Establishing secure connection…Loading editor…Preparing document…

Real Estate Letter of Intent

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

REAL ESTATE LETTER OF INTENT

Date:

PARTIES

PROPERTY

PROPOSED TRANSACTION TERMS

Purchase Price: $    Earnest Money Deposit: $ to be held in escrow pursuant to a mutually acceptable escrow agreement.

Deposit Delivery Deadline: (time is of the essence).

Closing Date: . Possession Date: .

Financing Contingency: Yes No   If yes, financing contingency period (days):

Inspection / Due Diligence Period: days from receipt of executed purchase agreement, during which Buyer shall have reasonable access to conduct inspections, tests, surveys and due diligence.

Closing Costs: Title insurance and standard closing fees to be allocated as follows: Seller pays ; Buyer pays .

Prorations: Property taxes, rents, utilities and other periodicals shall be prorated through the date of closing in accordance with customary practice in the jurisdiction where the property is located.

ACCESS, SURVEYS AND REPORTS

Seller shall provide reasonable access for Buyer and Buyer's consultants to inspect the Property during the due diligence period. Any existing environmental reports, surveys or engineering reports in Seller's possession will be provided to Buyer upon request.

Lead-based paint disclosure: Yes No   Floodplain/FEMA flood zone: Yes No

Asbestos / Hazardous Materials known to Seller: Yes No   Zoning compliance confirmed: Yes No

BINDING NATURE; CONFIDENTIALITY; EXCLUSIVITY

This Letter of Intent is intended to summarize certain proposed material terms for the potential purchase of the Property and is non-binding and for discussion purposes only, except that the following provisions shall be binding upon execution of this Letter of Intent by both parties: Confidentiality, Exclusivity (if elected), and Payment of any Earnest Money delivered pursuant to the terms above. The binding provisions are enforceable as legal obligations.

Confidentiality: Binding Not Binding. If binding is selected, the parties shall keep all non-public information strictly confidential and not disclose to third parties except as required by law or agreed in writing.

Exclusivity / No-Shop: Buyer requests an exclusivity period of days from acceptance of this Letter of Intent. During such period Seller shall not solicit or negotiate with other prospective purchasers.

TITLE, SURVEY AND CLOSING

Title: Seller shall convey marketable fee simple title by , subject only to permitted exceptions acceptable to Buyer. Buyer may obtain, at Buyer's expense, a survey and customary title review.

Closing Agent / Escrow Holder:

DEFAULT; REMEDIES

If either party defaults under any binding provision of this Letter of Intent or under any subsequently executed agreement (if such agreement is executed), the non-defaulting party shall have the right to seek all remedies available at law or in equity, including specific performance where applicable, subject to any limitations negotiated in a definitive agreement.

MISCELLANEOUS

Expenses: Unless otherwise agreed, each party shall bear its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation and preparation of definitive documents, except that escrow fees will be allocated as stated above.

Governing Law: This Letter of Intent shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to conflict of law principles.

Entire Agreement: This Letter of Intent contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the matters described herein and supersedes all prior proposals, negotiations and agreements, whether written or oral, except as to obligations that are expressly stated to be binding.

Expiration: This offer to enter into a definitive agreement as described herein will expire if not accepted in writing by .

ADDITIONAL TERMS / NOTES

CONTACT FOR NOTICES

Buyer:

By:

Date:

Seller:

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What a Real Estate Letter of Intent Is and when it’s used

A Real Estate Letter of Intent (LOI) is a preliminary written document that outlines the principal terms of a proposed real estate transaction, such as purchase, lease, or development. It states the parties, general price or rent, key contingencies (due diligence, financing, title), exclusivity and timing expectations, and any deposit or option consideration. An LOI creates a framework for drafting a formal purchase and sale agreement or lease while leaving detailed terms and legal obligations to later documents.

Why you would prepare a Real Estate Letter of Intent

An LOI clarifies expectations early, preserves negotiating leverage, and reduces wasted time by documenting key commercial terms before attorneys draft binding agreements. It can establish exclusivity, outline due diligence windows, and set milestones that guide the transaction process.

Why you would prepare a Real Estate Letter of Intent

Typical users and roles that complete a Real Estate LOI

Use an LOI to document mutual intent and to set the sequence for due diligence, draft agreements, and closing tasks.

  • Buyers and tenants evaluating a property or lease opportunity and seeking negotiation clarity.
  • Sellers and landlords setting basic commercial terms and timelines for offers.
  • Brokers and agents summarizing agreed business terms to move toward binding contracts.

Core elements to include in a professional Real Estate LOI

A concise LOI covers the deal structure and the essential commercial and procedural items that counsel will convert into binding contract language.

Parties

Identify the legal names and contact details of buyer, seller, landlord, or tenant so counsel can verify entity authority and prepare enforceable agreements.

Property

Describe the property by address, parcel or lot number, and a short legal description to avoid ambiguity about the asset under consideration.

Price or Rent

State the proposed purchase price, rent, payment schedule, and any escalation clauses or CPI adjustments to frame economic expectations.

Deposit

Specify deposit amount, whether it’s refundable during due diligence, and conditions triggering forfeiture or credit toward purchase.

Due Diligence

Set the duration and scope of inspections, title review, environmental assessments, and financing contingencies with explicit deadlines.

Exclusivity

Include any exclusivity or option period that prevents the seller from negotiating with other parties for a defined timeframe.

Step-by-step: filling out a Real Estate LOI

Follow this sequence to create a clear LOI that can be reviewed and converted into a binding agreement with minimal rework.

  • 01
    Draft Terms: List core commercial points first: price, deposit, timeline.
  • 02
    Set Contingencies: Include inspections, title, financing, and approval conditions.
  • 03
    Add Deadlines: Specify dates for due diligence, exclusivity, and closing.
  • 04
    Confirm Authority: Ensure signer has corporate authority or provide proof of signatory power.

Configuring an online LOI workflow for efficient reviews

Set up routing, required fields, and authentication so the LOI circulates in the correct order with auditability.

Field Configuration
Required Fields Mark parties, price, dates, and signature as required
Signer Order Choose sequential or parallel routing per negotiation needs
Authentication Enable email or SMS codes; add KBA if higher assurance is needed
Audit Trail Capture timestamps, IPs, and actions for each signer

Where to send or file the completed LOI

Decide distribution and retention targets for signed LOIs: counterparty records, broker files, counsel, and escrow when applicable.

  • To Counterparty: Send signed LOI to the other party and their counsel for acceptance
  • Broker / Agent: Provide broker with executed copy for transaction tracking
  • Escrow or Depository: Deliver deposit instructions and funds to the designated escrow agent
  • Internal Records: Store an executed copy in corporate or property transaction records

Technical considerations for digital signing and sharing

Verify the vendor supports audit trails, export formats, and retention settings that meet legal and internal recordkeeping obligations.

  • Formats: PDF, DOCX, and scanned images
  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
  • Authentication: Email, SMS codes, or KBA

Common LOI timelines and deadline examples

Use explicit dates for each milestone to avoid ambiguity; state whether days are business or calendar days.

Response Deadline:

Date by which counterparty must accept or decline the LOI

Exclusivity Period:

Defined window preventing seller from negotiating with others

Due Diligence End Date:

Final date to complete inspections and title review

Deposit Deadline:

Date funds must be delivered to escrow or agent

Target Closing:

Projected closing date for converting LOI into a binding contract

Common mistakes that cause LOI disputes or delays

  • Vague contingencies that leave scope open to differing interpretations and litigation.
  • Missing authority or incorrect entity names that prevent binding signatures on follow-on agreements.
  • Unclear deposit terms that fail to specify refund, forfeiture, or application to purchase price.
  • No explicit deadlines or business vs calendar day definitions, producing conflicting expectations.

Potential consequences of an incomplete or incorrect LOI

Lost Deposit: Deposit forfeiture risk if contingencies are unclear
Unenforceable Terms: Overbroad language may not bind parties later
Missed Deadlines: Failure to meet milestones can terminate rights
Title Issues: Incomplete property description creates closing delays
Tax Exposure: Incorrect consideration reporting can trigger tax penalties
Authority Risk: Signer lacking power can void downstream agreements

Real-world examples of LOI usage

These examples show how firms use LOIs to accelerate negotiations and document core terms ahead of binding agreements.

Martin Properties

Tim Martin used LOIs to centralize offer terms and speed reviews.

  • The LOI established deposit and due diligence windows.
  • This reduced back-and-forth with counsel and allowed the team to move quickly to a signed purchase and sale agreement with fewer changes.

Optica Ventures LLC

Optica relied on LOIs to document exclusivity during site selection.

  • The LOI secured a 30-day exclusivity period.
  • That clarity protected the developer’s investment in feasibility work and enabled focused negotiation on price and site conditions.

eSignature vendor pricing and feature snapshot for LOI workflows

Compare baseline plans and core features that affect LOI execution: starting price, trial availability, bulk send, audit trails, and HIPAA compliance where relevant.

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

Frequently asked questions about Real Estate LOIs

Answers to common legal and practical questions when preparing, signing, or revoking a Real Estate LOI.


Need help? Contact support

be ready to get more
Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users