Can this guide be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.

Is notarization always required?

Not for the guide itself, but deeds and some acknowledgements require notarization before recording; state laws differ and RON may be available; verify with the county recorder and state notary rules.

What if a name is entered incorrectly?

A name mismatch can delay title insurance and recording; correct errors before closing by executing an amendment or affidavit and re-verifying identity documents.

How long should we keep the guide?

Retain the guide for at least the active term plus three years; tax and real estate records often require seven years and federal guidance includes IRC §6501(a) for tax document retention.

Who can sign on behalf of a business?

An authorized officer or agent may sign if documented; attach corporate resolution or power of attorney showing authority to bind the entity.

How do we correct a signed guide?

If changes are required post-signature, execute an amendment or corrective addendum signed by all original parties; do not alter the original signed pages without mutual written agreement.

Electronic Signature
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Real estate
REALTOR Purchase Guide

REALTOR Purchase Guide

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REALTOR Purchase Guide

Parties and Contact Information

Buyer Name:

Buyer Contact Address

Seller Name:

Seller Contact Address Listing / Representing REALTOR

Property Identification

Street Address

Parcel / APN Number:

Legal Description

Purchase Terms

Purchase Price Earnest Money / Initial Deposit

Deposit to be delivered to Escrow by: Month Day Year

Financing Contingency

Financing contingency: Buyer to obtain loan type within days following mutual acceptance. If loan approval is not obtained within the contingency period, Buyer must provide written notice to Seller and the parties shall have the remedies set forth in the purchase contract.

Inspection and Due Diligence

Inspection period: Buyer has days to complete inspections and deliver written objections to Seller. Seller shall have a reasonable opportunity to cure material defects disclosed prior to closing.

Buyer Remedies if Seller Fails to Cure

Closing and Possession

Proposed Closing Date: Month Day Year

Possession to be delivered to Buyer: (if different than closing, specify herein).

Title, Escrow and Prorations

Title to be conveyed by marketable title subject only to permitted exceptions. Escrow agent: . Closing costs and prorations to be allocated as agreed in the purchase contract; real property taxes, rents, assessments, and HOA fees shall be prorated to the date of closing unless otherwise agreed.

Disclosures

Lead-based paint disclosure required for properties built before 1978: Yes No

Known mold or water intrusion history: Yes No

Prior material structural or environmental damage reported: Yes No

If yes, describe known issues

Insurance and Risk of Loss

Risk of loss before closing shall remain with Seller unless otherwise specified. Buyer is advised to secure hazard insurance effective at closing. Party responsible for insuring property until closing:

Default, Remedies and Limitation

If Buyer defaults, Seller may retain earnest money as liquidated damages or pursue specific performance where permitted by law. If Seller defaults, Buyer may seek specific performance, return of deposits, or other remedies at law or in equity. Parties agree to mitigate damages and to meet contractual notice and cure requirements prior to pursuing judicial remedies.

Governing Law and Entire Agreement

This Guide and any acknowledgment or receipt executed in relation hereto shall be governed by the laws of the state where the property is located. This Guide is informational and, to the extent it accompanies an executed purchase contract, the terms of the purchase contract shall control. Receipt of this Guide does not modify contractual deadlines unless expressly agreed in writing by the parties.

Acknowledgment and Receipt

By signing below, the parties acknowledge receipt of this REALTOR Purchase Guide, confirm they have had an opportunity to ask questions, and understand the guidance regarding common contingencies, deadlines, disclosures, and remedies. The Guide is advisory in nature and does not by itself create binding transfer obligations beyond any separate purchase agreement.

Additional Notes or Special Instructions

Broker Acknowledgment

Broker acknowledges receipt of the information provided herein and affirms that the Broker has a duty to disclose material facts, present offers promptly, and to assist the client in meeting contractual deadlines. Broker Name:

Buyer Name:

Seller Name:

Buyer Signature:

Seller Signature:

Date:

What the REALTOR Purchase Guide Covers

A REALTOR Purchase Guide is a structured document that summarizes the key elements of a residential purchase transaction for buyers, sellers, and agents. It compiles offer terms, contingencies, inspection and financing milestones, required disclosures, closing logistics, and common supporting documents. The guide is not itself the purchase contract but a practical roadmap that helps parties coordinate tasks, confirm deadlines, and track signatures and acknowledgements across lender, title, and escrow workflows.

Why a Standardized Guide Helps Transactions

Using a REALTOR Purchase Guide reduces missed steps, centralizes required data, and clarifies timing for inspections, financing, and closing. It improves consistency across agents, supports compliance with disclosure obligations, and preserves an auditable record of required signoffs and deliverables.

Primary Users and Roles

The REALTOR Purchase Guide is used by the transaction team to coordinate actions and document responsibilities.

Buyer agents — Prepare the offer, verify buyer approvals, and track contingency deadlines during due diligence.
Listing agents — Confirm seller disclosures, receive offers, and coordinate counteroffers and required fixes for closing.
Buyers and sellers — Review terms, confirm identity and funding details, and sign documents or authorize representatives.

Different users rely on the guide at distinct stages: drafting, negotiation, and closing.

Essential Sections to Include in a Professional Guide

A complete REALTOR Purchase Guide organizes transaction data into discrete sections so every party can locate terms, deadlines, and signature points quickly and reliably.

Purchase Terms

List purchase price, allocation of closing costs, escrow instructions, and any seller credits or personal property inclusions in clear, itemized language.

Contingencies

Specify inspection, financing, appraisal, and title contingencies with exact cure periods and conditions for removal or termination.

Financing Details

Record lender name, loan type, preapproval status, financing deadlines, and any required documentation for underwriting and appraisal scheduling.

Property Disclosures

Attach required seller disclosures and hazards reports; note any state-specific disclosure addenda or known material defects.

Timeline & Milestones

Provide a dated sequence of key milestones: offer expiry, inspection period, contingency removals, loan approval, and closing date.

Signatures & Acknowledgements

Designate signature blocks for buyer, seller, agents, and required witnesses or notarizations; include date and role for each signer.

Step-by-Step: Completing the REALTOR Purchase Guide

Follow these sequential steps to prepare, review, and distribute the guide so all parties understand obligations and deadlines.

01

Gather Documents: Collect preapproval letters, seller disclosures, and property records before drafting the guide.
02

Draft Offer Summary: Populate purchase terms, contingencies, and timelines in clear, unambiguous language.
03

Review with Parties: Share the guide with buyer, seller, lender, and title for confirmation and edits.
04

Finalize and Distribute: Obtain signatures, confirm receipt, and provide copies to lender and title company.

Where to Send Completed Guides and Supporting Documents

Route the finalized guide to stakeholders using defined channels so lenders, title, and escrow agents have the records needed to proceed.

Seller's Agent: Deliver the signed guide and any counteroffers to the listing agent for seller acceptance and records.
Lender / Underwriter: Send financing documents and signed guide pages required for loan approval and appraisal coordination.
Title / Escrow: Provide complete guide and supporting ID for title search, escrow setup, and closing statement preparation.
County Recorder: After closing, ensure the deed and other recordable documents are submitted to the appropriate county recording office.

Configuring a Digital Workflow for the Guide

Standardize a digital workflow so fields, authentication, and routing occur automatically and consistently across transactions.

Field	Configuration
Signature Authentication	Email link or SMS code; use stronger ID for high-value transactions.
Conditional Fields	Show financing fields only when buyer selects financed purchase.
Template Reuse	Save a vetted template with standard disclosures and editable sections.
Notifications	Automatic reminders to signers and alerts for approaching deadlines.

Digital Signing and File Format Considerations

Choose a platform that supports common file formats, secure authentication, and integration with CRM, title, and document storage systems.

Supported Formats: PDF, DOCX, and fillable forms
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
Security: TLS and AES-256 encryption

Common Deadlines and Timing Expectations

Key dates must be set explicitly in the guide so contingencies and obligations have enforceable timeframes.

Offer Expiration:

Date/time when the seller may decline an unaccepted offer.

Inspection Deadline:

Period for inspections and repair requests, commonly 7–14 days but confirm in each contract.

Financing Contingency:

Date by which buyer must obtain loan approval or remove contingency.

Appraisal Deadline:

Timeframe for appraisal completion required by lender.

Closing Date:

Final date for recording transfer and funding, set in MM/DD/YYYY format.

Transaction Milestones from Offer to Recording

Use a milestone view to show sequential responsibilities and handoffs between parties during the transaction lifecycle.

01

Offer Submission

Buyer delivers signed offer and earnest money to escrow for seller consideration.

02

Inspections & Repairs

Buyer's inspections occur and repair requests or credits are negotiated.

03

Loan Approval

Lender completes underwriting and issues clear-to-close to escrow.

04

Closing & Recording

Funds wired, documents signed, and deed recorded with county recorder.

Frequent Errors to Avoid When Preparing the Guide

Using informal or inconsistent party names that differ from ID or title records, which can delay underwriting and title transfer.
Failing to state exact deadlines in MM/DD/YYYY format, creating disputes about whether a contingency was timely removed.
Omitting lender contact or loan reference numbers, which slows appraisal scheduling and underwriting communication.
Neglecting to attach required seller disclosures or material facts, risking contract rescission or post-closing claims.

Consequences of Incomplete or Incorrect Guides

Contract Termination: Missing contingency dates can allow the non-breaching party to cancel the contract.

Earnest Money Loss: Failure to satisfy obligations may result in forfeiture of deposit under the agreement.

Financing Failure: Incomplete financing details can prevent timely loan approval and jeopardize closing.

Title Defects: Improper legal descriptions or omitted liens delay recording and transfer.

Disclosure Violations: State disclosure failures can lead to fines or rescission remedies.

Tax Reporting Errors: Incorrect taxpayer identification may trigger backup withholding or penalties.

Required Data Elements and Sensitive Fields

Tax ID / SSN: Used for closing and tax reporting

Date of Birth: Required for identity verification

Legal Description: Essential for title and recording

Loan Number: Links to lender underwriting file

Agent License: Broker and agent license numbers

Signatures: Signed acknowledgements and initials

Who Has Authority to Sign the Guide

Buyer — Primary Signer

The buyer (or authorized closing agent) signs to accept purchase terms; signatory authority must match the name on financing and identity documents.

Seller — Property Owner

The seller or an authorized representative executes seller acknowledgements; if signing for an entity, include title and evidence of authority.

Real-World Examples of Digital Transaction Workflows

These practical examples show how transaction teams use a purchase guide to speed closings and preserve compliance.

Martin Properties

Martin Properties standardized a digital guide across agents to reduce in-person signings and file loss.

Their team replaced paper checklists with a template and secure signing links.
I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security, whether on mobile or working offline, getting forms back efficiently.

Xerox NetSuite Operations

Xerox integrated transaction templates into their ERP to auto-populate entity and authorization fields.

This reduced manual entry and improved auditability.
airSlate SignNow provides us flexibility to get the right signatures on the right documents in the right formats, based on our NetSuite integration.

Practical Tips for Accurate, Efficient Completion

Adopt consistent practices to minimize rework and ensure all parties can rely on the guide during closing and any post-closing inquiries.

Confirm Legal Names

Verify names against government ID and title records before finalizing; require corrections early to avoid title defects.

Use Standard Templates

Maintain a vetted template with required disclosures to reduce omissions and accelerate review by lenders and title.

Enable Audit Trails

Capture signer IP, timestamps, and authentication method for each signature to support enforceability and underwriting requests.

Coordinate with Title

Share the guide and legal description with title early to identify liens or recording issues before closing day.

eSignature Vendor Pricing and Feature Comparison

Compare common vendor entry points and core capabilities relevant to executing REALTOR Purchase Guides. signNow is listed first per the comparison order.

	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	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions About the REALTOR Purchase Guide

Answers to common practical and legal questions about completing, signing, and retaining a REALTOR Purchase Guide.

Need help? Contact support

Can this guide be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.
Is notarization always required?
Not for the guide itself, but deeds and some acknowledgements require notarization before recording; state laws differ and RON may be available; verify with the county recorder and state notary rules.
What if a name is entered incorrectly?
A name mismatch can delay title insurance and recording; correct errors before closing by executing an amendment or affidavit and re-verifying identity documents.
How long should we keep the guide?
Retain the guide for at least the active term plus three years; tax and real estate records often require seven years and federal guidance includes IRC §6501(a) for tax document retention.
Who can sign on behalf of a business?
An authorized officer or agent may sign if documented; attach corporate resolution or power of attorney showing authority to bind the entity.
How do we correct a signed guide?
If changes are required post-signature, execute an amendment or corrective addendum signed by all original parties; do not alter the original signed pages without mutual written agreement.

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