In a real estate contract, which disclosure is required?

• A. Only the street address is required
• B. Release of all encumbrances is the primary disclosure
• C. An accurate legal description of the subject property must be disclosed, and the street addresses should be mentioned as well
• D. Disclosures are optional

Answer: (C)

Accurate property identification is essential in a real estate contract. The contract must disclose a precise legal description of the subject property, and it should also include the street address. The legal description uniquely identifies the parcel—whether it’s a lot and block description, a subdivision description, or metes-and-bounds boundaries—so there’s no ambiguity about exactly what is being transferred. The street address provides a familiar reference, but by itself it’s not enough because similar or duplicate numbers can exist across nearby properties. Relying only on the street address can lead to misidentification, which can cause legal and title issues later. Disclosures like encumbrances are handled through title work and separate steps, and disclosures aren’t optional in standard contracts; there are mandatory elements to ensure the correct property is described and transferred. Including both an accurate legal description and the street address gives a clear, enforceable identification of the property.