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Right of First Refusal Agreement

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RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL TO PURCHASE REAL ESTATE

This Right of First Refusal to Purchase Real Estate is made on this, the day of , 20 , by and between , hereinafter referred to as the “SELLER” and , and his/her assigns, hereinafter referred to as the “PURCHASER”.

WHEREAS, Purchaser desires to obtain a right of first refusal or first option to purchase certain real estate owned by Seller; and

WHEREAS, Seller agrees to grant Purchaser a right of first refusal or first option to purchase real estate pursuant to the terms of this agreement; and

NOW, FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION of $ and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, it is agreed as follows:

I.

GRANT OF FIRST OPTION: The Seller does hereby grant unto the Purchaser the exclusive and irrevocable right, during the term of this agreement, of first refusal and first option to purchase, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, Seller's property situated in County, , including without limitation the following described property together with all improvements located thereon:

See attached Exhibit "A"

II.

EXERCISE OF FIRST OPTION: This right of first refusal or first option to purchase may only be exercised by Purchaser within days from notification by Seller that Seller desires to sell the subject property. Seller is obligated to provide such notice to Purchaser prior to offering the subject property to a third party.

III.

TERMS OF PURCHASE: In the event Seller elects to sell and Purchaser desires to exercise his first refusal rights granted under the terms of this agreement, the terms of purchase shall be as follows:

a) $ cash payable at closing,

OR

b) $ more than any bona fide offer to purchase received by Seller from any third party, whichever is higher.

IV.

TITLE: Within fifteen (15) days after the Purchaser has exercised his or her right of first refusal, the Seller shall deliver to the Purchaser a Certificate of Title or title abstract covering the property described in paragraph I above which shall reflect that marketable fee simple title to the subject property is vested in Seller and that same is insurable by a title insurance company licensed to do business in the State of . Said Certificate or abstract shall be subject only to taxes for the current year, easements, and rights of way of record, and prior mineral reservations. Should said Certificate or Abstract reflect any other exceptions to the title unacceptable to Purchaser, Purchaser shall notify the Seller in writing of any defects within fifteen (15) days (the title review period) and the Seller shall have a reasonable time (but not more than 25 days) in which to make the title good and marketable or insurable, and shall use due diligence in an effort to do so. If after using due diligence the Seller is unable to make the title acceptable to Purchaser within such reasonable time, it shall be the option of the Purchaser either to accept the title in its existing condition with no further obligation on the part of the Seller to correct any defect, or to cancel this Agreement. If this Agreement is thus cancelled, all money paid by the Purchaser to the Seller upon the execution of this Agreement or upon any extension shall be returned to the Purchaser, and this Agreement shall terminate without further obligation of either party to the other. If title is acceptable to Purchaser, the closing shall occur within fifteen (15) days after expiration of the "title review period". At closing Seller shall convey title to Purchaser by Warranty Deed subject only to exceptions acceptable to Purchaser.

V.

OPTION OR FIRST REFUSAL MONEY: Upon execution of this agreement, Purchaser has paid unto Seller the sum of $ as "First Refusal or Option Money". The Option Money shall not be deducted from the purchase price of the property and is paid to Seller as consideration for and to make this agreement valid.

VI.

TERM AND EXTENSION: The term of this agreement shall be years from that date hereof. This agreement may be extended for an additional years by Purchaser paying unto Seller, in cash, an additional sum of $ prior to the expiration of the initial term.

VII.

EXPENSES OF SALE: All costs and expenses of the sale including attorney's fees, recording fees, and any and other costs attributable to the preparation of the Warranty Deed, Title Certificate, abstract and any other closing documents shall be paid by purchaser.

VIII.

POSSESSION: Purchaser shall be entitled to possession of the property at closing.

IX.

RIGHT OF ENTRY: Upon notification by Seller of his or her desire to sell and Purchaser’s exercise of his or her first refusal, Purchaser shall be entitled to enter upon the property for the purpose of conducting soil tests, engineering studies, and surveys.

X.

TAXES: Taxes shall be prorated as of the date of closing.

XI.

DEFAULT: This contract shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, administrators and assigns of the parties hereto and upon default in any of the terms of this Agreement the defaulting party agrees to pay all costs of Court and a reasonable attorney's fee.

XII.

GOVERNING LAW: This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of .

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on this the day of , 20.

SELLER

PURCHASER

STATE OF

COUNTY OF

PERSONALLY appeared before me, the undersigned authority in and for the county and state aforesaid, the within named , who acknowledged that he/she signed and delivered the foregoing agreement on the day and year therein stated.

GIVEN under my hand and official seal this the day of , 20.

____________________________________

NOTARY PUBLIC

My Commission Expires:

STATE OF

COUNTY OF

PERSONALLY appeared before me, the undersigned authority in and for the county and state aforesaid, the within named , who acknowledged that he/she signed and delivered the foregoing agreement on the day and year therein stated.

GIVEN under my hand and official seal this the day of , 20.

____________________________________

NOTARY PUBLIC

My Commission Expires:

Enter text✕

What a Right of First Refusal Agreement Is

A Right of First Refusal Agreement (ROFR) is a contractual right that gives an identified party the first opportunity to purchase or negotiate to acquire an asset before the owner may sell it to a third party. ROFRs commonly appear in real estate, shareholder arrangements, joint ventures, and intellectual property licensing. The agreement specifies triggering events, notice procedures, the response window, and the pricing or valuation method. Properly drafted ROFRs reduce surprises in transfers, preserve preferred relationships, and set clear timelines for both the holder and the owner.

Why a Clear ROFR Matters

A concise ROFR protects contractual expectations by defining when and how an owner must offer proposed sales. It minimizes disputes over timing, valuation, and notice delivery, and preserves priority rights without creating an open-ended transfer restriction.

Why a Clear ROFR Matters

Who Typically Uses a Right of First Refusal Agreement

Common parties include buyers, investors, co-owners, licensors, tenants, and companies protecting strategic interests.

  • Real estate investors and landlords protecting preemptive purchase rights during property dispositions.
  • Shareholders and LLC members preserving ownership control and managing transfers of equity.
  • Licensors and licensees guarding commercial or IP transfer opportunities in licensing agreements.

Use the ROFR when you want to limit third-party transfers while preserving a defined route to acquisition; tailor the holder’s response window and valuation method to the transaction type.

Core Elements to Include in a Professional ROFR

A complete ROFR sets out the parties, covered assets, triggering events, notice and response mechanics, pricing or valuation approach, and the agreement’s duration and governing law.

Parties

Identify the owner, the ROFR holder, and any successors or assigns; use full legal names and entity types.

Covered Asset

Clearly define the asset or class of assets subject to the ROFR, including parcel IDs, shares, or IP identifiers where applicable.

Triggering Event

Specify what constitutes a qualifying offer: bona fide third-party sale, option exercise, or financing-related transfer.

Notice Procedure

Describe required notice content, delivery methods, and the address/contact for each party to receive offers.

Response Window

Set a firm number of days for the holder to accept, match, or waive the offer and the consequences of inaction.

Price/Valuation

Prescribe the price, matching terms, or valuation method (appraisal, formula, or third-party valuation) and payment timing.

Essential Information to Provide in the Agreement

Owner Name: Full legal name
Holder Name: Full legal name or entity
Asset Identifier: Address, parcel ID, share class
Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY
Response Deadline: Number of calendar days
Governing State: State law selected

Step-by-Step: Completing and Executing a ROFR

Follow these sequential steps from drafting to execution to ensure the ROFR is clear, enforceable, and operational when a transfer arises.

  • 01
    Drafting: Define parties, asset, triggers, notice, and valuation method in clear language.
  • 02
    Review: Have counsel confirm enforceability, especially for valuation and restraint concerns.
  • 03
    Execution: Signatures by authorized signatories; notarize if required or if recording is contemplated.
  • 04
    Record-Keeping: Store executed originals and maintain audit trail and delivery evidence for notices.

How to Configure a Digital ROFR Workflow

Set up fields and routing to mirror the paper workflow: signature fields, date fields, conditional notice acknowledgements, and reviewer steps.

Field Configuration
Signature Field Place for each party with date stamp and signer role
Notice Field Structured text area for offer terms and links to attachments
Conditional Acceptance Yes/no option that triggers follow-up tasks or counteroffer fields
Audit Trail Enable IP, timestamp, and email capture for each signer

Where to Send Offers and How Notices Work

The ROFR’s notice procedure controls where offers are sent; accept methods that provide verifiable delivery and a timestamped record.

  • Owner Delivers Offer: Owner provides the third-party offer to the holder as specified.
  • Holder Receives Notice: Holder receives offer by agreed method and acknowledges receipt.
  • Holder Decides: Holder accepts, matches, or waives within the stated response window.
  • Owner Proceeds: If waived or time expires, Owner may proceed with third-party sale under same terms.

Digital Signing, Authentication, and Integration Options

Use eSignature platforms that provide identity attribution, tamper-evident records, and an auditable signing history.

  • Authentication: Email, SMS, or KBA options depend on transaction risk
  • Audit Trail: Retain IP, timestamp, and action log
  • Integrations: Connectors for CRM, cloud storage, and contract systems

Typical Timelines and Response Deadlines

ROFR agreements commonly set fixed calendar windows and specify how time is counted. Clear timelines avoid disputes about late responses.

Offer Notice Period:

Often 10–30 days for holder to respond

Acceptance Deadline:

Specify exact calendar date or number of days from notice

Closing Window:

Time permitted to close after acceptance, e.g., 30–60 days

Survival Period:

State whether obligations survive closing or transfer

Renewals:

Automatic renewal terms or explicit expiration date

Key Milestones in a ROFR Transaction

Track milestones from offer receipt to closing; use a consistent sequential process to document compliance with notice and timing obligations.

01

Trigger Occurs

Owner receives a third-party offer that qualifies under the ROFR

02

Notice Sent

Owner sends required offer details to the holder immediately

03

Holder Response

Holder accepts, matches, or waives within the response window

04

Transaction Close

Proceed to closing if holder accepts or time expires without acceptance

Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Preparing a ROFR

  • Vague asset descriptions that leave room for dispute about whether a proposed sale triggers the ROFR and create litigation risk.
  • Unclear notice methods or contact information that allow an owner to claim the holder never received the offer.
  • Missing valuation mechanics such as relying on 'market value' without specifying an appraisal or formula, leading to disagreement.
  • Failure to address third-party contingencies like subject-to financing or assignment, which can enable circumvention of the ROFR.

Risks of an Incomplete or Incorrect ROFR

Breach Claims: Litigation risk
Equitable Relief: Injunctions or specific performance
Damages: Monetary liability for improper transfers
Transfer Voidance: Court may unwind a sale
Title Issues: Recording complications with property transfers
Business Disruption: Delay in closing or loss of deal certainty

eSignature Pricing and Capability Snapshot

Compare starting prices and key capabilities across vendors; signNow appears first in the table and is listed by name per vendor comparison guidelines.

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 Yes, 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 ROFRs

Answers to common questions about enforceability, notice mechanics, electronic signatures, and modification of rights.


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