Assignment Of Contracts: Everything You Need to Know

Assignment of contracts is the legal transfer of the obligations and benefits of a contract from one party, called the assignor, to another, called the assignee. 3 min read

What Is Assignment of Contracts ?

Assignment of contracts is the legal transfer of the obligations and benefits of a contract from one party, called the assignor, to another, called the assignee. The assignor must properly notify the assignee so that he or she can take over the contractual rights and obligations. This can be done using a document called an assignment agreement, which allows you to protect your legal rights while transferring the contract.

An assignment agreement is appropriate for your needs if the following are true:

The assignment agreement includes the names of the assignor and assignee, the name of the other party to the contract in question (known as the obligor ), the contract's title and expiration date, whether the obligor needs to consent to the rights transfer based on the original terms of the contract, when the obligor consented, when the assignment agreement takes effect, and what state will govern the transferred contract. The assignment agreement may also be called the contract assignment , assignment contract, or assignment of contract.

While assignment contracts are typically only used for amounts of less than $5,000, you can assign a higher profit contract when both the buyer and seller agree. You cannot assign a contract if the original contract prohibits doing so. 

If you are assigning a contract, you may want to ask the obligor to sign a release, or waiver, agreement that releases you from contract liability . In addition to transferring rights and obligations, you can also use an assignment agreement to transfer an income stream to an assignee. However, when transferring rights to intellectual or personal property, it's best to instead use a trademark assignment, bill of sale, or assignment of trade name.

How Do Assignments Work?

The procedure for assigning a contract depends on the language of that contract. For example, some contracts may disallow assignment, while others may allow it only when the obligor consents.  In some cases, the assignor is not relieved of contract liability. This occurs when the original contract has a clause that guarantees performance regardless of assignment.

If you want to buy a contract, look for sellers in newspaper ads, online marketing, and direct mail. In most cases, it makes the most sense to use multiple strategies. For real estate contracts , make sure you conduct a title search on the property in question to make sure there are no liens. You can hire a title company or real estate attorney to ensure that a title is clean before signing an assignment contract.

After you sign the assignment contract, you have interest in the property and can sell it to an end buyer. Market the property through a dedicated website. Once you find a potential buyer, require an earnest money deposit. This is nonrefundable and allows you to make a profit whether or not the deal is successfully completed. If the deal is completed, the end buyer wires funds to cover the sale price of the property along with your stated fee. 

In some cases, you can make a profit just by referring a buyer to an appropriate property and taking a finder's fee. With this strategy, you assign your rights to the buyer, allowing them to close on the property, after which you receive your fee. This is a low-risk endeavor if you have detailed information on exactly what each buyer is looking for. You'll also need to  have the resources to locate great properties before they hit the market. With those two components, you'll be able to make money as a real estate investor without risking your own capital. You can also close on the property yourself and immediately flip it to another investor.

When Are Assignments Not Enforced?

An assignment  agreement is not enforced if the original contract contains a clause that prohibits assignment. If performance is affected, value is decreased, or risk is increased for the obligor, few courts will enforce the assignment. These circumstances are referred to as a material alteration in the contract.

Contract assignments are also prohibited by some state laws. In many states, an employee is prohibited from assigning future wages. Certain claims against the federal government are also prohibited from an assignment. Some assignments violate public policy rather than law, such as assignment of personal injury claims. This is not allowed because it could encourage litigation.

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What Is An Assignment Of Contract In Real Estate?

when assigning a contract the assignor should ensure that

An assignment of contract is when one party (the “assignor”) has a contract to which they have certain obligations, and transfers those contractual rights to another party (known as the “assignee”).

In real estate, assigning contracts is an effective strategy to achieve an extremely high return on investment (ROI) for as little capital and risk as possible.

Click below and jump to your section of choice on the  assignment of contract :

• What Is An Assignment In Real Estate?

• How Does Assignment Of Contract Work?

• Is It Legal To Assign A Real Estate Contract?

• Why Use A Real Estate Assignment Contract?

• What Is An Assignment Fee In Real Estate?

• Who Buys Real Estate Contracts?

• How To Assign A Contract In Real Estate?

• How Do Real Estate Wholesalers Get Paid?

• What Is An Assignment Clause In Real Estate?

• What Is Assignment Of Contract?

• Assignment Of Contract Template

• Assignment of Contract vs. Double Closing

• Assignment Of Contract: Pros & Cons

• Common Misconceptions About Assigning Real Estate Contracts

                                           

What Is An Assignment In Real Estate?

An assignment of contract in real estate is when the original party who has a piece of real estate transfers their contractual obligations to that of a new party.

assignment of contract facts

                

How Does Assignment Of Contract Work?

The assignment of contract is one of the easiest exit strategies in all of real estate investing. With this being said, there are a number of steps to ensure a profitable and efficient contract assignment for your learning. Below are 6 simple steps on how to assign a real estate contract:

Is It Legal To Assign A Real Estate Contract?

Yes, it is legal to assign real estate contracts. However, there are situations when assignments will not be enforced, such as:

  Solution: Get written consent from all parties.

Solution: Modify the contract with the permission of all involved parties. If the parties involved are okay with it, then you can modify the contract from being non-assignable to assignable.

Solution: Close on the property and sell it after the restriction is over. Back out of the property if you have the appropriate contingencies. 

All in all, it is legal to assign real estate contracts . In fact, all contracts are assignable by default, unless specifically stated otherwise within the agreement.

As with anything having to do with contracts, it is extremely important to read the contract you will be signing with any seller of a property.

It’s recommended you use a real estate attorney to review the agreement you plan on using for your real estate deals to make sure it is worded correctly.

Why Use A Real Estate Assignment Contract?

The biggest reason to use a real estate assignment contract is: you can profit from a piece of real estate by solely transferring your contract rights.

This process is called “wholesaling,” and is a great way to flip real estate while lowering your risk and using as little money as possible .

Many people see the house flipping shows  where investors buy, fix, & sell houses. This entire process can take months, and even longer than a year to effectively renovate and resell a property. 

Additionally, when you buy a property there is always risk that comes with it. Most real estate investors raise money and invest other people’s money into their real estate deals in order to work on multiple projects at one time. When a fix & flipper borrows this capital, there is usually an interest rate along with it.

What this means is, every day a fix & flipper has a house that they have bought and are renovating is another day that they will pay more interest on the money they’ve borrowed.

When a real estate assignment contract is used where the goal is to wholesale    (“assignment of contract”) the property, then you virtually eliminate any risk. This is because you are assigning all contractual obligations to the new buyer of the property.

What Is An Assignment Fee In Real Estate?

An assignment fee is the compensation an assignor receives for selling the equitable interest in a real estate contract to another buyer (“the assignee”). This is also known as a “wholesale fee.”

Who Buys Real Estate Contracts?

Real Estate Investors, such as fix & flippers , typically buy real estate contracts from wholesalers so they can have properties to renovate and resell.

Download FREE Wholesale Real Estate Contracts (PDF)!

How To Assign A Contract In Real Estate?

Once you have a property under contract, then it is time to locate a buyer for the real estate contract. Make sure the first thing you do is ask for an earnest cash deposit to ensure that your earnest money will be paid upfront. This clause protects you from any breach of contract between you and the assignee. 

An assignment fee (“wholesale fee”) is then agreed upon between you and the buyer. You will then need to execute an Assignment of Real Estate Purchase and Sale agreement between you and the buyer. 

As the assignor you are assigning all of your duties and obligations that you agreed upon in the original purchase and sale agreement with the seller of the property. This means that the buyer must purchase the property at the original agreed upon price between you and the seller as stated in the original contract.

Just because the assignor of the contract is not the one purchasing the property that doesn’t mean there isn’t additional work to be completed to ensure the deal gets closed. Once a buyer is found to sell the contract to, it is time to make sure the buyer follows through and closes on the deal. 

This makes it important to have a great title company  or real estate attorney to handle the closing. Whether you use a title company or attorney is dependent upon which state you are in. Some states have title companies handle the closing, and some states have attorneys handle it.

How Do Real Estate Wholesalers Get Paid?

Real estate wholesalers get paid when a successful assignment of contract takes place. Their terms of getting paid are to be stated in the Assignment of Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement.

Important: Everything is negotiable and no payment terms are set in stone unless agreed upon and signed in writing.

As a real estate wholesaler, you can get a deposit when the Assignment of Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement is signed. Then, when the transaction closes the wholesaler can receive the rest of the profit.

For example, if you are looking to get a $20,000 wholesale fee for a house, then you may take a 50% deposit of $10,000 when the contract is assigned. Then, receive the remaining 50% of $10,000 when the property closes.

What Is An Assignment Clause In Real Estate?

A real estate assignment clause is a legally binding service that offers a contracting party the right to assign responsibility or transfer ownership to another contracting party of choice. Some contracts have a real estate contract assignment clause built into them.  Below is an example:

“Assignment of Contract: The parties to this Contract mutually agree that it is binding upon them, their heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives, successors and assigns. All parties agree that this Contract is assignable to any party for a profit.”  

It is also a common practice for the original buyer of a contract to put “and/or assigns” next to their name. In addition to the real estate assignment clause, “and/or assigns” will make it even more clear that the contract may be assigned.

What Is Assignment Of Contract?

The real estate assignment contract is also known as the assignment of purchase and sale agreement. This is a separate legal document to the original contract.

The real estate assignment contract has the terms of the assignment, such as to who is the assignor/assignee, when the payment is taking place, and closing terms.

Assignment of Contract Template

Here is an example of an assignment of a contract below:

assignment of contract form

Here's another example of a real estate assignment contract PDF by The Judicial Title Insurance Company.

Assignment of Contract vs. Double Closing

Beginner investors always tend to wonder whether a seller will have an issue with an assignment of rights taking place. It depends on the seller and your correspondence with them. If you communicate clearly, then this is typically not an issue.

This is because the seller has signed a legal and binding contract making them obligated to fulfill the terms of the contract. You have every right to perform an assignment of contract when everything has been done legally.

The majority of sellers you encounter will not have an issue with the assignment and having another party close on the transaction. Sellers’ are usually most concerned that 2 things take place:

Communicate clearly with the seller and fulfill the contract obligations, and you shouldn’t have an issue with assigning a real estate contract.

Double closing can take place when the seller has an issue with the assignment of contract.

Double closing is when you close on the property (meaning you actually buy it), and then resell the property to the end buyer that you would have assigned the contract to originally.

The process of a double close is typically performed as soon as possible to reduce the risk to the wholesaler. If funds are needed to close on a property for this reason, then transactional funding  is a great resource to use for any investor.

Transactional funding lenders lend real estate investors short term capital for double closing transactions.

            

Assignment Of Contract: Pros & Cons

Assignment contracts can be profitable and well structured, but with anything there can be some obstacles you may face when closing on a home. Always remember to research before doing anything and pick the best option for you in this process. Below we will unpack some pros and cons of assignment contracts:

Advantages Of Assignment Contracts

Disadvantages Of Assignment Contracts

Common Misconceptions About Assigning Real Estate Contracts

In general, there are a lot of misconceptions about assigning real estate contracts and wholesaling real estate.

There’s a good chance you will encounter agents, brokers , attorneys, and others with little contract law or property law experience leading them to think that assigning real estate contracts is illegal.

Why would these real estate professionals think it’s illegal?

Because they are unfamiliar with the concept and think you are an unlicensed individual acting as an agent.

It’s important to understand that you are the principal buyer of the transaction and you are selling the equitable interest in the contract to another buyer. You are not selling the actual property itself for a commission like a real estate agent does.

It’s wise to be cognizant that you will most likely come across people who think that an assignment of contract is illegal. In these situations you’ll have to educate them on how real estate assignment contracts work.

This is another reason why you want to have a great real estate attorney on your team who can explain the legality of assigning and wholesaling to anyone you’re working with.

                     

Final Thoughts On The Assignment of Contract

Utilizing an assignment of contract is a profitable real estate investment exit strategy. If you don’t want to buy, fix, and flip property, then you can always just wholesale it once it’s under contract by an assignment.

Assigning real estate contracts requires little to no capital, takes much less time to complete than other investment strategies, and is a great way to profit quickly from your deals. 

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What Is an Assignment of Contract?

What happens when rights and duties under a contract are handed off to a third party.

An assignment of contract occurs when one party to an existing contract (the "assignor") hands off the contract's obligations and benefits to another party (the "assignee"). Ideally, the assignor wants the assignee to step into his shoes and assume all of his contractual obligations and rights. In order to do that, the other party to the contract must be properly notified. Read on to learn how assignments work, including how to keep an assignment option out of your contract.

How Assignments Work

How an assignment of contract plays out depends on many factors, especially the language of the contract. Some contracts may contain a clause prohibiting assignment; other contracts may require the other party to consent to the assignment.

Here's an example of a basic assignment of a contract: Tom contracts with a dairy to deliver a bottle of half-and-half to Tom's house every day. The dairy assigns Tom's contract to another dairy, and--provided Tom is notified of the change and continues to get his daily half-and-half--his contract is now with the new dairy.

An assignment doesn't always relieve the assignor of liability. Some contracts may include a guarantee that, regardless of an assignment, the original parties (or one of them) guarantees performance (that is, that the assignee will fulfill the terms of the contract ).

When Assignments Will Not Be Enforced

An assignment of a contract will not be enforced in the following situations.

The contract prohibits assignment. Contract language, typically referred to as an anti-assignment clause, can prohibit (and "void") any assignments. We provide a sample, below.

The assignment materially alters what's expected under the contract. If the assignment affects the performance due under the contract, decreases the value or return anticipated, or increases the risks for the other party to the contract (the party who is not assigning contractual rights), courts are unlikely to enforce the arrangement. For instance, if Tom's local, organic dairy assigned the contract to a factory farm dairy, this would be considered a material alteration.

The assignment violates the law or public policy. Some laws limit or prohibit assignments. For example, many states prohibit the assignment of future wages by an employee, and the federal government prohibits the assignment of certain claims against the government. Other assignments, though not prohibited by a statute, may violate public policy. For example, personal injury claims cannot be assigned because doing so may encourage litigation.

Delegation or Assignment?

In some cases, a party may not wish to assign the contract but only to get somebody else to fulfill its duties. Obviously, not all duties can be delegated--for example, some personal services are usually not delegated because they are so specific in nature. For example, if you hired Ted Nugent to perform at your event, he could not arbitrarily delegate his performing duties to Lady Gaga. To prohibit one party from delegating the responsibilities of the contract, the parties should include specific language to that effect in the agreement. For example, an anti-assignment clause might state, "Neither party shall assign or delegate its rights."

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Real Estate Assignment of Contract Explained

If you are thinking about purchasing real estate, there are several real estate investment strategies you could consider. This includes buying rental property , flipping houses, BRRRR investing, buy and hold, and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Another potentially lucrative strategy for making money in the real estate industry is wholesaling. This basically involves finding real estate deals that you don’t actually plan to purchase, but plan to transfer to an end buyer. This kind of transaction uses a principle referred to as assignment of contract .

What Is an Assignment of Contract in Real Estate?

Assignment of contract takes place when one party to a contract (the assignor) transfers the legal obligations of the contract to another party. The recipient of the assignment (the assignee) then assumes responsibility for the terms of the contract. In other words, you can flip real estate contracts and make money from a real estate deal without actually owning the income property .

Is an Assignment of Contract Legal ?

Yes, assignment of contract in real estate is legal. However, contract assignment will not be enforced in the following circumstances:

How Does Assignment Work in Real Estate?

Here are the common steps for assigning a contract:

Find investment property for sale

The first thing you need to do is find a motivated seller who is willing to sell their home at a price that is below market value. The main difference between a motivated seller and a regular seller is the former’s sense of urgency. Motivated sellers want to sell fast due to reasons such as divorce, living out-of-state, delinquent taxes , or job transfers. This sense of urgency could work to your advantage at the negotiation table.

You can use the following strategies to find homeowners that want to sell fast:

Visit the Mashvisor Property Marketplace

Related: The Best Tool to Find Off Market Properties

Get the contract

You can easily download an assignment of contract template from the internet. However, it is advisable to have an attorney read and approve the document. This will assure you that the contract is legally sound and that you will have the support of the attorney in case you find yourself in litigation.

One crucial detail that needs to be included in the assignment of contract document is “ and/or assigns ” next to your name. It is this clause that authorizes you to transfer investment property to an interested buyer. Be sure to disclose this information to the seller, and explain the meaning of the clause if necessary. Give them assurance that they will still get the agreed-upon purchase amount.

Related: The Basics of a Wholesale Real Estate Contract and How to Prepare One

Submit the contract

Though the process of assignment of contract varies from state to state, you will generally be required to submit the contract to a closing attorney or title company for a title search. This search will look into the history of the home to ensure that there are no liens attached to the title.

Find an end-buyer

find buyers for real estate assignment of contract

Finding buyers is an important step in the strategy of real estate assignment of contract.

You can find potential buyers using methods such as cold calling, posters and signs, newspaper ads, social media ads, Craigslist, or networking on real estate forums. Alternatively, you could solicit the help of a local real estate agent. Whatever strategies you choose, be sure to find a buyer before the contract expires. In fact, many investors who use this strategy work on putting together a buyers list before they even find a property for sale. Consider this approach as well.

Related: Here’s How to Find Cash Buyers for Real Estate

Assign the contract

Once you’ve located an interested buyer, the first thing you need to do is ask for an earnest cash deposit. Your contract should clearly mention that earnest money will be paid upfront. This clause will protect you from any breach of contract. Since the earnest money is nonrefundable, you are assured of making a profit, whether the deal closes or not.

As the assignor, you will get paid once the end buyer submits the funds for the deal. The difference between the agreed-upon value and the price you reach with the buyer will be your profit. For instance, if you agreed with the seller that you would purchase the property for $170,000 and you then assigned the contract to the buyer for $230,000, your profit (assignment fee) will be $60,000.

Real estate assignment of contract takes less time to complete compared to other real estate investment strategies  and requires little or no capital. However, working with sellers and buyers that are not conversant with assignment of contract can be challenging. In addition, you might find a buyer that will want to back out at the last minute. If you want to flip a real estate contract, you should therefore anticipate such scenarios and prepare accordingly.

when assigning a contract the assignor should ensure that

Charles Mburugu

Charles Mburugu is a HubSpot-certified content writer/marketer for B2B, B2C and SaaS companies. He loves writing on topics that help real estate investors and agents make better choices.

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How To Navigate The Real Estate Assignment Contract

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What is assignment of contract?

Assignment of contract vs double close

How to assign a contract

Assignment of contract pros and cons

Even the most left-brained, technical real estate practitioners may find themselves overwhelmed by the legal forms that have become synonymous with the investing industry. The assignment of contract strategy, in particular, has developed a confusing reputation for those unfamiliar with the concept of wholesaling. At the very least, there’s a good chance the “assignment of contract real estate” exit strategy sounds more like a foreign language to new investors than a viable means to an end.

A real estate assignment contract isn’t as complicated as many make it out to be, nor is it something to shy away from because of a lack of understanding. Instead, new investors need to learn how to assign a real estate contract as this particular exit strategy represents one of the best ways to break into the industry.

In this article, we will break down the elements of a real estate assignment contract, or a real estate wholesale contract, and provide strategies for how it can help investors further their careers. [ Thinking about investing in real estate? Register to attend a FREE online real estate class and learn how to get started investing in real estate. ]

What Is A Real Estate Assignment Contract?

A real estate assignment contract is a wholesale strategy used by real estate investors to facilitate the sale of a property between an owner and an end buyer. As its name suggests, contract assignment strategies will witness a subject property owner sign a contract with an investor that gives them the rights to buy the home. That’s an important distinction to make, as the contract only gives the investor the right to buy the home; they don’t actually follow through on a purchase. Once under contract, however, the investor retains the sole right to buy the home. That means they may then sell their rights to buy the house to another buyer. Therefore, when a wholesaler executes a contact assignment, they aren’t selling a house but rather their rights to buy a house. The end buyer will pay the wholesale a small assignment fee and buy the house from the original buyer.

The real estate assignment contract strategy is only as strong as the contracts used in the agreement. The language used in the respective contract is of the utmost importance and should clearly define what the investors and sellers expect out of the deal.

There are a couple of caveats to keep in mind when considering using sales contracts for real estate:

Contract prohibitions: Make sure the contract you have with the property seller does not have prohibitions for future assignments. This can create serious issues down the road. Make sure the contract is drafted by a lawyer that specializes in real estate assignment contract law.

Property-specific prohibitions: HUD homes (property obtained by the Department of Housing and Urban Development), real estate owned or REOs (foreclosed-upon property), and listed properties are not open to assignment contracts. REO properties, for example, have a 90-day period before being allowed to be resold.

assignment fee

What Is An Assignment Fee In Real Estate?

An assignment fee in real estate is the money a wholesaler can expect to receive from an end buyer when they sell them their rights to buy the subject property. In other words, the assignment fee serves as the monetary compensation awarded to the wholesaler for connecting the original seller with the end buyer.

Again, any contract used to disclose a wholesale deal should be completely transparent, and including the assignment fee is no exception. The terms of how an investor will be paid upon assigning a contract should, nonetheless, be spelled out in the contract itself.

The standard assignment fee is $5,000. However, every deal is different. Buyers differ on their needs and criteria for spending their money (e.g., rehabbing vs. buy-and-hold buyers). As with any negotiations , proper information is vital. Take the time to find out how much the property would realistically cost before and after repairs. Then, add your preferred assignment fee on top of it.

Traditionally, investors will receive a deposit when they sign the Assignment of Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement . The rest of the assignment fee will be paid out upon the deal closing.

Assignment Contract Vs Double Close

The real estate assignment contract strategy is just one of the two methods investors may use to wholesale a deal. In addition to assigning contracts, investors may also choose to double close. While both strategies are essentially variations of a wholesale deal, several differences must be noted.

A double closing, otherwise known as a back-to-back closing, will have investors actually purchase the home. However, instead of holding onto it, they will immediately sell the asset without rehabbing it. Double closings aren’t as traditional as fast as contract assignment, but they can be in the right situation. Double closings can also take as long as a few weeks. In the end, double closings aren’t all that different from a traditional buy and sell; they transpire over a meeter of weeks instead of months.

Assignment real estate strategies are usually the first option investors will want to consider, as they are slightly easier and less involved. That said, real estate assignment contract methods aren’t necessarily better; they are just different. The wholesale strategy an investor chooses is entirely dependent on their situation. For example, if a buyer cannot line up funding fast enough, they may need to initiate a double closing because they don’t have the capital to pay the acquisition costs and assignment fee. Meanwhile, select institutional lenders incorporate language against lending money in an assignment of contract scenario. Therefore, any subsequent wholesale will need to be an assignment of contract.

Double closings and contract assignments are simply two means of obtaining the same end. Neither is better than the other; they are meant to be used in different scenarios.

Flipping Real Estate Contracts

Those unfamiliar with the real estate contract assignment concept may know it as something else: flipping real estate contracts; if for nothing else, the two are one-in-the-same. Flipping real estate contracts is simply another way to refer to assigning a contract.

Is An Assignment Of Contract Legal?

Yes, an assignment of contract is legal when executed correctly. Wholesalers must follow local laws regulating the language of contracts, as some jurisdictions have more regulations than others. It is also becoming increasingly common to assign contracts to a legal entity or LLC rather than an individual, to prevent objections from the bank. Note that you will need written consent from all parties listed on the contract, and there cannot be any clauses present that violate the law. If you have any questions about the specific language to include in a contract, it’s always a good idea to consult a qualified real estate attorney.

When Will Assignments Not Be Enforced?

In certain cases, an assignment of contract will not be enforced. Most notably, if the contract violates the law or any local regulations it cannot be enforced. This is why it is always encouraged to understand real estate laws and policy as soon as you enter the industry. Further, working with a qualified attorney when crafting contracts can be beneficial.

It may seem obvious, but assignment contracts will not be enforced if the language is used incorrectly. If the language in a contract contradicts itself, or if the contract is not legally binding it cannot be enforced. Essentially if there is any anti-assignment language, this can void the contract. Finally, if the assignment violates what is included under the contract, for example by devaluing the item, the contract will likely not be enforced.

How To Assign A Real Estate Contract

A wholesaling investment strategy that utilizes assignment contracts has many advantages, one of them being a low barrier-to-entry for investors. However, despite its inherent profitability, there are a lot of investors that underestimate the process. While probably the easiest exit strategy in all of real estate investing, there are a number of steps that must be taken to ensure a timely and profitable contract assignment, not the least of which include:

Find the right property

Acquire a real estate contract template

Submit the contract

Assign the contract

Collect the fee

1. Find The Right Property

You need to prune your leads, whether from newspaper ads, online marketing, or direct mail marketing. Remember, you aren’t just looking for any seller: you need a motivated seller who will sell their property at a price that works with your investing strategy.

The difference between a regular seller and a motivated seller is the latter’s sense of urgency. A motivated seller wants their property sold now. Pick a seller who wants to be rid of their property in the quickest time possible. It could be because they’re moving out of state, or they want to buy another house in a different area ASAP. Or, they don’t want to live in that house anymore for personal reasons. The key is to know their motivation for selling and determine if that intent is enough to sell immediately.

With a better idea of who to buy from, wholesalers will have an easier time exercising one of several marketing strategies:

Direct Mail

Real Estate Meetings

Local Marketing

2. Acquire A Real Estate Contract Template

Real estate assignment contract templates are readily available online. Although it’s tempting to go the DIY route, it’s generally advisable to let a lawyer see it first. This way, you will have the comfort of knowing you are doing it right, and that you have counsel in case of any legal problems along the way.

One of the things proper wholesale real estate contracts add is the phrase “and/or assigns” next to your name. This clause will give you the authority to sell the property or assign the property to another buyer.

You do need to disclose this to the seller and explain the clause if needed. Assure them that they will still get the amount you both agreed upon, but it gives you deal flexibility down the road.

3. Submit The Contract

Depending on your state’s laws, you need to submit your real estate assignment contract to a title company, or a closing attorney, for a title search. These are independent parties that look into the history of a property, seeing that there are no liens attached to the title. They then sign off on the validity of the contract.

4. Assign The Contract

Finding your buyer, similar to finding a seller, requires proper segmentation. When searching for buyers, investors should exercise several avenues, including online marketing, listing websites, or networking groups. In the real estate industry, this process is called building a buyer’s list, and it is a crucial step to finding success in assigning contracts.

Once you have found a buyer (hopefully from your ever-growing buyer’s list), ensure your contract includes language that covers earnest money to be paid upfront. This grants you protection against a possible breach of contract. This also assures you that you will profit, whether the transaction closes or not, as earnest money is non-refundable. How much it is depends on you, as long as it is properly justified.

5. Collect The Fee

Your profit from a deal of this kind comes from both your assignment fee, as well as the difference between the agreed-upon value and how much you sell it to the buyer. If you and the seller decide you will buy the property for $75,000 and sell it for $80,000 to the buyer, you profit $5,000. The deal is closed once the buyer pays the full $80,000.

real estate assignment contract

Assignment of Contract Pros

For many investors, the most attractive benefit of an assignment of contract is the ability to profit without ever purchasing a property. This is often what attracts people to start wholesaling, as it allows many to learn the ropes of real estate with relatively low stakes. An assignment fee can either be determined as a percentage of the purchase price or as a set amount determined by the wholesaler. A standard fee is around $5,000 per contract.

The profit potential is not the only positive associated with an assignment of contract. Investors also benefit from not being added to the title chain, which can greatly reduce the costs and timeline associated with a deal. This benefit can even transfer to the seller and end buyer, as they get to avoid paying a real estate agent fee by opting for an assignment of contract. Compared to a double close (another popular wholesaling strategy), investors can avoid two sets of closing costs. All of these pros can positively impact an investor’s bottom line, making this a highly desirable exit strategy.

Assignment of Contract Cons

Although there are numerous perks to an assignment of contract, there are a few downsides to be aware of before searching for your first wholesale deal. Namely, working with buyers and sellers who may not be familiar with wholesaling can be challenging. Investors need to be prepared to familiarize newcomers with the process and be ready to answer any questions. Occasionally, sellers will purposely not accept an assignment of contract situation. Investors should occasionally expect this, as to not get discouraged.

Another obstacle wholesalers may face when working with an assignment of contract is in cases where the end buyer wants to back out. This can happen if the buyer is not comfortable paying the assignment fee, or if they don’t have owner’s rights until the contract is fully assigned. The best way to protect yourself from situations like this is to form a reliable buyer’s list and be upfront with all of the information. It is always recommended to develop a solid contract as well.

Know that not all properties can be wholesaled, for example HUD houses. In these cases, there are often anti-assigned clauses preventing wholesalers from getting involved. Make sure you know how to identify these properties so you don’t waste your time. Keep in mind that while there are cons to this real estate exit strategy, the right preparation can help investors avoid any big challenges.

Assignment of Contract Template

If you decide to pursue a career wholesaling real estate, then you’ll want the tools that will make your life as easy as possible. The good news is that there are plenty of real estate tools and templates at your disposal so that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel! For instance, here is an assignment of contract template that you can use when you strike your first deal.

As with any part of the real estate investing trade, no single aspect will lead to success. However, understanding how a real estate assignment of contract works is vital for this business. When you comprehend the many layers of how contracts are assigned—and how wholesaling works from beginning to end—you’ll be a more informed, educated, and successful investor.

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when assigning a contract the assignor should ensure that

Real Estate Contracts

What is an assignment contract.

Assignment contracts are a vehicle used by real estate investors to transfer one party’s rights and obligations under an existing real estate contract to another party. Assignment contracts don’t involve transferring or selling the property directly like a purchase agreement. Instead, the buyer under the original purchase agreement (the assignor) assigns their rights and obligations under the purchase agreement to the assignee, sometimes for a profit. The assignee then becomes the buyer under the original real estate contract.

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When Is an Assignment Contract Used?

In one scenario, a type of real estate investor called a wholesaler contracts with the current owner(s) of a distressed property that may be unsellable to average homebuyers. The wholesaler creates a purchase agreement with that owner to buy their property. The wholesaler then finds an end buyer who wants to take possession of the property. The assignment contract is then created to transfer the wholesaler’s rights and obligations under the original purchase agreement to the end buyer.  

Elements of an Assignment Contract

Writing a comprehensive assignment contract is a vital part of several real estate investing strategies. If you’re new to creating these kinds of contracts, be sure to get some legal advice before moving forward. Once you have a solid assignment contract template in place,  transactions using this contracting tool will run more smoothly. 

* The information provided on this site does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal, financial, tax, or real estate advice. Please consult your expert for advice in those areas. All content is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to provide a complete description of the subject matter. Although Blueprint provides information it believes to be accurate, Blueprint makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy or completeness of the information contained on this site. Specific processes will vary based on applicable law. The title and closing process will be handled by a third-party attorney to the extent required by law. Product offerings vary by jurisdiction and are not available or solicited in any state where we are not licensed.

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Understanding an assignment and assumption agreement by Belle Wong, J.D.

Understanding an assignment and assumption agreement

Need to assign your rights and duties under a contract? Learn more about the basics of an assignment and assumption agreement.

by Belle Wong, J.D. updated  February 08, 2023  ·  3 min read

While every business should try its best to meet its contractual obligations, changes in circumstance can happen that could necessitate transferring your rights and duties under a contract to another party who would be better able to meet those obligations.

Person presenting documents to another person who is signing them

If you find yourself in such a situation, and your contract provides for the possibility of assignment, an assignment and assumption agreement can be a good option for preserving your relationship with the party you initially contracted with, while at the same time enabling you to pass on your contractual rights and duties to a third party.

The assignment and assumption agreement

An assignment and assumption agreement is used after a contract is signed, in order to transfer one of the contracting party's rights and obligations to a third party who was not originally a party to the contract. The party making the assignment is called the assignor, while the third party accepting the assignment is known as the assignee.

In order for an assignment and assumption agreement to be valid, the following criteria need to be met:

A standard assignment and assumption contract is often a good starting point if you need to enter into an assignment and assumption agreement. However, for more complex situations, such as an assignment and amendment agreement in which several of the initial contract terms will be modified, or where only some, but not all, rights and duties will be assigned, it's a good idea to retain the services of an attorney who can help you draft an agreement that will meet all your needs.

The basics of assignment and assumption

When you're ready to enter into an assignment and assumption agreement, it's a good idea to have a firm grasp of the basics of assignment:

Filling in the assignment and assumption agreement

Unless you're dealing with a complex assignment situation, working with a template often is a good way to begin drafting an assignment and assumption agreement that will meet your needs. Generally speaking, your agreement should include the following information:

In addition to these sections that are specific to an assignment and assumption agreement, your contract should also include standard contract language, such as clauses about indemnification, future amendments, and governing law.

Sometimes circumstances change, and as a business owner you may find yourself needing to assign your rights and duties under a contract to another party. A properly drafted assignment and assumption agreement can help you make the transfer smoothly while, at the same time, preserving the cordiality of your initial business relationship under the original contract.

About the Author

Belle Wong, J.D.

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Assignor vs. Assignee Differences You Need to Know Between the Two!

when assigning a contract the assignor should ensure that

An assignor and assignee are both parties in a contract assignment.

These parties each have a different role in the contract assignment.

The assignor is the person who owns the rights to property that they are giving to someone else.

The third party to which the assignor is transferring their property is the assignee.

Assignment is a typical part of contract law and appears in a variety of contractual agreements.

It is the practice of transferring one party’s obligations and rights to another party.

What is an Assignor?

A business or person who grants the obligations or rights it possesses to a property to another person is an assignor.

The assignor may place limits on the assignee and enforce these conditions to restrict the assignee’s use of the property.

These limits need to be included in the contract.

There are also some contracts in which the assignor still maintains some contractual obligations.

The assignor may be required to guarantee or give assurance concerning the performance of the contract involved.

The guarantee would be given to ensure that should the assignee not fulfill the terms of the contract, the assignor would be under the obligation to do so.

Assignor vs. Assignee

What is an Assignee?

An assignee is an entity or person who is being granted the obligations and rights of a contract from an assignor.

An assignee is not an original party to the contract.

Instead, the assignee is given their obligations and rights by the assignor.

An assignee could be granted the rights to anything by the assignor as long as the assignor possesses the rights to the property.

This could be intellectual property, real estate,or property, among others.

The benefits or property may be intangible or tangible.

The assignor determines the benefits or rights to be granted.

Assignor or Assignee

Key takeaways.

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California State University " CHAPTER 17 - THIRD PARTY CONTRACTS " Page 1 . March 30, 2022

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IMAGES

  1. Assigning Procedure & Expectations

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  2. Title Tip: Do Your Homework on Assigning Contracts...

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  3. Solved Paragrap 17. A conditional promise is a promise the

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  4. Assigning Contracts Is One Of The Worst Business Models

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  5. What NOT To Do When Assigning a Contract

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  6. Assignment Agreement Template Download Printable PDF

    when assigning a contract the assignor should ensure that

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COMMENTS

  1. 60 hr final RE Flashcards

    When assigning a contract, the assignor should ensure that ______ is not prohibited in the purchase contract. Assignability.

  2. Assignment Of Contracts

    The assignor must properly notify the assignee so that he or she can take over the contractual rights and obligations. This can be done using a document called

  3. What Is An Assignment of Contract?

    As the assignor you are assigning all of your duties and obligations that you agreed upon in the original purchase and sale agreement with the

  4. What Is an Assignment of Contract?

    Ideally, the assignor wants the assignee to step into his shoes and assume all of his contractual obligations and rights. In order to do that, the other party

  5. Real Estate Assignment of Contract Explained

    Assignment of contract takes place when one party to a contract (the assignor) transfers the legal obligations of the contract to another

  6. Assignment of Contract In Real Estate Made Simple

    Instead, new investors need to learn how to assign a real estate contract as ... that must be taken to ensure a timely and profitable contract assignment

  7. What is an Assignment Contract?

    Instead, the buyer under the original purchase agreement (the assignor) assigns their rights and obligations under the purchase agreement to the assignee

  8. Understanding an assignment and assumption agreement

    The assignor must agree to assign their rights and duties under the contract to the assignee. The assignee must agree to accept, or "assume,"

  9. Assignor vs. Assignee

    The guarantee would be given to ensure that should the assignee not fulfill the terms of the contract, the assignor would be under the

  10. Assignment of Contract

    In an assignment of rights, the party that receives the contract receives the benefits and the rights. The goal of the assignor is for the