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Free California Residential Purchase Agreement Template

A California residential purchase agreement locks in the price, contingencies, and escrow timeline for a home. Build yours with our step-by-step questionnaire and download a customizable template in minutes.

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What Is a California Residential Purchase Agreement?

A California residential purchase agreement is the written deal between a home buyer and seller covering price, contingencies, and closing. It works hand in hand with the state’s required seller disclosures, which can reopen a buyer’s decision if they arrive late.

What California Requires From Sellers

California puts the seller’s disclosures at the center of a home sale. Knowing the rules keeps your California residential purchase agreement on a clean timeline.

Deliver the Transfer Disclosure Statement

For a covered sale, the seller must deliver a completed written disclosure statement as soon as practicable before title transfers (Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.3). The statement follows the form described in Civil Code section 1102.6.

Don’t Count on an As-Is Clause

Selling a home “as is” doesn’t remove this duty. The Legislature stated that parties can’t waive delivery of the transfer disclosure statement in an as-is sale (Cal. Civ. Code § 1102).

Watch the Timing on Installment and Lease-Option Sales

Some homes sell through a real property sales contract or a lease with an option to purchase. In those deals, the seller delivers the statement as soon as practicable before the contract’s execution. Here, execution means making or accepting an offer.

Can a California Buyer Cancel After a Late Disclosure?

Yes, for a short window. Suppose a required disclosure or material amendment arrives after execution of the buyer’s offer. The buyer can then terminate by written notice to the seller or the seller’s agent (Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.3). The buyer has:

  • Three days after in-person delivery
  • Five days after mailing
  • An equal five days for an electronic record, when the parties agreed to handle the deal electronically

The clock doesn’t start until the buyer or their agent receives completed Sections I and II of the statement. If the seller has an agent, the buyer must also receive Section III.

When disclosures reach the buyer before the offer’s execution, this late-delivery exit never comes into play. Deliver early whenever you can.

How to Take a California Home Sale to Closing

A typical sale runs in this order.

  1. Complete the disclosure statement. The seller fills out Sections I and II, and the seller’s agent completes Section III if there is one.
  2. Deliver it early. Aim for before the buyer’s offer, and in any case as soon as practicable before title transfers.
  3. Sign and open escrow. Both parties sign the California residential purchase agreement and open escrow.
  4. Amend if something changes. A material amendment delivered after the offer gives the buyer a new chance to terminate.
  5. Close escrow. Follow your escrow holder’s instructions to sign and record the deed.

What to Include in Your Agreement

Spell out the terms that matter most. Include:

  • Names of each buyer and seller
  • The home’s address and legal description
  • Purchase price, deposit amount, and financing terms
  • Inspection, appraisal, and loan contingencies with deadlines
  • When and how the seller delivered each disclosure
  • Closing date and possession terms