8939 When does making an offer become legally binding?

Thought this might be of interest.

Resolution n. 63/E of 25 February 2008
[url]http://www.agenziaentrate.it/ilwwcm/resources/file/ebd0e0051266ec8/Ris.%20n.63.pdf[/url]

There has been a bit of debate in the past on the forum as to when an estate agent's commission is due and what comprises a legally binding contract.

The document in that link confirms once again that a proposta di acquisto (written offer to purchase a property), duly accepted, becomes a legally binding contract at the moment the party making the offer is informed of the other party's acceptance.

This phrase jumped out at me, too:

"A tal riguardo, si fa presente che appare consolidato l’orientamento della Corte di Cassazione teso a ravvisare l’avvenuta conclusione dell’affare in una proposta di acquisto, accettata dalla controparte, ancorché l’accordo stabilisse in un momento successivo la data per la stipula del preliminare, previsione ritenuta mirante soltanto a riprodurre in forma più sicura un contratto già concluso (v. Cass. Civ. Sez. II, 25 ottobre 2005, n. 20653, e Cass. Civ. Sez. III, 14 luglio 2004, n. 13067)."

translation:

To this regard, [this decision] seems to confirm the Court of Cassation's current leaning, which tends to recognize that a contract is concluded when a written offer (proposta di acquisto) is accepted by the counterparty, even if, within the agreement, a later date is set for the drafting and signing of a preliminary contract of sale, a provision which is considered a mere reproduction, albeit in a more solid form, of a contract that has already been concluded.(v. Cass. Civ. Sec. II, 25 October 2005, n. 20653, and Cass. Civ. Sez. III, 14 July 2004, n. 13067).

The other implications of the resolution are that the written offer (not just the preliminary contract) must be registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate and taxes paid.

Yet another reason never to take making an offer on a property lightly. It must be considered carefully and the buyer must be very sure before making one.