What the law says.
The laws behind how we buy, in plain English. Every law named here links to its official text. This is general information, not legal advice; your signed contract and your state's law control.
The short answer.
- Assigning a purchase contract is allowed.
We buy only in states where it is. Several states regulate it with written notices, and some give sellers time to cancel. In Idaho, we buy in our own name and don't assign.
- Your price and dates stay the same.
If we assign, the new buyer takes over the contract as signed, at your price and dates (Section 13 of our contract).
- Nothing is binding until it is signed.
A contract to sell land must be a signed writing. A price by text, email or phone is not a contract.
What the law calls it.
Some states name a buyer who signs a purchase contract and may assign it. Quoted from the official text.
- Wisconsin
"Real property wholesaler" means a person that enters into a purchase agreement as a buyer and intends to assign the person's rights as buyer under the purchase agreement to a 3rd party for consideration.
- Arizona
"Wholesale buyer" means a person or entity that enters into a purchase contract for residential real property as the buyer and assigns that same contract to another person or entity.
- Missouri
The required notice says the wholesaler "is acting on the wholesaler's own behalf and does not represent the owner."
- Louisiana
"Wholesaling" includes securing a purchase of residential real property "with the purpose of transferring, assigning, or selling a contractual right to purchase."
States with their own rules.
We may buy your property ourselves. If we choose to assign the contract instead, these state laws set the rules, and our contract for that state follows them.
- Alabama
Requires us to tell you in writing that we intend to market our contract interest and may assign it for a fee. Your contract includes that disclosure.
- Arizona
Requires us to tell you in writing that we're a wholesale buyer (a buyer who may pass the contract to someone else) before anything is binding. If we don't, you can cancel before closing and keep any earnest money.
- Indiana
Every solicitation, including texts and listing-site messages, must say it isn't from a licensed real estate professional and name us. If one leaves that out, you may cancel the contract as the law allows.
- Louisiana
For homes of 1 to 4 units: written disclosures before you sign, at least 5 calendar days to cancel for any reason, and earnest money (a deposit) of at least 1% held in escrow.
- Maryland
For owner-occupied homes of 1 to 4 units: a separate written notice, signed before the contract, that we're a wholesale buyer who may assign it, plus the cancellation rights the law gives you.
- Missouri
For homes of 1 to 4 units, requires a separate wholesaler notice that you sign at least 14 days before you sign the purchase contract. It explains that we may assign the contract before closing.
- Ohio
For homes of 1 to 4 units: a separate wholesaler disclosure that you sign before the contract.
- Texas
Allows us to assign our contract without a real estate license, as long as we tell you and any buyer in writing that we hold a contract to buy, not ownership of the property.
- Wisconsin
Requires written notice that we're a real property wholesaler no later than when you sign. If we don't give it, you can cancel before closing and keep any earnest money.
Every other state where we buy has its own page with its contract terms and required notices, word for word: find your state or use what you sign in your state.
Other states.
The rest of the 25 states where we buy.
- New York
If the home is your residence and is in foreclosure, or you're behind on the mortgage, extra protections apply. Our New York contract asks you to confirm that isn't the case.
- 15 states
In California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming, our October 2026 research found no law aimed at assigning a purchase contract. There, general contract law applies, and our contract allows assignment (Section 13). In Idaho, we buy in our own name and don't assign. Each state's page has its contract terms and required notices.
Texts and emails.
Why a price by text, email or phone is not a contract.
- A signed writing is required.
Every state where we buy requires a signed writing for a contract to sell land. For example: Tex. Bus. & Com. Code 26.01, RSMo 432.010 and Wis. Stat. 706.02.
- A text message alone is not enough in California.
Cal. Civ. Code 1624 says a text message alone does not form a contract to sell real property.
- Electronic signatures can count, with conditions.
Federal law (15 U.S.C. 7001) lets electronic records and signatures count. Whether a message forms a contract still depends on whether it is signed by the person being held to it, has the essential terms, and the parties meant to be bound by it.
Nothing is binding until a written purchase agreement is signed by every owner and by Star Thing LLC. Read our full purchase agreement, the glossary, or assignment questions in Help.