Purchase option agreement
Buyer and seller lock in a purchase deal before the final sale: the buyer hands over earnest money (arras) or a down payment, and the seller commits not to offer the property to anyone else for a set period. It's the typical first step when buying a home.
Requesting a quote doesn't commit you to anything
- You tell us about your case. It's free.
- We send you the price in writing, within 1 to 3 hours.
- You decide. If it works for you, we start. If not, you delete it with one click and pay nothing.
No one will pressure you. Your information is used only for your case.
Is it for you?
If any of these sounds like you, this procedure is for you.
- For property buyers and sellers who want to lock in the deal before the final sale, with earnest money involved. And for real estate agencies and brokers who handle purchase options every day, who get our preferred volume partner rate
What's included and what isn't
Everything clear from the start. No fine print.
Includes
- Review of the deal's terms and the property's documents.
- Drafting of the purchase option agreement with the earnest money, the deadline, the payment method and the penalties for breach.
- Coordination of the appointment at the Notaría Pública (government notary office).
- Support during the authentication of the signatures.
Does not include
- The final sale of the property or its recording at the Registro Inmobiliario (Real Estate Registry), which is the next step and which we also handle.
- The property appraisal.
- The official notary fee, which is paid separately and varies with the number of pages.
Add to your procedure
Check it and we include it in your quote. You decide at the end.
What you need
Check off what you already have. You don't need everything to request your quote.
You have 0 of 5.
- The buyer's and seller's details, cédula (Venezuelan national ID card) or RIF (Venezuelan tax ID)
- The property's details and its title document
- The agreed terms, price, earnest money or down payment, deadline and payment method
- And the penalties agreed for breach
- The parties sign in person before the notary
How the process works
You do very little. We take care of the rest. The whole process: on average, 2 to 4 business days.
- Step 1
You give us the terms
You give us the deal's terms and the property's details.
You do this - Step 2
We draft
We prepare the option with earnest money, deadline and penalties.
We do this - Step 3
You sign
We coordinate the appointment, confirm the cost, and the parties sign before the notary.
You do this - Result
Done
We hand you the authenticated document, with fecha cierta.
You receive it
We draft the agreement with the earnest money and the terms, both parties review it and we coordinate the signing before the notary (a public official).
What it costs and how to pay
There are two separate payments, and we want you to see them clearly.
Our fee: we do all the work for you.
The official notary fee. It goes straight to the agency, and we give you the exact amount, with its receipt, before you pay anything.
How you pay: You pay once, when we start. In dollars, in bolívares at the official BCV exchange rate, or with Cashea.
How is your investment calculated?
Your investment has two parts, which we break out for you. Our base professional fee, from $60, for drafting the option and handling its authentication; if you're a real estate agency, our preferred partner rate applies, set according to your volume
The official notary fee, which varies with the number of pages in the document. Official amounts are paid in bolívares at the official BCV (Central Bank of Venezuela) exchange rate Your lawyer gives you the exact figure before you pay anything, no strings attached.
FAQ
What happens if I hold the deal verbally, with no document?
Either side can back out at no cost, and whoever handed over a down payment can spend months fighting to get it back. The document sets the rules and the penalties from the start.
What is earnest money (arras)?
It's the down payment the buyer hands over as a sign of commitment; it's applied to the price if the sale goes through.
How much does it cost?
The professional fee, from $60, covers drafting and authentication; the official notary fee is separate.
What happens if someone backs out?
It depends on the penalties agreed; that's why they must be clear in the contract.
Is it the same as the sale?
No; it's the earlier step that secures the deal. The option is authenticated at the notary office; the final sale of the property is the one that gets recorded at the registry.
About this procedure
A purchase option agreement is the contract that makes a real estate deal serious before the final signing. Here's how it works: buyer and seller agree on the terms of the future sale (price, deadline, payment method), and the buyer hands over earnest money (arras), the down payment, as a sign of commitment; in exchange, the seller is bound to hold the property for them and not offer it to anyone else during the agreed period. It's the step that gives both sides peace of mind: the buyer gets time to secure financing or run checks without fear of losing the property, and the seller knows the buyer is serious, with money on the table. The agreement must make the earnest money, the deadline and what happens if either party backs out (the penalties) crystal clear, because that's where disputes arise if the document is poorly drafted. It's authenticated before a notary to give it fecha cierta (a legally certain date, so the document holds up against third parties) and legal force. With our real estate know-how, we draft the option with care in every clause so it truly protects you. And since real estate agencies are natural partners here, handling these options every day, they get our preferred partner rate: tell us your volume and we'll set up an agreement.
Legal framework and important notes
Ley de Registros y Notarías (Registries and Notaries Law) · Código Civil (Civil Code) · Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela (Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)
- The heart of a good option is the penalties. What happens if the buyer doesn't buy or the seller doesn't sell; if that's left vague, that's where disputes start, so we draft it carefully
- Remember that the option isn't the sale, it's the prior commitment
- The parties sign in person before the notary
- And if you're a real estate agency, ask about the partner rate
We guarantee our service, not what the agency decides. If something depends on them, we tell you clearly and in time.
Is your case different?Ask us, message us on WhatsApp or book a free consultation. A real person answers you.