Completing the financing and providing the final settlement statement. Signatures: Both the buyer and seller must sign the contract to make it legally binding.State laws govern the process of recording a mortgage. Most states need a written agreement for recording. The law's implementation will almost certainly result in extending the time it takes California lenders to complete the foreclosure process. Probably no other area of the law is as important to real estate brokers, salespersons, and parties transferring. This statute requires most contracts to be in writing to be valid, with only a few exceptions. The terms of the purchase are laid out in this contract. Later, once the seller has accepted your offer, both parties will sign this document making it a legal agreement. The buyer has fewer legal rights in a scenario where they are unable to make payments to the seller.