What Is Assignment of Contract?

Also known as: Assignment Contract, Contract Assignment

An assignment of contract is the most common wholesale exit: the wholesaler signs a purchase agreement with a seller, then transfers (assigns) their rights in that contract to an end buyer for an assignment fee.

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Glossary Terms
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Deal Stages
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FAQ Answers
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Operator Playbook

An assignment of contract is the most common wholesale exit: the wholesaler signs a purchase agreement with a seller, then transfers (assigns) their rights in that contract to an end buyer for an assignment fee.

Assignment of Contract explained

In a standard assignment, the wholesaler never actually buys the property. They put it under contract, securing the right to purchase it, and then sell that right to a cash buyer who closes in their place. The wholesaler's profit is the assignment fee, paid at closing.

This works because a real estate purchase contract is itself an asset with value. Wholesalers typically add an 'and/or assigns' clause to the buyer line so the agreement is clearly assignable. Assignment is fast and capital-light, but it requires that your contract permits assignment and that local rules allow it. Some states and some seller situations (such as bank-owned deals) restrict assignment, which is when a double close is used instead.

Example

You contract a house for $146,000 and assign that contract to a cash buyer for $156,000. At closing, the buyer pays $146,000 to the seller and a $10,000 assignment fee to you. You never took title.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Best practice, and in many states a legal requirement, is to disclose that you intend to assign the contract and that you will earn a fee. Transparency protects the deal and keeps you compliant. Always confirm your state's rules with a real estate attorney.
When the contract prohibits assignment, when the lender or seller (often banks or some institutional sellers) bars it, or when state rules require a different structure. In those cases wholesalers typically use a double close.

Put the playbook to work

VA Horizon places trained cold calling VAs and builds the systems behind Assignment of Contract and the rest of your wholesaling pipeline. Book a 15-minute call to see how it works.