Can a purchase agreement be e-signed?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.

Is notarization required for the agreement itself?

Typically the purchase agreement does not require notarization, but deed acknowledgements almost always require a notary for recording; check county recorder requirements.

Can a deed be notarized remotely?

Remote online notarization (RON) is permitted in many states with identity proofing and recording of the session; verify state-specific RON rules before relying on remote notarization.

What if a signed field contains an error?

Minor clerical errors should be corrected by mutual amendment or addendum signed by all parties; material changes require a new agreement or explicit amendment.

Who must sign the agreement?

Only the parties with legal authority to convey or acquire title must sign; for entities, an authorized officer or trustee should sign indicating capacity.

How long should I keep the signed agreement?

Retain the agreement at least through closing and for several years after: minimum 3 years for tax records (IRC §6501(a)), and often 7+ years for real estate matters.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Real estate
House Purchase Agreement

House Purchase Agreement

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

HOUSE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Parties

This House Purchase Agreement (the Agreement) is entered into by and between Buyer Name: and Seller Name: .

Buyer Contact Information Seller Contact Information

Property

Property Street Address:

Parcel / APN Number Legal Description

Purchase Price and Deposits

Purchase Price (USD):

Earnest Money

Payable to (Escrow/Title): Due on or before:

Financing & Contingencies

This Agreement is contingent upon Buyer obtaining financing as described below. Financing Contingency: Buyer intends to obtain a mortgage loan in the amount of with an anticipated interest rate not to exceed .

Financing Commitment Deadline: . If Buyer fails to deliver a written loan commitment by such date, Seller may terminate this Agreement.

Inspections, Appraisal, and Title

Inspection Period: Buyer shall have days after mutual acceptance to conduct inspections. If Buyer objects to any condition, Buyer must provide Seller written notice prior to expiration and may elect to terminate or request repairs.

Appraisal Contingency: Required. If appraisal is less than Purchase Price, parties shall negotiate in good faith; if no agreement within days, either party may terminate.

Title and Survey

Disclosures

Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Applicable (if Property built before 1978): Yes No

If Yes, Seller disclosures (describe)

Known Prior Water Intrusion, Mold, or Material Damage: Yes No

If Yes, describe repairs or known issues

Homeowners Association (HOA) or common interest community documents required: Yes No

Closing and Possession

Closing Date: at escrow or title company specified herein. Possession to Buyer on: unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Prorations: Real property taxes, HOA fees, utilities, and other customary items shall be prorated as of the Closing Date.

Title, Conveyance and Closing Costs

Title to be conveyed by: subject to permitted exceptions. Title insurance shall be obtained at closing: Owner's Policy Lender's Policy

Closing Costs Allocation: Seller agrees to pay customary seller closing costs. Buyer agrees to pay lender fees, recording fees, and buyer's closing costs unless otherwise stated in writing.

Default, Remedies, and Indemnities

If Buyer defaults in performance, Seller may retain earnest money as liquidated damages or seek specific performance or other remedies available at law or equity. If Seller fails to convey marketable title or otherwise breaches, Buyer may elect to terminate and receive return of earnest money, pursue specific performance, or seek damages. The prevailing party in any action to enforce this Agreement shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.

Representations and Warranties

Seller represents and warrants that Seller is the lawful owner of the Property, has full authority to sell, the Property will be conveyed free of undisclosed liens and encumbrances, and there are no pending actions or condemnations affecting the Property other than as disclosed in writing. Buyer acknowledges reliance solely on Buyer's inspections and investigations except as expressly provided.

Miscellaneous

Entire Agreement: This Agreement, together with any addenda and exhibits executed by the parties, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements. No amendment shall be effective unless in writing and signed by both parties.

Governing Law: This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of .

Acknowledgments

Each signatory represents that they have the authority to enter into this Agreement, that they have read and understand its terms, and that they execute it voluntarily. Time is of the essence with respect to all dates contained herein unless expressly waived in writing.

Buyer Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Seller Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What a House Purchase Agreement Is and when it applies

A House Purchase Agreement is a legally binding contract that records the negotiated terms for the sale and transfer of residential real property between buyer(s) and seller(s). It typically identifies the parties, describes the property by legal description and address, states the purchase price and earnest money, lists contingencies (inspection, financing, title), allocates closing costs, sets a closing and possession date, and specifies remedies for default. The agreement governs obligations from mutual execution through recording and conveys enforceable rights that can be relied on by lenders, title companies, and courts.

Why a clear, professional House Purchase Agreement matters

A well-drafted agreement reduces ambiguity that can delay closing, protects both parties by allocating risks and costs, and creates an enforceable record for title transfer and lender underwriting. It also clarifies timelines, inspection and financing contingencies, and post-closing obligations.

Who typically prepares, reviews, and signs this agreement

Typical participants include buyers and sellers, real estate agents, lenders, title/escrow officers, and attorneys when complex issues arise.

Buyers: execute offer, satisfy contingencies, and arrange financing within agreed dates.
Sellers: provide property disclosures, clear title issues, and deliver possession at closing.
Title/escrow agents and lenders: confirm funds, prepare closing statements, and record deed.

Each participant has specific responsibilities: agents negotiate terms, lenders verify financing conditions, title companies confirm marketable title, and attorneys advise on legal consequences.

Core components to include in a professional agreement

A complete House Purchase Agreement groups key clauses into distinct sections so parties, title companies, and lenders can confirm compliance and close without surprises.

Parties

Full legal names and contact details for buyer(s) and seller(s); include entity type if a trust or corporation is involved and capacity to sign.

Property Description

Street address plus complete legal description or parcel number used by the county recorder to ensure the deed conveys the correct property.

Purchase Price

Total consideration, payment method, financing condition, and allocation of deposits and earnest money to escrow.

Contingencies

Inspection, appraisal, financing, title review, and any municipal approvals; specify cure periods and termination rights for failed contingencies.

Closing and Possession

Closing date, time, location or electronic closing provisions, possession date, and proration of taxes, HOA dues, or utilities.

Default Remedies

Buyer and seller remedies, dispute resolution mechanism, fee allocation, and any liquidated damages or forfeiture provisions.

Essential fields and data elements to capture

Buyer Name: Full legal name

Seller Name: Full legal name

Property Address: Street, city, state, ZIP

Legal Description: Parcel/legal lot description

Purchase Price: Numeric amount and currency

Closing Date: MM/DD/YYYY format

Step-by-step: completing and executing a House Purchase Agreement

Follow these sequential tasks to move from offer to signed contract and prepare for closing.

01

Prepare Offer: Draft terms, include contingencies, and attach disclosures.
02

Negotiate Terms: Exchange counteroffers and confirm deposit logistics.
03

Execute Agreement: All parties sign and date the final agreement.
04

Open Escrow: Deposit earnest money and deliver agreement to escrow/title.

Configuring an online completion workflow

Key configuration choices ensure accurate data capture, verifier authentication, and proper document routing for a digital closing.

Field	Configuration
Template Name	Use a descriptive name with property address for reuse
Signer Order	Set sequential or parallel signing based on negotiation
Authentication	Choose email, SMS code, or KBA depending on risk
Conditional Fields	Show financing clauses only when mortgage selected

Digital signing and technical distribution considerations

Confirm platform integrations with your title company, lender, and county recorder and that signed PDFs include a verifiable audit trail.

File Formats: PDF or PDF/A for recording
Integrations: Connect with title and escrow systems
Security: Timestamped audit trail required

Where to send the completed agreement and typical routing

Routing the executed agreement to the right parties enables timely closing, title clearance, and recording; follow this common flow.

To Escrow/Title: Escrow receives signed agreement and earnest money instructions
To Lender: Lender receives contract for loan underwriting
To Agents: Buyer/seller agents keep executed copies for files
To County Recorder: Deed and related instruments submitted for recording

Common deadlines and contingency timeframes

Timelines vary by transaction but these common deadlines appear in most agreements and must be tracked carefully.

Earnest Money Due:

Typically 3 business days after contract acceptance

Inspection Period:

Commonly 7–14 days to complete inspections and request repairs

Loan Contingency:

Buyer generally has 21–30 days to obtain financing

Closing Date:

Date the parties transfer ownership and funds

Recording Deadline:

Deed recorded shortly after closing per county processing

Common mistakes that delay closings

Using incomplete legal descriptions or abbreviating parcel identifiers leads to title rejections and recording delays.
Mismatched party names between contract, loan documents, and title report cause lender holdbacks or re-documentation.
Failing to specify proration methods for taxes and HOA dues results in post-closing disputes over credits.
Attempting to rely on verbal promises not included in the written agreement increases litigation and enforcement risk.

Consequences of an incorrect or incomplete agreement

Title Defects: May prevent recording and delay ownership transfer

Financing Failure: Buyer may forfeit earnest money if contingencies are poorly defined

Liability Exposure: Ambiguous disclosures can lead to seller liability claims

Closing Delays: Missing fields can halt lender funding and recording

Increased Costs: Rush fees, additional legal review, and re-documentation

Enforceability Risk: Improper signatures or lack of required notarization may impair enforcement

Practical examples: firms using digital signing for home sales

These summaries show how teams reduce friction and maintain compliance when moving purchase agreements online.

Martin Properties

Tim Martin streamlined closings by processing documents online

Mobile and offline signing enabled
The result was consistent compliance and faster document turnaround across multiple offices and buyers.

Optica Ventures LLC

Brian Fitzgibbons adopted electronic workflows for investor closings

Interface simplicity helped adoption
Their team reported easier customer transactions and fewer missed signature events during closings.

eSignature vendor comparison for signing House Purchase Agreements

Comparison of common commercial eSignature options and core plan starting prices; signNow is listed first per vendor ordering rules.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Frequently asked questions about House Purchase Agreements

Answers to common questions about execution, notarization, e-signatures, and post-closing handling for residential purchase agreements.

Need help? Contact support

Can a purchase agreement be e-signed?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.
Is notarization required for the agreement itself?
Typically the purchase agreement does not require notarization, but deed acknowledgements almost always require a notary for recording; check county recorder requirements.
Can a deed be notarized remotely?
Remote online notarization (RON) is permitted in many states with identity proofing and recording of the session; verify state-specific RON rules before relying on remote notarization.
What if a signed field contains an error?
Minor clerical errors should be corrected by mutual amendment or addendum signed by all parties; material changes require a new agreement or explicit amendment.
Who must sign the agreement?
Only the parties with legal authority to convey or acquire title must sign; for entities, an authorized officer or trustee should sign indicating capacity.
How long should I keep the signed agreement?
Retain the agreement at least through closing and for several years after: minimum 3 years for tax records (IRC §6501(a)), and often 7+ years for real estate matters.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now