Simple Real Estate Contract: Agreements, Paperwork and Free Printable Forms
A simple real estate contract is a written agreement that binds a buyer and seller to the terms of a property sale. It doesn’t need to be complex to be enforceable — it needs to contain the legally required elements: the names of all parties, a description of the property, the purchase price, the closing date, and signatures from both sides. Many real estate transactions, especially those between investors and motivated sellers, use a straightforward version of this document rather than the lengthy boilerplate forms that full-service brokerages use.
Whether you’re looking for an agreement to purchase real estate for an investment deal, trying to understand what standard real estate paperwork requires, or searching for a standard real estate contract or free printable real estate forms to use as a starting point, this guide covers the essentials.
What a Simple Real Estate Contract Must Include
A simple real estate contract must contain four core elements to be legally valid under the Statute of Frauds: a written document, identification of the parties, a description of the property sufficient to identify it (legal description or address), and the purchase price. An agreement to purchase real estate that omits any of these elements may not be enforceable in court.
Beyond the minimum, a workable simple real estate contract should also include: the earnest money amount and where it’s held, the financing contingency (or a statement that the deal is cash with no financing contingency), the inspection period and deadline, the closing date, and a default clause specifying what happens if either party fails to perform. These provisions are standard in any agreement to purchase real estate and protect both parties throughout the transaction.
State-Specific Requirements in Real Estate Paperwork
Real estate paperwork requirements vary by state. Some states require specific disclosures to be attached to or incorporated into any contract — lead paint disclosures for pre-1978 homes, property condition disclosures, and HOA disclosures where applicable. A standard real estate contract template downloaded from a generic source may not comply with your state’s specific disclosure requirements. Verify with a local real estate attorney or your state’s real estate commission website before using any downloaded form.
Finding a Standard Real Estate Contract and Free Printable Forms
A standard real estate contract is available from several sources. Most state Realtor associations publish approved purchase agreement forms that their members use — many make blank versions publicly available on their websites. These are the most legally sound starting point for real estate paperwork in their respective states because they’ve been reviewed by the association’s legal team and updated as state laws change.
Free printable real estate forms appear on sites like USLEGAL, LawDepot, and Rocket Lawyer. These are usable starting points, but they’re generic — they don’t account for state-specific contingency language or required disclosures. If you’re using free printable real estate forms for an actual transaction, have a local attorney review the document before both parties sign. The cost of a 30-minute legal review ($75 to $150) is trivial relative to the cost of an unenforceable contract.
Bottom line: A simple real estate contract is effective when it contains the legally required elements and includes standard contingency and default provisions appropriate for your state. Start with your state Realtor association’s standard real estate contract, add your deal-specific terms, and have any free printable real estate forms reviewed locally before use.