---
title: "Check a home contract against the searches before it binds"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/residential-conveyancing-and-property/check-a-contract-of-sale-against-searches-before-exchange/united-states"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A9-B2-1-US"
practice_area: "Residential Conveyancing & Property"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["US"]
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# Check a home contract against the searches before it binds

> Set each property statement in the contract beside the search page that supports it or mark it unsupported. List a search fact the contract does not mention. Do not say the contract is ready to sign.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/residential-conveyancing-and-property/check-a-contract-of-sale-against-searches-before-exchange/united-states  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Residential Conveyancing & Property](https://ailawframework.com/practice/residential-conveyancing-and-property.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | Set each property statement in the contract beside the search page that supports it or mark it unsupported. List a search fact the contract does not mention. Do not say the contract is ready to sign. |
| What the lawyer must review | You decide what must be disclosed and what is a contract problem. On the Justia text of California Civil Code § 1102(a), the disclosure article applies, except as provided in § 1102.2, to a sale, exchange, real property sales contract, lease with an option to purchase, other option to purchase, or ground lease coupled with improvements, of single-family residential property. Section 1102.2 was not opened, so do not list exemptions. Section 1102(c) makes a waiver of the article void. The section does not list the disclosure line items. Section 4525(a) requires the owner of a separate interest to give the listed documents to a prospective purchaser as soon as practicable before transfer of title. A foreign seller raises § 1445 withholding, which is separate from § 1102. Justia warns that its code text may not be current. Open the official code. |
| Written for | United States |
| Applies to | [Check a contract of sale against searches before exchange](https://ailawframework.com/practice/residential-conveyancing-and-property/check-a-contract-of-sale-against-searches-before-exchange.md) |

## Checking plan

- What the AI does: Set each property statement in the contract beside the search page that supports it or mark it unsupported. List a search fact the contract does not mention. Do not say the contract is ready to sign.
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 22 October 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Notes

- Do not treat § 1102 as a national disclosure statute. It is California.
- The public.law page for § 4525 is not the official California code.

## Sources

- [California Civil Code § 1102 (disclosures on transfer of residential property)](https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-civ/division-2/part-4/title-4/chapter-2/article-1-5/section-1102/) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [California Civil Code § 4525 (documents to a common-interest purchaser)](https://california.public.law/codes/ca_civ_code_section_4525) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [26 U.S.C. § 1445 (FIRPTA withholding)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/1445) (checked 2026-10-22)

## Forms and precedents for this task

| Form or precedent | Kind | AI level | Summary |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Purchase-contract due diligence checklist (United States)](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/residential-conveyancing-and-property/us-purchase-due-diligence-checklist.md) | Checklist | Yellow | A buyer-side list for a US purchase contract: title commitment, names and the legal description, pre-1978 lead disclosure, FIRPTA withholding, and loan disclosures if the purchase is financed. |
| [Buyer issues report on a purchase contract (United States)](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/residential-conveyancing-and-property/us-buyer-issues-report.md) | Letter | Yellow | A letter that reports to the buyer what the due-diligence checklist found on title, lead-based paint, FIRPTA withholding, and loan disclosures, in the lawyer's own conclusions. |

Signed-in accounts can read the full text of each one.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*