Property & rentals 2 signers 2 pages 15 blanks to fill in

Real Estate Counteroffer Template

Not quite the offer you hoped for? Change only the terms you need, set a deadline, and let the buyer accept with a signature.

Use this template — free See the agreement Signers don’t need an account
Real estate counteroffer
The blanks in brackets are what you fill in. FileIt adds each signer’s signature and date boxes.
Real estate counteroffer — page 1 of 2
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Real estate counteroffer — page 2 of 2
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Use this template Fill in the blanks, name who signs, and send — from FileIt eSignature.

What is a real estate counteroffer?

Most home sales involve at least one round of back-and-forth. A counteroffer lets the seller keep the buyer's offer as the starting point and change just the parts that don't work, so nobody has to redraft the whole purchase agreement.

This template names the offer being answered, states the new price and, if you want, a new deposit, closing date, changes to conditions and anything else that differs. Every other term of the offer carries over. You set a time the counteroffer stays open, say whether you are countering other buyers at the same time, and the buyer signs to accept or simply lets it lapse.

Best for
A seller answering a written offer on a home or land
Signed by
Seller makes it; buyer signs to accept
Can change
Price, deposit, closing date, conditions, inclusions
Length
1-2 pages

When to use a real estate counteroffer

  • Meeting a low offer partway on price
  • Asking for a bigger deposit or a later closing date
  • Shortening the inspection period or dropping a home-sale condition
  • Keeping or excluding appliances and fixtures
  • Countering two buyers at once while keeping the final say

What you fill in

15 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: seller, buyer.

1 The offer

  • Date of this counteroffer*
  • Counteroffer number (optional)
  • Seller name(s)*
  • Buyer name(s)*
  • Property address*
  • Date of the buyer's offer*

2 Changed terms

  • Currency*
  • Price the buyer offered*
  • Price the seller will accept*
  • New deposit amount (optional)
  • New closing date (optional)
  • Changes to conditions (optional)
  • Other changes (optional)

3 Deadline

  • Counteroffer open until*
  • Other offers* The Seller is not countering any other offer on the Property at the same time. · The Seller may be making counteroffers to other buyers at the same time. If the Seller does, the Buyer's acceptance becomes binding only when the Seller confirms it to the Buyer in writing after the Buyer signs.

4 Who signs

  • Seller signature and date · The owner selling the property, who makes this counteroffer. If owned jointly, all owners should sign.
  • Buyer signature and date · The person or people who made the original offer. Signing accepts the counteroffer.

What the real estate counteroffer covers

  1. The offer being answered
  2. What changes
  3. How to accept
  4. What acceptance means
  5. Buyer's acceptance

Using the real estate counteroffer, step by step

1 Point to the offer

Enter the seller, buyer, property and the date and price of the buyer's offer. Attach the offer itself to the envelope.

2 Set the new terms

Enter the price you'll accept. Fill in a new deposit or closing date only if they change, and describe any change to conditions or inclusions.

3 Pick a deadline

Choose how long the counteroffer stays open and whether other buyers are being countered too.

4 Send for acceptance

Sign and send. The buyer accepts by signing before the deadline, and FileIt's audit trail shows exactly when.

Tips before you send it

  • Ask your agent whether your area requires a standard counteroffer form; many do when an agent is involved.
  • Keep the deadline short and specific, with a time and date, so there's no argument about whether it lapsed.
  • If the buyer wants to change something, ask for a fresh counteroffer rather than notes written on this one.
  • Store the offer and every counter together in your vault, so the final terms are easy to trace at closing.

Sign it online in minutes

  1. Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
  2. Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
  3. Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Use the real estate counteroffer template — it’s free

Real estate counteroffer: frequently asked questions

Does a counteroffer cancel the buyer's original offer?

Yes. The template says the counteroffer replaces the offer, so the seller can't later go back and accept the original terms unless the buyer offers them again.

Can I withdraw it after sending?

The template lets the seller withdraw at any time before the buyer signs, by telling the buyer or their agent in writing. In FileIt you can also void the envelope.

What if I'm countering more than one buyer?

Choose the multiple-offers option. A buyer's signature then becomes binding only once the seller confirms it in writing, so you can't end up with two accepted deals.

Is an e-signed counteroffer enough to sell a house?

E-signatures are widely accepted for offers and counteroffers in the US and many other places, but some places add formalities for the sale of land. The template says the sale is subject to them; check locally.

Use this template — free