Like much of Western jurisprudence, English common law is the foundation for the American legal system, which includes a 17th Century law known as The Statues of Frauds. Traditionally, the Statute of Frauds requires a written executed document, signed by both parties, the following circumstances:

• Contracts in consideration of marriage, including prenuptial agreements.
• Contracts that cannot be performed within one year. (Contracts of indefinite duration, however, do not fall under the statute of frauds, regardless of how long the performance actually takes.)
• Contracts for the transfer of an interest in land. This applies not only to a contract to sell land but also to any other contract in which land or an interest in it is disposed, such as the grant of a mortgage or an easement.
• Contracts by the executor of a will to pay a debt of the estate with his own money.
• Contracts for the sale of goods totaling $500 or more.
• Contracts in which one party becomes a surety (acts as guarantor) for another party’s debt or other obligation.
• The statute applies to real estate sales and transfers or leases for more than a year.

So, for instance, the transaction of purchasing real estate can’t be executed by an oral agreement. In order to have a binding contract to purchase (or sell) real estate, there must be a written document.

When a potential buyer makes a written offer to purchase a house, the seller has three options:

• The offer can be accepted, in which case there is a contract;
• The offer can be rejected, or;
• The offer can be met with a counteroffer. This means the seller is interested in pursuing negotiations with the potential purchaser.

If a seller makes a counteroffer, the buyer then has the same three options.

Most real estate transactions are smooth and work out successfully. However, once in a while, a major dispute arises between the parties and litigation starts. The first thing a court will want to determine is whether there is a valid contract.

To have a binding, legal contract, three basic elements are required:

1. An Offer: Typically, the buyer makes a written offer.
2. Acceptance: This also must be in writing. In recent years, with modern technology, acceptance can be by fax or by email. However, to be on the safe side, this should be followed up with a written document containing an original signature.
3. Consideration: The third basic element of a contract is called “consideration.” This is an elusive concept, but it generally refers to money. The buyer makes a good-faith money deposit.

However, what consideration exists if no money is put down with the offer? Does this mean there is no binding contract, even if the seller signs the offer? Not really, since consideration can also be something of value. For example, the buyer has stopped looking for another house, in the belief there is a binding real estate contract, and the seller has taken the house off the market, based on that same belief. Thus, there would still be a valid contract, although it is always wise to make a good-faith deposit when you present a purchase offer.

The Takeaway

 Put everything in writing. If you, as a buyer, want certain items to convey with the house — such as the washing machine, curtains or even the lawn mower — make sure these items are specifically listed in the sales contract. Conversely, if you as a seller want to take certain fixtures with you, put that in writing, too.

Credo: Don’t leave anything to faith — or to verbal promises.