Purchase agreements in Texas

[Brandon Allen]

Do you have to use the purchase agreement that can be found on the TX real estate website or can you use a simplified one page contract? Any help here would be greatly appreciated. We're just getting started in north Texas and need clarification on this point. Thanks!

[Tamara Elliott-Deering]

@Brandon Allen

Here's a brief summary of what makes up a valid contract in Texas: http://www.thetaylorfirm.com/pdf/texascontractlaw....

You could use a simplified one page contract but TREC has spent a lot of money to create the 1-4 resale contract, various clauses have been tested through the courts and it is probably your best bet for ensuring the protection of you and the seller. While the TREC contract is wordy there aren't many lines that have to be filled in, and those that do are the key points of negotiation like price, closing date, option period and special conditions. As a Realtor I am required to use the form and since it's the most common real estate contract used in TX it will make everything easier for the professionals that you will have help you close the property like the title company and/or your attorney.

Tamara