Under North Carolina's Statute of Frauds, real estate contracts must be:

Verbal contracts for real estate are generally unenforceable under the Statute of Frauds. While witnesses might help establish the existence of a conversation, they cannot validate a contract that lacks the required written form.

Notarization is not a requirement for a valid real estate contract under the Statute of Frauds. While notarization adds authenticity and may be required for certain documents like deeds, it's not the foundational requirement for contract validity.

Recording a contract with the county is not required for its validity under the Statute of Frauds. Recording provides public notice of the agreement but occurs after the contract is already valid and enforceable.