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Real Estate Purchase Agreement Checklist

Buyer, Seller, and Agent Resource

Build a complete purchase-agreement file with a checklist for buyers, sellers, agents, and transaction coordinators. Collect the signed contract, all addenda, earnest-money proof, required disclosures, contingency deadlines, and entity-authority documents for any non-individual party. Missing an addendum or a notice method is a common dispute. This is not a substitute for your state’s association form or counsel. Not legal advice; confirm current contract and disclosure rules before you bind a deal.

Real Estate Purchase Agreement Checklist form template preview

Key Benefits

Keep the signed contract and every addendum together
Record price, earnest money, and who holds the deposit
Calendar inspection, financing, and closing dates
Attach required seller and lead disclosures
Collect signer authority for trusts and entities
Document how notices must be delivered

Common Use Cases

Residential purchase files in an option periodFSBO contracts moving to a title companyInvestor assignments that still need the base PSATransaction coordinators building a broker fileCounsel reviewing a non-association formCommercial PSAs with extra diligence exhibits

Frequently Asked Questions

What must a purchase agreement identify?
Parties with capacity to sign, a legal description or precise address, price, earnest money, closing date, what stays with the property, and the contingencies that let a party cancel. State association forms add many required blanks.
Which addenda are commonly missing?
Financing, lead-based paint, HOA, as-is, seller disclosure, and repair amendments. If it was negotiated, it should be signed and in the file—not only in email.
Who should hold earnest money?
Usually a title company, broker trust account, or closing attorney as the contract states. Keep the receipt. Never treat a personal check handed to a seller as a substitute unless the contract and law allow it.
Is this legal advice?
No. Purchase contracts and required disclosures are state-specific. Use the current local form or counsel-drafted agreement; this checklist only tracks the file.

Checklist

Contract

Fully signed purchase agreement with legal description or parcel ID
Required

All counterpart signature pages.

Every addendum and counteroffer in signed form
Required

Financing, as-is, personal property, and repair amendments.

Money

Earnest-money amount, holder, and deposit receipt
Required

Date funds cleared.

Disclosures

Seller disclosure, lead-paint, and other required state forms
Required

Buyer signed receipts where the form requires them.

Timing

Inspection, financing, title, and closing dates extracted to a calendar
Required

How objections must be delivered.

Parties

Trust, LLC, or POA documents for any non-individual signer

Title will underwrite authority before closing.

HOA

HOA addendum and resale documents if applicable

Review period may be statutory.

Notices

Notice addresses and permitted delivery methods from the contract
Required

Email effectiveness is form-specific.