What is Real Estate Purchase Agreement (CA RPA)?
A real estate purchase agreement is the legally binding contract between buyer and seller that spells out all terms of the sale — price, deposit, financing, contingencies, what’s included, and the closing timeline. In California, most home sales use a standardized form commonly called the Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA), published by the California Association of REALTORS®. Once both parties sign and the deposit is delivered, the agreement governs the transaction.
Example: A buyer offers $625,000 with a 17-day inspection contingency and a 30-day close; those terms are written into the California RPA, and once the seller signs, both sides are under contract.