What term describes a party who can buy real estate in the future?

The term that describes a party who can buy real estate in the future is "optionee." This refers specifically to an individual or entity who holds an option to purchase property at a later date. In real estate transactions, an option agreement is a contract that gives the optionee the exclusive right to buy the property within a specified time frame and under the agreed-upon terms. The optionee is not obligated to proceed with the purchase but has the right to do so if they decide to exercise the option.

In contrast, the optionor is the seller in this scenario who grants the option to the optionee, allowing them the chance to purchase the property. An assignee typically refers to a party that has been assigned rights or obligations from another contract, which is not specific to purchasing real estate. A vendor usually denotes the seller in a transaction but does not imply any future purchasing rights. Therefore, “optionee” is the correct term for a person who can buy real estate in the future as per the stipulations of an option agreement.