Is there an attorney-review period in Tennessee?

No. Unlike some states, Tennessee's Purchase and Sale Agreement becomes a binding contract once all parties sign, there's no built-in attorney-review window. Your protections come from the contingencies written into the contract. (General source: Tennessee real-estate contract guides.)

How long is the due-diligence or inspection period?

Tennessee law doesn't mandate one, so it's set by the contract, most commonly 7 to 14 calendar days from the day the contract is fully executed. During that time you complete inspections and can negotiate or terminate with earnest money returned.

Do I get my earnest money back if I back out?

If you back out by exercising a contingency (for example, terminating during the inspection period), yes, the funds sit in escrow and are returned to you. Miss a contingency deadline, though, and those protections can lapse, so tracking every performance date matters.

Do I need a survey to buy a home in Tennessee?

Not as a rule, Tennessee doesn't require sellers to provide one. You can request a survey at your own expense if you want the boundaries confirmed, though sellers here aren't always accustomed to the request.

The process

The Tennessee home-buying process.

If you've bought a home elsewhere, a few things here will feel familiar and a few won't. This is the contract-to-keys version, plainly, with the parts that protect you flagged.

Offer & Purchase and Sale Agreement

You make an offer on the standard Tennessee Purchase and Sale Agreement. There's no attorney-review window, once everyone signs, it's binding, and changes after that need the other side's written agreement. The buyer protections live in the contingencies written in: inspection, financing, appraisal, and the sale of your current home if you need it.

Earnest money into escrow

You put down earnest money, not your down payment, which sits in the brokerage or title company's escrow account until closing. It signals you're serious; it comes back to you if you exercise a contingency and back out inside the agreed window.

Due-diligence / inspection period

Tennessee sets no statutory inspection period, it's whatever the contract says, most often 7 to 14 calendar days from full execution. In that window you run inspections (home, termite, radon, HVAC, whatever you choose), then approve the condition, negotiate repairs or credits, or terminate. Deadlines run on calendar days and are firm.

Financing, appraisal & title

Your loan application typically has its own short deadline (often a few days), the lender orders an appraisal, and a title company you can choose runs title. Tennessee doesn't require a survey, but you can order one at your own expense if you want the lot lines confirmed.

Closing

You'll often close at a different table than the seller, Tennessee lets each side use its own title company. Remote and mail-away closings are routine, which is what makes buying from out of state workable.

At a glance

The three to remember.

The contract binds at signature

Tennessee uses a Purchase and Sale Agreement, and there's no attorney-review window built in, so once everyone signs, it's a binding contract. The buyer protections live in the contingencies written into it: inspection, financing, appraisal, and (if you need it) the sale of your current home.

The due-diligence / inspection period

Tennessee sets no statutory inspection period. It's whatever the contract says, most commonly 7–14 calendar days from the day the contract is fully executed. In that window you run your inspections (home, termite, radon, HVAC, anything you choose), and you can negotiate repairs or credits, or walk away.

Your earnest money stays protected

Earnest money isn't your down payment. It sits in escrow with the brokerage or title company until closing. If you exercise a contingency and back out inside the agreed window, it comes back to you. Deadlines here are firm legal obligations, so tracking every performance date matters.

Tennessee process overview, not legal advice. Terms vary by contract, and Robert and your closing attorney or title company will walk you through the specifics for your purchase.

Common questions

Process questions buyers ask.

Is there an attorney-review period in Tennessee?: No. Unlike some states, Tennessee's Purchase and Sale Agreement becomes a binding contract once all parties sign, there's no built-in attorney-review window. Your protections come from the contingencies written into the contract. (General source: Tennessee real-estate contract guides.)
How long is the due-diligence or inspection period?: Tennessee law doesn't mandate one, so it's set by the contract, most commonly 7 to 14 calendar days from the day the contract is fully executed. During that time you complete inspections and can negotiate or terminate with earnest money returned.
Do I get my earnest money back if I back out?: If you back out by exercising a contingency (for example, terminating during the inspection period), yes, the funds sit in escrow and are returned to you. Miss a contingency deadline, though, and those protections can lapse, so tracking every performance date matters.
Do I need a survey to buy a home in Tennessee?: Not as a rule, Tennessee doesn't require sellers to provide one. You can request a survey at your own expense if you want the boundaries confirmed, though sellers here aren't always accustomed to the request.

Buying from afar?

The same process works remotely.

See buying from out of state for how the tour-and-close part goes when you don't live here yet, or just ask Robert.

Ask Robert how it works