Washington Real Estate Contract: Different Types and Key Terms to Include
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What is a Washington Real Estate Contract?
A Washington real estate contract, also called a residential purchase and sale agreement, is a contract that is drafted when a buyer makes an offer on a real estate listing. If the seller accepts the offer, the contract can be finalized and the process of purchasing the property will begin.
In Washington, there are several steps that must happen to finalize the sale of real estate. The seller must provide disclosures, contingencies must be met like the buyer securing financing, and home inspections must be conducted. The sale process ends on the closing date when money is paid to the seller and the title of the property is transferred to the buyer.
What Agreement is Required Before Selling a Property in Washington?
Before a property can be sold in Washington, the buyer and seller must reach an agreement about the condition of the property. Withing five days of accepting the buyer’s offer, the seller must provide the buyer with a Seller’s Disclosure Statement, also called “Form 17”. The disclosure statement details the condition of the property and informs the buyer of any issues or defects that could affect the property value.
After receiving the disclosure, the buyer then has three days to review the disclosure and decide whether to rescind their offer and terminate the real estate contract or move forward with the sale.
If the buyer wants to terminate the contract, they must let the seller know in writing within the three day window. If the buyer fails to act in these three days, it will mean that the buyer has accepted the agreement and the sale will move forward.
Common Washington Real Estate Contracts
The most common Washington real estate contract is the Northwest Multiple Listing Service residential real estate purchase and sale agreement. This form is often simply called “Form 21”.
For other types of real estate transactions, the following contracts are also commonly used:
- Real estate assignment contract. Used when purchasing investment properties that may need repairs and maintenance. This contract allows the buyer to assign the contract to a second buyer.
- Commercial purchase agreement. Used when buying and selling commercially zoned property.
- Lease agreement. Use when a landlord wants to rent their property to a tenant for use.
4 Essential Elements of a Washington Real Estate Contract
Washington real estate contracts are required to follow the laws governing contracts. All real estate contracts must be in writing and signed by both parties to be legally enforceable. In addition, all contracts must have the following 4 essential elements:
- Mutual assent
- A valid offer and acceptance of the offer
- Adequate consideration
- A legal contract purpose and parties who can legally enter a contract
What Must Be Included in a Washington Real Estate Contract?
Washington real estate contract must include specific information about the parties and the property to be valid and enforceable agreements.
Terms that should appear in a real estate contract include:
- Party information. The names and addresses of the parties involved in the transaction, including the buyer, seller, and any agents or brokers involved.
- Property description. The address and legal description.
- Purchase price. The agreed upon sale price for the property.
- Contingencies. Conditions that must be met before the sale can be completed like the completion of a home inspection.
- Disclosures. The seller must provide a disclosure statement to the buyer within 5 days of accepting the buyer’s offer. The disclosure will inform the seller of any defects or issues with the property.
- Closing date. The date on which the sale will be completed, and the property will be transferred to the buyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Cherie M.
Dedicated attorney with contract experience in Washington, Virginia, and Kansas.
"I was very pleased with Cherie. The work was done in a timely fashion and was exactly what I needed. I intend to hire her again in the very near future."
Grace C.
Grace C.
I’m Grace E. Carlson, an intellectual property & transactional attorney, founder of aTMospheric IP, LLC, with over 6 years of combined law firm and in-house experience. I help businesses, startups, creators, and entrepreneurs draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts while protecting their brands and innovations. My expertise includes SaaS agreements, MSAs, NDAs, licensing contracts, vendor and partnership agreements, as well as comprehensive trademark strategy, copyright matters, AI-related IP issues, and technology transactions. I’ve supported global companies including Robinhood, Iron Mountain, and Microsoft, and provided flexible in-house counsel through Axiom Law across fintech, SaaS, consumer goods, and data center industries. Known for translating complex legal issues into clear, practical solutions, I focus on delivering contracts that reduce risk, support go-to-market strategies, and scale with your business. Whether you need a custom SaaS agreement, trademark-integrated contracts, or AI compliance review, I provide responsive, business-minded counsel. Bar Admissions: Washington (2020) & Oregon (2021) J.D., Seattle University School of Law Let’s get your contracts and IP protections done right — efficiently and effectively.
"Grace was very easy to work with on this project. Extremely knowledgeable about the topic and gave great advice. Grace gave us a product that we are able to implement quickly! Thank you for your hard work!"
Elizabeth J.
Libby Jamison founded E. Grace Law Firm after nearly two decades practicing law across federal agencies, private firms, and nonprofit organizations. She has advised at the highest levels of government and built a career defined by tackling complex, high-stakes legal and policy challenges. Her practice focuses on business, employment, veteran, and family law matters, drawing on her wide scope of experience including nearly seven years as counsel at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Her legal experience spans federal agency counsel, firm ownership, and nonprofit work. She is licensed to practice in California and Washington and was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court. Beyond legal practice, she has led as a nonprofit president, chaired a U.S. Chamber of Commerce economic empowerment zone, and served on an American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel. Her work has been recognized by: Mighty 25 Awardee (2023) Changemaker of the Year, Military.com (2019) Bush Institute Stand-To Veteran Leadership Scholar (2019)
"I have really enjoyed working with Elizabeth. I truly appreciate her professionalism, efficiency, and attention to detail. Her work is very thorough, and she has been a pleasure to work with. I had been looking for a good attorney for quite some time after my previous attorney retired, so I am very happy that I was able to connect with Elizabeth through this platform. It has been a very positive experience, and I greatly value her knowledge, responsiveness, and the quality of her work."
April 22, 2025
Tyler J.
I am an attorney licensed in California and Washington State with 4 years of experience. I spent three (3) years at a national law firm in the litigation practice section in the Los Angeles and Orange County offices. My experience also includes my current position of general counsel for a credit card processing company in Washington. I have been in this role for just over one (1) year. My expertise includes commercial litigation, securities litigation, FINRA arbitration, employment law, and general corporate law matters.
Cory B.
Over 10 years as a practicing attorney. Experience in both transactional and litigation matters, with a strong focus on commercial and residential real estate, contract law, business law, estate planning, and probate. Proven success in managing complex legal matters such as title disputes, real estate transactions, business and property acquisitions and sales, due diligence, property management, commercial leasing, evictions, probate disputes, and estate planning. Known for exceptional written and verbal communication, sound judgment, and the ability to guide clients through intricate and high-pressure situations. Ability to analyze and resolve issues efficiently and effectively with a strong focus on client relations and efficient resolution of legal matters.
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Katherine B.
Attorney and former in-house counsel with 15+ years of leadership and project management experience in corporate & business law, risk management, compliance, strategy, and regulatory oversight in the private and federal sectors. Primary areas of practice are corporate governance & business law, compliance & financial services regulation, transformation & change management, regulatory response & remediations, consumer regulation & employment law, and conduct / ethics & investigations at regional, large and complex corporations. My experience includes banking, payment & ecommerce regulations, trade & product law, consumer regulations, employment & labor law, contracts and privacy laws. I have extensive experience advising firms on consumer protection and regulatory law, and I have specialized experience with firms engaging in large-scale transformations and remediations. I am admitted to the Washington State Bar Association and licensed to practice law, I am a Federal Reserve System commissioned Examiner, and I am a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM). At Phoenix Law PLLC, I advise individual clients and provide legal and regulatory guidance, corporate counsel services, as well as strategic consulting services to businesses. I leverage my unique experience and skillset to provide innovative solutions and achieve favorable results, with the goal of empowering clients to move successfully forward. www.phoenixlawpllc.com kbrandt@phoenixlawpllc.com
Neil R.
Neil Rust is a transactional attorney with almost four decades of experience ranging across a broad range of fields, including M&A, finance, structured finance, VC and general corporate. Before moving to Oregon, Mr. Rust was a partner at the Los Angeles office of an international law for 26 years and the Century City office of a national law firm for 5 years. During his big firm tenure, Neil Rust gathered experience across multiple industries and enjoys counselling clients as much as drafting and negotiating.
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"Ryenne was very prompt. thanks for your help Ryenne."
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"William was knowledgeable and helped us review disclosures and prepare our purchase documents, but communication and turnaround times were often frustrating. There were repeated delays during a time-sensitive real estate transaction. Ultimately, the experience did not feel as organized or responsive as we needed."
Real Estate
Real Estate Contract
Georgia
WHAT ARE YOUR FEES TO PERFORM QUIT CLAIM DEED COMPLETE BUTTS COUNTY GEORGIA 30233
SON AND EX
Meghan T.
Hi. The cost for my practice to prepare a Quit Claim Deed is $99. The Cost for me to handle the closing is $250 plus recording fees. These costs apply for any county within the state of Georgia. Let me know if you have any more questions. Meghan K Thomas
Real Estate
Real Estate Contract
Georgia
How many years does a quick claim become effective?s
Number of years for quick claim to be effect ive
Meghan T.
A quit claim deed is effective upon execution so long as the deed is dated as of the date of signature. Execution means that the deed is signed, in front of a witness and a notary. The witness and notary must also sign the deed. Finally, the deed must be recorded. This means that the deed must be submitted to the Superior Court recording office of the County in which the property sits. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, Meghan K Thomas
Real Estate
Real Estate Contract
Illinois
what is better to buy land or rent for construction in US?
we are a construction company from Ukraine, we are planning to build a cottage town in the USA
T. Phillip B.
I suppose it doesn't matter if you have the lease giving you permission and the lease is long enough to justify the building expense when you won't own it. But I'd buy the land so you could eventually sell the property with the building on it.
Real Estate
Real Estate Contract
New York
Can you purchase or refinance under a land contract?
I’ve been living here for 2 years. Currently have been working with my credit union and they are having a terrible time trying to understand the legalities of my land contract first off, and secondly they just don’t seem to know what they are doing. It’s been over 8 months, 4 different loan officers and I’m once again waiting for someone else to help finish this thing out. It’s only $60,000 with a $120,000 appraisal. So, as of now I am stuck paying 2.5x monthly under this land contract than I was promised would be an easy mortgage process. So any guidance in the right direction would be very helpful. It’s a New York home. 20 yr fixed, no balloon, with a (brace yourself) 12% apr. HELP ME PLEASE! One month I’m being told to authorize a credit check for a first time homebuyer grant method of mortgaging this property. The next it’s authorizing it for a refinance. I do have earnest money deposits for over $3,000 and another $3000 paid towards principal under this land contract also.
Jane C.
I suggest you speak with a New York real estate attorney. That attorney needs to review the documents related to the transaction.
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