Can a contract be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally valid under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA in most states, provided signature intent, consent to use electronic records, attribution, and record retention are satisfied.

Is notarization always required?

Not all contracts require notarization, but deeds and some acknowledgements do for recording. State rules vary; Remote Online Notarization (RON) is permitted in many states with identity-proofing and audio-video record retention requirements.

Who must sign the contract?

The person or authorized representative who holds legal title or signing authority must sign. For entities, use the exact corporate name and include the signer’s title to avoid recording or title issues.

How do you correct a signed error?

Minor clerical errors can be corrected by an amendment or addendum signed by all parties. Material changes require mutual agreement and new signatures; avoid unilateral edits after execution.

How can a contract be revoked or canceled?

Revocation depends on contract terms and contingencies; parties may rescind by mutual written agreement, by exercising termination rights under contingencies, or per remedy provisions in the contract.

How long must I keep signed contracts?

Retain contract and related records for at least three years after filing for tax purposes (IRC §6501(a)), seven years for many post-termination needs, and six years for HIPAA-covered records (45 CFR §164.530(j)).

Electronic Signature
Templates
Real estate
Real Estate Contracts of Sale

Real Estate Contracts of Sale

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

REAL ESTATE CONTRACT OF SALE

This Real Estate Contract of Sale (the "Contract") is made on between Seller Name: (hereinafter "Seller") and Buyer Name: (hereinafter "Buyer").

PARTIES AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Seller Contact Information Seller Phone Seller Email Buyer Contact Information Buyer Phone Buyer Email

PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION

Street Address Parcel / APN Number Legal Description Included Fixtures and Personal Property

PURCHASE PRICE AND PAYMENT TERMS

Purchase Price: $ payable as follows: Earnest Money: $ to be deposited with Escrow Agent: within days of mutual execution.

Additional Payment or Seller Credit Terms

FINANCING CONTINGENCY

This sale is . Buyer shall apply for loan in the principal amount of $ with Lender: and obtain loan approval by (Financing Deadline).

Financing Contingency Additional Terms

INSPECTIONS AND DUE DILIGENCE

Buyer shall have days from mutual execution to complete inspections and investigations. Seller shall provide reasonable access. Buyer may deliver written notice of defects within the inspection period and Seller shall have days to cure material defects or the parties may negotiate credits or price adjustments.

Inspection Contingency Items

TITLE, CLOSING AND PRORATIONS

Title shall be conveyed by marketable deed free of monetary liens except those approved in writing by Buyer. Closing shall occur on or before at

Allocation of Closing Costs

Property taxes, assessments, rents and utilities shall be prorated as of the Closing Date. Special assessments imposed but not yet payable shall be handled as follows:

POSSESSION AND RISK OF LOSS

Possession shall be delivered to Buyer on subject to tenancy and occupancy agreed in this Contract. Risk of loss to the Property remains with Seller until Closing; if substantial loss occurs prior to Closing, Buyer may elect to terminate or require Seller to repair.

SELLER REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

DISCLOSURES

Lead-Based Paint (if applicable) — Seller certifies: Yes No

Known Mold or Water Intrusion: Yes No

Prior Material Damage or Structural Repairs: Yes No

If any disclosure is "Yes", describe details

DEFAULT, REMEDIES AND LIQUIDATED DAMAGES

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Governing Law: This Contract shall be governed by the laws of the state of . This Contract constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior negotiations and agreements. Amendments must be in writing and signed by both parties.

Notices

Notices shall be delivered to the addresses below or to other addresses later designated in writing:

Seller Notice Address Buyer Notice Address

ADDITIONAL TERMS

Each party acknowledges receipt of a true copy of this Contract and represents that the person signing below is authorized to bind the party to this Contract.

Seller Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Buyer Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What a Real Estate Contract of Sale Is

A Real Estate Contract of Sale is a legally binding agreement that records the terms under which a seller transfers real property to a buyer. It specifies the property description, purchase price, earnest money, financing terms, inspections and contingencies, closing date, possession, and title transfer provisions, and typically attaches required disclosures and exhibits. The contract creates enforceable obligations for both parties and is governed by state contract and real property law; many jurisdictions accept electronically signed versions under ESIGN and UETA frameworks.

Why a Clear, Complete Contract Matters

A well-drafted Real Estate Contract of Sale clarifies obligations, allocates risk, and reduces disputes. It accelerates closings, supports lender and title review, and can be executed electronically when parties follow ESIGN and state UETA rules using compliant platforms such as signNow.

Core Elements to Include in Every Contract

These six components form the backbone of a professional Real Estate Contract of Sale and help ensure clarity for buyers, sellers, lenders, and title companies.

Property Description

Provide the full legal description and street address, parcel or lot number, and any included fixtures. Accurate descriptions prevent title disputes and ensure the correct parcel is conveyed at closing.

Purchase Price & Financing

State the total purchase price, how it will be paid, financing contingencies, and seller concessions. Specify lender approval deadlines, appraisal conditions, and consequences if financing is denied.

Earnest Money / Deposit

Describe the deposit amount, escrow holder, where funds are held, conditions for release, and how deposit applies at closing or in case of default or contract termination.

Inspections & Contingencies

Define inspection windows, acceptable defect standards, repair or credit remedies, and termination rights based on inspection, appraisal, title examination, or loan denial contingencies.

Closing, Possession & Prorations

Specify closing date, location, possession date, responsibility for prorated taxes and utilities, and who pays closing costs and recording fees unless allocated otherwise.

Title & Conveyancing

Require marketable title, specify acceptable title exceptions, outline seller’s duty to cure defects, and identify the form of deed to be delivered at closing.

Step-by-Step Completion Workflow

Follow a simple, sequential process from drafting to recording to keep the transaction on schedule and reduce post-closing issues.

01

Draft the Contract: Assemble terms, attachments, and disclosures; use a template for consistency.
02

Negotiate and Amend: Track changes and countersigns; note new deadlines and contingencies.
03

Execute and Authenticate: Collect signatures, verify identity, and notarize if required.
04

Close and Record: Confirm funds, deliver deed, and submit documents for public recording.

Configuring an Online Contract Workflow

Set these platform options to streamline editing, signature collection, and secure delivery of the contract.

Field	Configuration
Document upload	Accept PDF and DOCX uploads; preserve page layout and embedded exhibits.
Templates	Use standardized templates for clauses, disclosures, and closing schedules to reduce drafting errors.
Conditional fields	Show inspection or financing fields only when contingencies are selected to avoid confusion.
Signer authentication	Enable email plus SMS or knowledge-based authentication for higher assurance.

From Upload to Signed and Stored: The Typical Flow

A clear digital flow reduces signer friction and preserves an auditable record for closing and title review.

Upload Document: Sender uploads final contract and attachments to the e-sign platform.
Place Fields: Add signature, initial, date, and conditional fields where required.
Authenticate Signers: Send secure link with required verification steps for each signer.
Complete & Archive: Signed copies and audit trail are stored and distributed to parties.

Technical and Integration Considerations

Choose a platform that supports your integrations, file formats, and authentication needs to avoid workflow friction.

Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365
File formats: PDF, DOCX, HTML
Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA

eSignature Vendor Pricing and Feature Snapshot

Comparative pricing and feature availability for common eSignature vendors. signNow appears first per platform selection conventions.

	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	No	No	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Security and Compliance Controls to Verify

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit, AES-256 at rest

Audit Trail: Comprehensive timestamps, IP addresses

BAA Availability: Business associate agreement required for HIPAA

Authentication: Multi-factor options and KBA available

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance

Risks and Common Legal Consequences

Unenforceable Agreement: Missing essential terms

Missing Signatures: Can void transfer

Incorrect Disclosures: Rescission or damages possible

Title Defects: Closing delays and cure costs

Deposit Disputes: Potential forfeiture or litigation

Tax Penalties: IRC §6721 may apply

Frequent Preparation Errors to Avoid

Failing to sync numeric and written purchase amounts causes ambiguity and can delay closing or title recording.
Using inconsistent party names or abbreviations leads to recording rejection or title mismatches during escrow.
Leaving contingencies without clear cure or termination deadlines creates disputes about valid inspection or financing windows.
Not preserving the audit trail for electronic signatures undermines enforceability when signer identity or consent is contested.

Who Regularly Prepares and Signs These Contracts

Coordination among agents, lenders, title officers, and counsel reduces errors and prevents last-minute closing delays.

Real estate agents and brokers representing buyers or sellers in residential and commercial transactions.
Title and escrow companies that examine title, hold deposits, and prepare closing documents.
Lenders and mortgage officers who approve financing and require contract terms for underwriting.

Practical Examples from Real Customers

These short examples show how firms used an eSignature workflow to complete contracts while maintaining compliance and document integrity.

Martin Properties (Tim Martin)

A small brokerage moved closings online to handle remote signings efficiently.

Faster turnaround on documents and mobile signing adoption.
"I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security. Whether on mobile or working offline, I can get forms back to their necessary parties efficiently."

Optica Ventures LLC (Brian Fitzgibbons)

A commercial investor standardized templates and distributed them to transaction teams for consistency.

Easier customer-facing signature process.
"The interface is simple and easy-to-use for our team; more importantly, it is just as easy for our customers."

Typical Time-Sensitive Dates in a Sale Contract

Identify and calendar all contractual deadlines to avoid waiver of rights or unintended forfeiture of deposits.

Offer Acceptance Deadline:

Date/time by which seller must accept an offer or it terminates automatically.

Inspection Contingency Deadline:

Last date to complete inspections and request repairs or termination.

Financing Contingency Deadline:

Date by which buyer must obtain loan approval or provide proof of funds.

Closing Date:

Agreed date for transfer of title, payment, and possession.

Recording Deadline:

Date by which deed and mortgage must be presented for public recording.

Frequently Asked Questions About Real Estate Contracts of Sale

Answers to common questions about execution, validity, notarization, revisions, and retention of Real Estate Contracts of Sale.

Need help? Contact support

Can a contract be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally valid under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA in most states, provided signature intent, consent to use electronic records, attribution, and record retention are satisfied.
Is notarization always required?
Not all contracts require notarization, but deeds and some acknowledgements do for recording. State rules vary; Remote Online Notarization (RON) is permitted in many states with identity-proofing and audio-video record retention requirements.
Who must sign the contract?
The person or authorized representative who holds legal title or signing authority must sign. For entities, use the exact corporate name and include the signer’s title to avoid recording or title issues.
How do you correct a signed error?
Minor clerical errors can be corrected by an amendment or addendum signed by all parties. Material changes require mutual agreement and new signatures; avoid unilateral edits after execution.
How can a contract be revoked or canceled?
Revocation depends on contract terms and contingencies; parties may rescind by mutual written agreement, by exercising termination rights under contingencies, or per remedy provisions in the contract.
How long must I keep signed contracts?
Retain contract and related records for at least three years after filing for tax purposes (IRC §6501(a)), seven years for many post-termination needs, and six years for HIPAA-covered records (45 CFR §164.530(j)).

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now