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Buyer agreements · 6 statesBuyer agreement laws by state: when the written agreement must be signed

State law, not only the industry settlement, now requires written buyer agreements in several states – but the deadline differs: Texas before showing a home (or before an offer if nothing is shown), California no later than the offer and for at most three months, Virginia before providing brokerage services, North Carolina no later than an offer, Missouri before brokerage acts, and Washington whenever the firm wants to be paid. The table gives each rule with its statute.

State by state

  1. Texas (Occ. Code §1101.563, 2026)

    Written agreement before showing a house, duplex to fourplex, condo or co-op – or before presenting an offer if nothing is shown; it states that compensation is not set by law and is negotiable.

  2. California (Civil Code §1670.50, 2025)

    Signed no later than the buyer's offer; compensation, services, when due and termination; at most three months, no automatic renewal, otherwise void.

  3. Washington (RCW 18.86.080, amended 2023)

    A services agreement is required for the firm to be paid by any party; it states the compensation, consent to sharing, and whether the broker shows homes without offered pay.

  4. Virginia (§54.1-2137)

    Written brokerage agreement before brokerage services; definite end date or 90 days; fee, payment terms and services.

  5. North Carolina (21 NCAC 58A .0104)

    Buyer agency must be in writing and signed no later than an offer – from the start if it binds the buyer for a period or limits other agents; definite term and license number.

  6. Missouri (RSMo 339.780, amended 2025)

    A designated broker acting as a single agent for a buyer signs a written agency agreement before engaging in brokerage acts other than ministerial ones; it includes the agent's duties and the compensation.

What the TC checks in every state

  • The agreement date against the state's trigger – showing, offer or first services.
  • End date in the file, and a renewal before it lapses.
  • Compensation in the agreement matched to the purchase contract and closing statement.
  • Agency disclosure signed in the right order.

Questions about buyer agreement laws

Which states require a written buyer agreement before showing a home?

Texas requires it before showing a home to a buyer (Occupations Code §1101.563); Virginia requires a brokerage agreement before providing brokerage services (§54.1-2137).

Is there a time limit on buyer agreements?

California limits them to three months with no automatic renewal (§1670.50); Virginia agreements without an end date expire after 90 days.

Does Washington require a buyer agreement?

A firm needs a services agreement to receive compensation from any party (RCW 18.86.080(7)).

When must a North Carolina buyer agreement be signed?

No later than when an offer is made, and from the start if it binds the buyer for a period or restricts working with other agents (21 NCAC 58A .0104(a)).

State pages

Track the buyer agreement, its end date and the agency disclosure as tasks with owners and due dates in ClosingCode – the same checklist in every state.

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Sources: Texas Occupations Code §1101.563; California Civil Code §1670.50; RCW 18.86.080; Code of Virginia §54.1-2137; 21 NCAC 58A .0104; RSMo 339.780 – read at the official sources, October 2026.

General information, not legal advice. ClosingCode is software; it is not a law firm or brokerage.