FAQ
What Is Mutual Acceptance in Washington?
Mutual acceptance is the moment both parties sign the same terms and acceptance is delivered. It creates the binding contract and starts the transaction clock.
When the contract becomes binding
If the seller signs the offer unchanged and delivery occurs, there is mutual acceptance. A counteroffer restarts the process, and acceptance happens only when someone signs the other side's final version without changes and delivers it.
That timestamp is the basis for the contract calendar.
How NWMLS days are counted
Under NWMLS purchase agreements, day one is the day after mutual acceptance or the relevant event. Periods of five days or less generally exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; longer periods count calendar days.
A deadline that lands on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday rolls to the next business day. This makes a five-day inspection period and a ten-day earnest-money period behave differently.
Why the math matters
Earnest money, Form 17 review, Form 35 inspection rights, title review, and financing milestones run from this clock. Missed deadlines can mean lost rights.
Sources: NWMLS Forms 21, 17, 35. This is general information, not legal advice.
Next Steps for Buyers
Common Buyer Questions
What does mutual acceptance mean in Washington real estate?
It is the point when both parties have signed the same purchase terms and acceptance has been delivered, forming a binding contract. Every contingency and deadline in the transaction is measured from it.
How are days counted after mutual acceptance in Washington?
Under NWMLS agreements, day one is the day after mutual acceptance. Periods of five days or less generally exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, and any deadline landing on those days rolls to the next business day.
What deadlines start at mutual acceptance?
Earnest money delivery, the Form 17 disclosure review period, the inspection contingency, title review, and financing milestones all run from mutual acceptance, which is why precise day counting protects the rights attached to each.