Contract

TREC 9-18 — Unimproved Property Contract

The TREC Unimproved Property Contract is the standard promulgated contract for the sale of vacant or unimproved land in Texas. It covers the purchase of property without buildings or other improvements, including provisions unique to land sales such as acreage adjustments based on survey, rollback t

Source: TREC
Form Number: 9-18
Category: Contract
Revised: May 4, 2026

Used For

Vacant Land

Form Outline

The TREC 9-18 form is organized into the following sections:

  1. Parties
    Names the parties to the contract and establishes the agreement to buy and sell.
  2. Property
    Legal description of the property being sold, including all rights and appurtenances, with provision for mineral reservations via addendum.
  3. Sales Price
    Sets the sales price, financing breakdown, and provides a price-per-acre adjustment mechanism tied to survey results unique to unimproved land contracts.
  4. Leases
    Covers disclosure and handling of existing leases and natural resource leases (oil, gas, mineral, geothermal, water, wind) affecting the property.
  5. Earnest Money and Termination Option
    Governs earnest money deposits, option fee, and the buyer's unrestricted termination option period. Time is of the essence for this entire paragraph.
  6. Title Policy and Survey
    Comprehensive title and survey provisions including title policy at seller's or buyer's expense, three survey delivery options, buyer's objection and cure process, and 12 statutory notice requirements specific to Texas property law.
  7. Property Condition
    Addresses property access for inspections, utility availability notice, As Is vs. repairs election, environmental matters advisory, and 8 seller environmental disclosures specific to vacant land (flooding, litigation, hazards, dumpsites, wetlands, endangered species, floodplain, oak wilt).
  8. Brokers and Sales Agents
    Requires real estate broker/agent disclosure of personal interest in the transaction and states that broker fee obligations are in separate written agreements.
  9. Closing
    Establishes the closing date and requirements including warranty deed delivery, payment in good funds, document execution, and private transfer fee obligations.
  10. Possession
    Possession transfers to buyer at closing and funding.
  11. Special Provisions
    Space for additional informational items only. Agents cannot draft legal provisions; attorney-drafted language required for modifications.
  12. Settlement and Other Expenses
    Allocates closing costs between seller and buyer. Includes provisions for brokerage fee credits and expense caps, with termination rights if expenses exceed stated amounts.
  13. Prorations and Rollback Taxes
    Prorates taxes and fees through closing. Addresses rollback taxes, which are particularly relevant to unimproved land that may have agricultural exemptions changing upon sale.
  14. Casualty Loss
    Addresses damage to property after contract execution, giving buyer options to terminate, extend, or accept with insurance credit if seller cannot restore.
  15. Default
    Defines remedies for buyer and seller default, including specific performance and earnest money as liquidated damages.
  16. Mediation
    Requires mediation before litigation for disputes, with costs shared equally. Does not prevent seeking equitable relief.
  17. Attorney's Fees
    Prevailing party recovers attorney's fees and costs in any related legal proceeding.
  18. Escrow
    Detailed escrow provisions covering agent liability limits, fund application at closing, 15-day demand process for disputed earnest money, damages for wrongful refusal, and notice requirements.
  19. Representations
    Representations survive closing. Untrue seller representations at closing constitute default. Seller may continue marketing unless written agreement prohibits it.
  20. Federal Requirements
    Addresses FIRPTA withholding requirements for foreign sellers and currency transaction reporting obligations.
  21. Notices
    Establishes notice requirements and contact information for both parties.
  22. Agreement of Parties
    Entire agreement clause with checklist of all available addenda that may be attached to this contract.
  23. Consult an Attorney Before Signing
    Advisory to consult an attorney before signing. Provides fields for attorney contact information for both parties.
  24. Execution and Effective Date
    Execution block where both parties sign. Broker fills in the Effective Date as the date of final acceptance.
  25. Broker Information
    Informational section for both brokers' firm details, associates, supervisors, and inter-broker compensation disclosure.
  26. Option Fee, Earnest Money, and Contract Receipts
    Receipt acknowledgment forms for option fee, earnest money, contract receipt, and additional earnest money — completed by escrow agent.

How RaiderX Agents Use This Form

When you upload a signed TREC 9-18 to a deal in RaiderX's Deal Manager, it reads the form's key dates and terms and automatically builds out your deadlines, contingencies, and tasks — so nothing slips through the cracks between contract and closing. Forms with a fill map also support e-signature directly inside RaiderX, so you can send this document for signature without leaving the platform.

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