Real Estate Contracts Attorneys, Kansas & Missouri

While real estate contracts may seem like a cut-and-dry process on the surface, the details and language in the contract can have an incredible amount of importance if something goes wrong. Any omissions or missing and/or vague language can ultimately result in litigation and ruined relationships.

With high-value deals, it is important to have an attorney that understands the future implications and legal precedents between every “and” and “and/or” in an agreement.

We believe that contract surprises usually cost you money, time, equity, or all of the above. That is why we believe in focusing extra time and attention on getting it right the first time.

What do we mean by contracts?

A simple handshake or verbal agreement is not enough to purchase a home, commercial building, or plot of land. That is where a real estate contract or purchase agreement comes into play and is enforced by a court of law. A real estate contract is a written agreement between buyer and seller to buy the property legally. Once all parties sign the contract involved, it is binding that each side will go through with their part of the deal.

A real estate contract has information such as the agreed-upon price, ideal closing date, earnest money deposit price, and who pays for inspections or any other stated issues on the property. To ensure the contract is valid, it is usually written by the homeowner’s agent and then given to the seller to look over. From there, the deal can be declined or approved. If it is approved, both the seller and buyer must uphold their side of the agreement. For the buyer, this may mean giving the proper amount of earnest money for the deposit, and the seller will hand over the deed once the payment is finalized.

Here are some common issues we see:

• The paperwork is incomplete or has missing information in areas it is needed.

• Verbal agreements are said, and there is no paperwork to back it up.

• Changes are made to the contract after the contract has been signed and executed.

• Legal names are not used throughout the contract, i.e., Mike is used instead of Michael.

• The seller doesn’t have the legal right to sell the property.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a real estate contract and why is it necessary when buying or selling property?

A real estate contract is a legally binding agreement that outlines the terms of a property transaction between a buyer and seller. It defines critical details such as the purchase price, closing date, contingencies, inspection rights, repairs, and deadlines. A properly written contract protects both parties and ensures the transaction can be legally enforced if disputes arise.

2. What key information should be included in a real estate purchase agreement to make it legally binding?

A valid real estate contract must include the names of all parties, an accurate legal property description, the purchase price and financing terms, contingencies (such as inspections or appraisals), closing details, and signatures from both buyer and seller. Missing or unclear terms can make a contract unenforceable or expose parties to unexpected legal issues.

3. What common mistakes or omissions in real estate contracts can lead to disputes or litigation?

Disputes often arise from vague property descriptions, unclear contingency language, missing deadlines, poorly written repair obligations, or failure to disclose known defects. Contracts created without legal review may also contain clauses that unintentionally favor one party or conflict with state requirements. A real estate attorney helps prevent these costly mistakes before closing.

4. When should I consider hiring a real estate attorney instead of relying solely on a realtor or broker?

You should hire a real estate attorney whenever you are dealing with complex contract terms, investor purchases, commercial property, for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) transactions, title issues, boundary disputes, or unexpected contract disputes. Attorneys provide legal protection and enforceable contract guidance that realtors are not licensed to give.

5. How can Hunter Law Group help protect my interests in a real estate transaction?

Hunter Law Group reviews and drafts real estate contracts, negotiates favorable terms, resolves disputes, and ensures that agreements comply with Missouri law. Our legal team works to protect clients from liability, financial loss, and legal complications throughout the buying or selling process — providing peace of mind from contract signature through closing.