Real Estate
Advanced Legal Documents
Residential Real Estate Purchase Agreement
Buy or sell a home with the contingencies, deadlines, and closing terms that decide whether the transaction actually completes.
Also called: real estate purchase agreement, home purchase contract, for sale by owner contract.
What you walk away with
A clean multi-page PDF and DOCX after you finish — not a web-form dump. Preview the document before you pay.
- PDF export
- DOCX export
- E-sign included
- No subscription
Real estate is the most locally regulated area in this catalog. Required disclosures, contingency periods, escrow handling, recording, transfer tax, and available remedies are set by state and often county law, and several states require an attorney at closing. This agreement states no deadline, rate, or required disclosure form.
Jurisdiction details
See how this document starts in your state
Choose the state where the document will be used. The state page shows the maintained coverage level, local-rule limits, and a builder link with the canonical state code already selected.
When this fits
Use this document when…
- A private sale between buyer and seller without agents
- Recording terms already agreed before going to a title company
- A family or off-market sale
- Any purchase where financing or inspection matters
Before you start
Information you will need
- Seller and buyer details, matching the deed and how title will be held
- The property, its legal description, and included and excluded items
- Purchase price, earnest money, and who holds it
- Financing arrangements and the financing deadline
- Inspection, appraisal, and title review terms
- Seller disclosures, closing date, costs, and prorations
- Risk of loss before closing, default terms, and the governing state
What you receive
- An eleven-article Purchase Agreement
- Signature blocks for seller and buyer
- Completion and closing instructions
- PDF and editable DOCX export
Document questions
Questions about this document
What is a Residential Real Estate Purchase Agreement?
Buy or sell a home with the contingencies, deadlines, and closing terms that decide whether the transaction actually completes.
How do I create a Residential Real Estate Purchase Agreement?
A private sale between buyer and seller without agents; Recording terms already agreed before going to a title company; A family or off-market sale
What should a Residential Real Estate Purchase Agreement include?
Seller and buyer details, matching the deed and how title will be held; The property, its legal description, and included and excluded items; Purchase price, earnest money, and who holds it; Financing arrangements and the financing deadline; Inspection, appraisal, and title review terms
Special situations
- Have a real estate attorney review this before signing. It is the largest transaction most people ever make, requirements are county-specific, and several states expect an attorney at closing.
- Diarise every contingency deadline the day you sign. Financing, inspection, and appraisal rights disappear when their periods expire, whatever you discover afterwards.
- Never give earnest money directly to the seller. It belongs with a title company, escrow agent, or broker.
- Most states require a written property condition disclosure, and federal law requires a lead-based paint disclosure for older housing. Both are prescribed documents provided separately.
- Expect a warranty deed rather than a quitclaim. A quitclaim warrants nothing about what the seller actually owns.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an attorney for this?
You should have one review it, and in several states you will need one at closing. This is the largest transaction most people ever make, and the requirements are county-specific in ways no general form can anticipate. This agreement organises the terms; it does not replace local advice.
What happens if my financing falls through?
That depends entirely on the financing contingency. Within the period, a buyer who cannot obtain financing can generally withdraw and recover earnest money. After it expires, the buyer is committed regardless — which is why waiving or missing that deadline is the most expensive decision in the document.
Who should hold the earnest money?
A neutral third party: a title company, escrow agent, or broker. Never the seller. Money handed directly to a seller is extremely difficult to recover if the deal collapses, whatever the agreement says.
What if the inspection finds something bad?
Within the inspection period you can generally withdraw, renegotiate, or require repairs — depending on what the agreement says. Say which in advance. Once the period expires without notice, the right is usually gone whatever the inspection revealed.
What is the difference between a warranty deed and a quitclaim?
A warranty deed guarantees the seller owns what they are selling and will defend that title. A quitclaim transfers whatever interest they happen to have and promises nothing. For a purchase, expect a warranty deed and title insurance.
Who bears the risk if the house is damaged before closing?
Whatever the risk of loss term says. Weeks usually pass between agreement and closing, and fire, storm, and flood in that window are exactly what this term exists for. It is the one most often left unconsidered until it matters.
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Not legal advice
Locke Direct helps structure documents and workflows. It does not replace a qualified lawyer for complex, unusual, or high-risk situations.
Last reviewed July 29, 2026.