLegalForms.com.

Understanding the Real Estate Transaction

For many of us, the home we buy is one of the most valuable investments we’ll ever make. Whether or not you get a good return on that investment is up to a few factors, such as:

  • The market: the market of house prices is really one of the main determining factors as to the price of your home – other than the quality and location of the home itself. You’ll want to keep in tuned with the market and stick to the classic “buy low and sell high” model. If you’ve been paying attention, that means that right now is one of the best times to buy some real estate, as long as you have the patience to ride out a recession.
  • The quality of your transaction: Not only is it important that you make a good purchase or sale on your real estate, but it’s important that you have the legal forms to back your strategy up. You want to put the agreement in writing so that neither party can go back on it, and so the terms of the transaction (and change of ownership) itself is put in clear writing. These clear plans make it easier on both parties to do business, and easy business is generally good business.

Of course, what actually goes into a real estate sale contract might still elude you. So let’s close in on some more of those details and explain what the form is all about.

The Real Estate Sales Contract

Quite simply, this type of contract is an agreement between two people for the transaction of real estate. Two parties are usually involved – the buyer(s) and the seller(s), although the transaction form can really refer to both parties as anything it likes, provided those terms are defined at the top of the contract.

This contract will include certain necessary details like the price to be paid for the real estate, the location of the real estate, and how the transaction is to occur. If you want to make sure your real estate transaction goes smoothly, we encourage you to check out one of our sales forms.

Who are the Participants in the Home Buying Process

The typical parties who will be instrumental in the purchase or sell of a home include:

Lender: A bank or mortgage company which provides the funds for the purchase of a home.

Buyer: A person purchasing a home. The buyer may search for a home with or without the help of a real estate agent (a buyer’s agent or seller’s agent).

Seller: A person selling a home. The seller usually works closely with a real estate agent to sell his/her home.

Real Estate Agent: There are two types of real estate agents. Either real estate agent may be a certified realtor or a lawyer specializing in real estate: (i) Selling Agent: A person who earns a commission on the sale of a home from the seller; (ii) Buyer’s Agent: A person who earns a commission on the purchase of a home from the buyer.

Home Inspector: A real estate professional who inspects a home prior to settlement day. The final result is a report detailing the condition of the house.

Home Appraiser: a real estate professional who sets a dollar value for a home’s worth, using standard appraisal criteria. The appraisal is one of the important documents required at closing. **

How Much Home Can You Afford?

Lenders will review your income, debt, and savings information to determine how much money they are willing to lend you towards your home purchase. Lenders will provide you with an estimate on how much you can qualify to spend toward the purchase of a home. This estimate is the maximum amount that the lender is willing to lend you. Based on your lifestyle and needs, you should consider how much you are willing to spend on the purchase of a home. In some cases, the home buyer is not willing to invest as much of their income toward a house as he or she can actually afford. Below are further details about the kinds of information used to determine how much you can afford, namely income, debt, and housing-related expenses.

1. Income: Your income will be critical in computing how much you can afford to pay (using current lending guidelines) for housing-related expenses. Your income information is included in the PITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance) and PITIO debt ratio (PITI and other debt) calculations. Your ability to meet the PITI, or front-end ratio, and the PITIO ratio, or debt ratio, can have an impact on a lender’s decision to offer you a loan. Different loan programs have their own rules regarding the percent- age of income that can be applied toward monthly house payments. For example, government loan programs such as FHA and VA have ratios that allow you to apply a higher percentage of your income toward the loan. While conventional loan front-end ratios generally run around 28 percent, FHA allows you to apply 29 percent and VA allows you to apply 41 percent. Basically, this means that your monthly loan payment should be no more than 28 percent, 29 percent, or 41 percent of total monthly income, depending on the loan program.

2. Debt: A lender carefully considers your debt information when it assesses your ability to repay a loan. Your debt information is included in the PITIO, or debt ratio calculation. Loan programs have different rules regarding the percentage of income that can apply towards long-term debt. Your ability to meet the ratio requirements can affect a lender’s decision to offer you a loan. Government loan programs such as FHA and VA allow you to apply a higher percentage of your debt requirements towards the loan. While conventional loan debt ratios generally run around 36 percent, FHA and VA al- low you to apply 41 percent. Basically, this means that your long-term monthly debt payment plus your monthly loan payment can equal no more than 36 percent or 41 percent of total monthly income, depending on the loan program.

3. Housing-Related Expenses: Housing-related expenses are another category that lenders consider. These expenses often depend on the location and type of home. This will influence the amount of the loan for which you can qualify and may be one of the most critical factors in your decision to buy a home. You should consider how hous- ing-related expenses could affect your budget. The purchase of a home may increase your monthly expenses and reduce the amount of money you have remaining to support your lifestyle. Typical home expenses include:

4. Property tax: This expense is dependent on the location of the home. Different counties and states have different property tax requirements. As a home buyer, you would be wise to consider how this additional expense will impact your total monthly expenses.

5. Maintenance costs: This expense includes anything from washers in the faucets to a new roof or heating system and varies by the geographic location, size, and age of a home.

6. Utility costs: This expense includes items such as electric, gas, water, and heating and air conditioning, and varies by geographic location, size, season, and age of a home. The type of construction (i.e. gas, electric) may also be a factor in your utility cost estimates.

7. Mortgage insurance (if applicable): This expense can vary by mortgage insurance company, lender, type of loan, and loan-to-value percentage of the loan.

8. Other Costs: These expenses vary depending on the type of home and geographic location. These costs can include: homeowner association fees; flood insurance; other required property insurance; condominium assessment fees; and other condominium escrow items.

It usually takes a lender between 1-6 weeks to complete the evaluation of your loan application. It’s not unusual for the lender to ask for more information once the loan application has been submitted. The sooner you can provide the information, the faster your loan application will be processed. Once all the information has been verified, the lender will call you to let you know the outcome of your application. If the loan is approved, a closing date is set up and the lender will review the closing with you. After closing, you’ll be able to move into your new home. **

# 526

Attorney prepared

Our forms are kept up-to-date and accurate by our lawyers

Unlike other sites, every document on FindLegalForms.com is prepared by an attorney, so you can be sure that you are getting a form that is accurate and valid in your state.

Valid in your state

Our forms are guaranteed
to be valid in your state

Our team works tirelessly to keep our products current. As the laws change in your state, so do our forms.

Instant download

Download your form in
a format you can use

After you place your order, your forms will be available for immediate download. You can save the file for later use or print it immediately. We make all formats available to you at no extra charge.

Free eSignature

Sign your form online, free with any form purchase

We now provide a free Electronic Signature Service to all of our visitors. There are no hidden charges or subscription fees, it's just plain free.

Over 3,500,000 satisfied customers

In over 10 years of creating and selling legal forms, our focus has never changed: providing our customers high quality legal products, low prices and an experience that takes some confusion out of the law.

60-Days Money Back

Try our forms with no risk

If you are unhappy with your form purchase for any reason at all, contact us within 60 days and we will refund 100% of your money back.