1. Under the statute of frauds, a real estate sales contract must be:
Answer & explanation
Answer: C. The statute of frauds requires real estate sales contracts to be in writing and signed to be enforceable.
law
statute of frauds
A law, adopted in some form in every state, requiring certain contracts to be in writing and signed by the party to be charged in order to be enforceable in court. Contracts for the sale of real estate are covered, and in many states leases longer than one year and listing agreements must also be written. Oral contracts covered by the statute may be valid but unenforceable.
- Exam tip
- The statute of frauds affects enforceability, not validity. Do not confuse it with the statute of limitations, which sets the time to file suit.
- Example
- Two neighbors shake hands on the sale of a lot for $50,000; if one backs out, the other generally cannot enforce the deal because nothing was written and signed.
Related terms & state variants
Sources
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Last verified: 2026-10-23