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What does 'Ratified Contract' Mean?

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Real Estate Agent with Associate Broker, Momentum Realty

What does 'Ratified Contract' Mean?

Dear Holly,

We have had our house listed for sale and last week we got a contract. We are waiting to hear back about the Home Inspection right now. Every time I speak with my Realtor® she calls our contract a 'Ratified Contract.' What does this mean? What is the difference between a 'Contract' and a 'Ratified Contract?'

Confused in Northern Virginia

Dear Confused,

Like every other field, Real Estate is a discipline that has its own language. All Realtors® know the lingo, but we forget that not every one understands our 'Realtor® Speak.'

What you received last week was an Offer. After discussing the Offer with your Realtor, you most likely Countered (went back to them with YOUR Offer).  This cycle can go back and forth until the two parties reach agreement.  This is how your sales contract ends up with scratched out terms and initials. Each time a party Counters, they are essentially making a brand new Offer. Once the parties have agreed on the terms of the contract, and all changes are initialed and all blanks are initialed and/or signed, you have what is called Ratified Contract--a contract to purchase your home at terms agreeable to all parties.

A Ratified Contract will likely still  have Contingencies...but that is a post that I covered yesterday, 
  What is the big rush to clear the contingencies?

I hope this helps!

Holly

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Comments (13)

James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Each group of people have their own language.  We do not speak the same as you would lets say in the military, law enforcement, firefighters, etc.  Interesting on how that plays out.

Apr 14, 2011 12:14 AM
Vance Booher
Re/Max Select, SRES - Greensburg, PA

Morning Holly.  Here we usually call it an Executed Contract.  And yes they surely can look a mess after repeated scratchings and initialings.  I know that a lot of areas are now using online/electronic signatures and modifications and that certainly cleans things up.  Unfortunately many places still don't recognize the validity of such signatures - they are firmly locked into the past.

Apr 14, 2011 12:18 AM
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Don't know anyone in Texas that uses the term "ratified".  Most agents here say we have an executed contract which is not really executed until all the terms and conditions have been met.

Apr 14, 2011 12:20 AM
Holly Weatherwax
Associate Broker, Momentum Realty - Reston, VA
A Great Real Estate Experience

As we all know, Real Estate is LOCAL. Not only are market condtions local, but 'Real Estate Speak' is too!

Apr 14, 2011 12:54 AM
Ellie McIntire
Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate - Ellicott City, MD
Luxury service in Central Maryland

I love this series Holly. Keep it up. Expect to see them re-blogged on my blog very soon :)

Apr 14, 2011 01:06 AM
Phil Leng
Retired - Kirkland, WA
Phil Leng - Retired

Hi Holly,

So a RATified contract has nothing at all to do with rats?

I thought maybe after the inspection, a pest report was ordered, the rats were all removed and the contract was RATified!

:)

Phil

Apr 14, 2011 01:11 AM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Love the "Dear Confused" series Holly. Keep 'em coming. They're just the right information/ answers the public needs!

Apr 14, 2011 01:48 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Nice post.  I have been meaning to do a series on basic real estate terms.  Thanks for the prompt.

Apr 14, 2011 06:01 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Holly, you are so right.  Like many professions, we have our own language.  And our clients are not always bilingual!

Apr 23, 2011 03:20 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

 

Hey, Holly!

I included this post in today's Last Week's Favorites! 

Cheers!

Pat

Apr 24, 2011 03:53 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Holly

A short, simple and easy explanation. We tend to call them executed contracts here. Our Offer to Purchase further states that a bindng contract is formed when a signed copy of the seller(s) acceptance is received by the buyer or the buyer's authorized agent.

Jeff

Apr 24, 2011 04:46 PM
Linda K. Mayer
License # 01767321 - La Verne, CA
Realtor, SRES, SoCAL, A REALTOR YOU CAN TRUST

Easy explaination for clients.  hanks, Holly!

Apr 27, 2011 06:30 AM
Anonymous
Darryl Bagley

What is copy of ratified sales contract with all addendums?

Aug 29, 2016 08:37 AM
#13