What describes a unilateral agreement in real estate transactions?

A unilateral agreement in real estate transactions is characterized by only one party making a promise or undertaking an obligation. In this type of agreement, one side is legally bound to perform while the other side may not have any corresponding obligation to act. For example, a common scenario in real estate would be an offer to purchase a property where the buyer makes a promise to buy, but until the seller accepts the offer, they are under no obligation to sell. The acceptance of the offer creates a binding contract, but until that point, the seller is not required to take any action.

The nature of unilateral agreements is contrasted with bilateral agreements, where both parties make mutual promises to each other. Understanding this distinction is crucial for recognizing how different types of contracts operate within real estate transactions.