Can I sign this agreement electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted; ensure the platform captures signer intent, consent, attribution, and retains a reproducible record.

Is notarization still required for the deed?

Yes. Deeds generally require a notary acknowledgement for recording in most states; remote online notarization (RON) is allowed in many states with identity proofing and recording retention requirements.

What if a name on the agreement differs from title records?

Name mismatches can block closing and recording; reconcile names with recorded documents or provide an affidavit of identity and corrected deeds before recording.

How do I record the deed after closing?

Deliver the executed and acknowledged deed to the county recorder with required fees; recording practices and fees vary by county and may require original signatures.

How long should we keep the agreement?

Retain the recorded deed and signed agreement per federal and state rules; IRS guidance suggests keeping financial records at least 3 years (IRC §6501(a)) and HIPAA requires six years for health records (45 CFR §164.530(j)).

Can a buyer revoke after signing?

Revocation depends on contract terms and contingencies; absent an express rescission right, unilateral revocation may be a breach subject to damages or specific performance remedies.

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Purchase and Sale Agreement

Purchase and Sale Agreement

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

What a Purchase and Sale Agreement Is and when it applies

A Purchase and Sale Agreement is a legally binding contract that records the terms under which a seller agrees to transfer real property to a buyer and the buyer agrees to pay the stated purchase price. The agreement typically sets purchase price, deposit or earnest money, financing and inspection contingencies, closing date, prorations, title and closing procedures, and any required disclosures. It allocates risk between purchaser and seller during due diligence and establishes the conditions precedent to closing, including lender approvals, surveys, and clear title.

Why a clear Purchase and Sale Agreement matters

A clear Purchase and Sale Agreement reduces ambiguity about price, timing, and responsibilities, limits disputes, and preserves remedies for breach. It creates enforceable deadlines for inspection, financing, and closing and documents title and escrow procedures that lenders, title companies, and recording offices require.

Who typically prepares and signs this agreement

Real estate brokers, attorneys, title companies, and contracting parties commonly prepare or review Purchase and Sale Agreements before execution.

Buyers and sellers completing a transfer of residential or commercial real estate, ensuring their obligations and contingencies are defined.
Real estate brokers and agents submitting offers and counteroffers, coordinating contingency deadlines and earnest money deposits.
Title companies and lenders reviewing terms to confirm closing requirements, payoff instructions, and escrow handling.

Parties often engage counsel for material deviations, complex title issues, or when state law imposes special statutory disclosures or witness requirements.

Essential sections every Purchase and Sale Agreement should include

A professional agreement organizes obligations into distinct sections so parties and third parties (title companies, lenders) can quickly verify closing readiness and compliance.

Parties

Full legal names and business entity types for buyer and seller, including organized entity jurisdiction and authorized signatory details for corporate parties.

Property

Complete legal description, physical address, parcel or tax ID, and reference to included fixtures and excluded personal property to avoid later disputes.

Price & Payment

Purchase price, deposit amount, escrow instructions, allocation of closing costs, and any seller credits or seller-paid concessions.

Contingencies

Inspection, financing, appraisal, title review, and other conditions precedent with clear cure periods and notice procedures for unsatisfied contingencies.

Closing Mechanics

Closing date, location, required deliverables (deed, affidavits, seller’s closing statement), recording responsibilities, and prorations for taxes and utilities.

Representations

Seller and buyer representations about authority, condition, no other agreements, and title status; include indemnities and survival periods as needed.

Required information commonly captured on the agreement

Buyer Name: Full legal name

Seller Name: Full legal name

Property Address: Street, city, state, ZIP

Purchase Price: Exact dollar amount

Earnest Money: Deposit amount and holder

Closing Date: MM/DD/YYYY format

Step-by-step: completing and executing the agreement

Follow this sequence to complete the agreement, reduce rework, and preserve contractual deadlines.

01

Gather documents: Collect deed, title report, lender requirements, and ID
02

Draft terms: Enter price, dates, contingencies, and closing instructions
03

Review and negotiate: Confirm contingencies, repairs, and prorations with counsel
04

Execute and deliver: Sign, notarize if required, and provide copies to escrow

Configuring an online workflow for a Purchase and Sale Agreement

Set up a digital workflow to automate field population, signer order, and document routing for review, signing, and archival.

Template creation	Save a reusable template with locked fields to ensure consistency
Role mapping	Assign signer roles (Buyer, Seller, Agent, Lender) and order
Conditional fields	Show or hide contingencies based on selected transaction type
Authentication level	Choose email, SMS code, or higher for signer verification
Audit trail settings	Enable timestamps, IP logging, and completion certificates

Typical routing and filing destinations after signing

After execution, copies should be routed to escrow, title, lender, and recorded with the county recorder as applicable.

Escrow agent: Send executed agreement and deposit instructions to escrow
Title company: Provide agreement for title clearance and closing statement
Lender: Deliver signed documents required for loan underwriting
County recorder: Record deed and other instruments per county rules

Digital signing and sharing considerations for this agreement

Choose a platform that supports secure eSignature, audit trails, document formats, and necessary integrations for title and escrow workflows.

File formats: PDF and DOCX supported
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
Authentication: Email, SMS, and advanced options

Ensure the provider supports ESIGN/UETA compliance, optional HIPAA BAA if health data present, RON where required, and export of a tamper-evident audit trail for recording and lender review.

Key transaction milestones from offer to recording

Sequence important transaction milestones so deadlines are visible and enforceable for both parties and third parties handling closing tasks.

01

Offer acceptance

Contract becomes effective when accepted by seller

02

Inspection period

Buyer completes inspections and requests repairs or credits

03

Financing contingency

Buyer secures loan approval or waives the contingency

04

Closing and recording

Execute closing documents and record deed with county

Common deadline types and typical timeframes

Benchmarks below reflect common contract provisions; specific days should be negotiated and clearly stated in the agreement.

Offer acceptance deadline:

As stated in the offer; often 24–72 hours

Inspection period end:

Commonly 7–14 days from effective date

Financing contingency removal:

Typically 30–45 days for loan approval

Closing date:

Specified MM/DD/YYYY; mutually agreed

Recording and deed filing:

Recorded within days after signing per county rules

Frequent errors to avoid when preparing the agreement

Using incomplete or informal property descriptions that do not match title records, causing recording or title issues.
Failing to specify who pays which closing costs, resulting in disputes at closing over prorations and fees.
Not defining contingency deadlines precisely, creating uncertainty about cure periods and termination rights.
Mismatched party names between contract, lender documents, and title work causing delays in underwriting or recording.

Consequences of incorrect or incomplete agreements

Breach of contract: Damages or specific performance

Title defects: Delay or loss at closing

Escrow issues: Deposit forfeiture risk

Deadline failure: Termination or penalty exposure

Financing failure: Buyer may lose deposit

Fraudulent signatures: Rescission and criminal risk

How to download, save, and bundle supporting documents

Export signed agreements in stable formats and include required exhibits so title and lender reviewers receive a complete closing package.

PDF Archive

Save a flattened, tamper-evident PDF/A copy of the executed agreement and attached exhibits for long-term retention and record fidelity.

Editable Copy

Keep a DOCX or source file for future amendments, ensuring any redlines track changes and are reconciled before re-execution.

Supporting Exhibits

Bundle title report, survey, inspection reports, lender commitment, and wire instructions with the final signed agreement for closing completeness.

Audit Trail

Include the platform’s audit certificate showing signer identity, timestamps, IP addresses, and document history for lender and title review.

eSignature vendor pricing and capability snapshot

Compare basic pricing and core capabilities commonly needed for Purchase and Sale Agreements; signNow is listed first for parity with other vendors.

	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	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Varies
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/yr	Varies	Varies	Varies

Frequently asked questions about Purchase and Sale Agreements

Answers to common execution, notarization, recording, and eSignature questions to reduce friction and compliance risk.

Need help? Contact support

Can I sign this agreement electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted; ensure the platform captures signer intent, consent, attribution, and retains a reproducible record.
Is notarization still required for the deed?
Yes. Deeds generally require a notary acknowledgement for recording in most states; remote online notarization (RON) is allowed in many states with identity proofing and recording retention requirements.
What if a name on the agreement differs from title records?
Name mismatches can block closing and recording; reconcile names with recorded documents or provide an affidavit of identity and corrected deeds before recording.
How do I record the deed after closing?
Deliver the executed and acknowledged deed to the county recorder with required fees; recording practices and fees vary by county and may require original signatures.
How long should we keep the agreement?
Retain the recorded deed and signed agreement per federal and state rules; IRS guidance suggests keeping financial records at least 3 years (IRC §6501(a)) and HIPAA requires six years for health records (45 CFR §164.530(j)).
Can a buyer revoke after signing?
Revocation depends on contract terms and contingencies; absent an express rescission right, unilateral revocation may be a breach subject to damages or specific performance remedies.

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