|¶The plaintiffs filed suit against the defendant, seeking enforcement of options to purchase within the leases of their respective duplex properties. The plaintiffs further sought damages for alleged misrepresentations by the defendant. The defendant refuted the plaintiffs’ assertions, and, by reconventional demand, sought the plaintiffs’ eviction from the properties. The trial court ultimately entered a partial summary judgment in favor of the defendant and ordered the evictions. It did so based upon a determination that the plaintiffs could not establish an ownership interest in the property. The trial court recognized that the plaintiffs’ remaining damages claims remained for future proceedings. The plaintiffs appeal. For the following reasons, we affirm.
Factual and Procedural Background
This appeal involves review of the granting of a partial summary judgment relating to the ownership of two duplex units, one unit leased by Jose Raful Martinez and Maria Victoria Martinez, and one unit leased by Victor Ray Labra. Each was the subject of a “Lease with Option to Purchase” executed, respectively, between The Rivet Family Trust and Mr. and Mrs. Martinez and The Rivet Family Trust and Mr. Labra. In May 2014, the plaintiffs, Mr. and Mrs. Martinez and Mr. Labra, alleged that they exercised the options to purchase by paying all sums due over the course of time and that the defendant, George Robert Rivet, as Trustee of The Rivet Family Trust, refused to transfer the titles to the units to them. The plaintiffs sought specific performance of the options to purchase, associated damages, as well as attorney fees and costs. By amended petition, the plaintiffs alleged that the defendant violated the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. See La.R.S. 51:1401, et seq. They again sought damages,J^attorney fees and costs available thereunder and re-urged their original request for specific performance of the options to purchase.
The defendant’s answer included his denial that the plaintiffs exercised the options to purchase. The defendant asserted instead that the plaintiffs “simply continued to pay the monthly rent after the lease and option expired and the lease (without the option) reconducted on a month to month basis.” By reconventional demand, the defendant alleged that the plaintiffs “repeatedly defaulted on the lease by failing to pay the required rent, utilities, sewer electricity [sic], taxes, and insurance, and currently are in arrears” for both units. Therefore, the defendant alleged, the plaintiffs breached the lease and refused to vacate the units upon notice of eviction. The defendant sought an order of eviction, as well as a judgment for unpaid rent, various damages, and for attorney fees. The plaintiffs responded to the recon-ventional demand with an exception of prematurity and argued that the “[e]viction should not be heard until the true ownership of said property is determined by a Trial on the Merits and therefore Defendant’s Rule for Eviction is premature.”
The defendant thereafter filed a motion for partial summary judgment, in his capacity as a plaintiff-in-reconvention, seeking a declaration that the subject options to purchase were unenforceable. Chiefly, the defendant asserted that the plaintiffs *451failed to exercise the options to purchase in writing by their designated expiration date and that any payments made thereafter must be viewed simply as rental payments after the lease reconducted on a monthly basis. The defendant attached various exhibits, including the leases at issue, his affidavit, and the previously-served notices to vacate. The plaintiffs opposed the motion and submitted Mr. Martinez’s affidavit, the affidavit of the president of a title ^company,1 and spreadsheets purportedly representing payments made from 2008-2011.
The trial court heard the plaintiffs’ exception of prematurity as well as the defendant’s motion for partial summary judgment and eviction in September 2015. The trial court first denied the plaintiffs’ motion for continuance, finding that the verbal motion was not in proper form and that the written motion was not timely. Reaching the merits of the motion for partial summary judgment, the trial court determined that the plaintiffs had not exercised the now-expired options to purchase. Accordingly, the trial court granted the motion for partial summary judgment and entered the judgment for eviction against the plaintiffs. The trial judge determined that the ruling rendered the exception of prematurity moot. The trial court specifically recognized that the parties’ claims for damages would be reserved for further proceedings.
The plaintiffs appeal,2 asserting that the trial court erred in: 1) denying the motion to continue; 2) granting the defendant’s motion for partial summary judgment; 3) granting the motion for eviction; 4) dismissing the exception of prematurity; and in 5) refusing the introduction of parol evidence pertaining to the eviction and application of the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.
^Discussion
Motion to Continue
The plaintiffs first briefly question the trial court’s denial of their request for a continuance at the time of the September 2015 hearing. They note that Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 1601 provides discretionary grounds for a continuance “in any case if there is good ground therefor.” They explain, as they did at the hearing, that they had not received discovery requested of the defendant. Thus, they contend that the trial court erred in proceeding with the hearing rather than granting the continuance.
Notably, “[t]he denial of a motion for continuance will not be disturbed absent a showing of an abuse of discretion by the trial court.” Newsome v. Homer Mem. Med. Ctr., 10-0564, p. 2 (La. 4/9/10), 32 So.3d 800, 802. On review, we find no such abuse of discretion. Although the plaintiffs cited discovery requests that had been pending for several months, the trial court noted that the plaintiffs had not pursued those requests by a motion to compel. See, e.g., La.Code Civ.P. art. 1469. After being informed that the discovery request “was filed or sent on June 25th of 2015[,]” and *452that the motion for partial summary judgment was filed on July 31st, the trial court observed that a motion to compel “could have been filed in late July or at any time in August in anticipation of this, which would have then, if they had not complied, given you a much better argument to seek a continuance of this date, but you haven’t filed anything.” The trial court additionally noted that the continuance was merely requested verbally at the hearing, rather than by writing and in advance of the hearing. While the trial court did not formally reference the local rules of court, we find no abuse of discretion in a determination |fithat the contemporaneous nature of the request for continuance mitigated from a finding of the “good ground” of La.Code Civ.P. art. 1601.3
Merits
The plaintiffs next combine argument as to various issues to contest the trial court’s determination by partial summary judgment that they could not establish an ownership interest in the properties. We consider each in turn.
Partial Summary Judgment
As explained by La.Code Civ.P. art. 966(A)(2),4 “[t]he summary judgment procedure is designed to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action, except those disallowed by Article 969. The procedure is favored and shall be construed to accomplish those ends.” Summary judgment “shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions, together with the affidavits, if any, admitted for purposes of the motion for summary judgment, show that there is no genuine issue as to material fact, and that mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” La.Code Civ.P. art. 966(B)(2).
The moving party bears the burden of proof on the motion for summary judgment. La.Code Civ.P. art. 966(C)(2). However, if the moving party will not bear the burden of proof at trial on the issue presented, the moving party is not | ^required “to negate all essential elements of the adverse party’s claim, action, or defense, but rather to point out to the court that there is an absence of factual support for one or more elements essential to the adverse party’s claim, action, or defense.” Id. On appeal, the reviewing court considers the matter de novo, using the same criteria that governed the trial court’s determination as to whether summary judgment is appropriate. Dunn v. City of Kenner, 15-1175 (La. 1/27/16), 187 So.3d 404.
By them petition, the plaintiffs sought enforcement of the options to purchase contained within their respective leases. The defendant, however, rejected the enforceability of those options and asserted that the options had merely expired. The defendant introduced the subject leases in support of the motion for partial summary judgment in that regard. The Martinez lease designated its thirty-six month term *453from November 15, 2006 to October 15, 2009,5 required a monthly payment of $2,165.36, and contained insurance and tax payment provisions. It further included an “Option to Purchase” section which provided, in pertinent part:
Landlord further appears and declares that for and in consideration of the payment of the above all of the above [sic] monthly rental payments, Landlord then grants unto Tenant the exclusive right, privilege or option to purchase the property leased hereinabove and heretofore described subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth and for the price and terms of payment set forth to-wit:
1. In the event that Tenant exercises his option herein granted, the purchase price of the property is to be $130,000.00 subject to a credit of $16,000.00 paid in cash leaving an unpaid balance of $114,000.00 and subject to a credit for all previous monthly rentals paid to date
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|72. In order to exercise his option to purchase Tenant shall notify Landlord on or before October 15, 2009 by Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested that Tenant wishes to exercises his option to purchase. Said notice shall be sent to Landlord at the address listed below.
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|s8. Should Tenant/buyer violate any of the conditions of the lease, or fail to exercise the option the lease is automatically terminated and this option shall be automatically extinguished without any action being taken by Landlord/seller and the option shall be considered as never have been written. Should Tenant/buyer not exercise his option within the above stated time limit his option shall be automatically extinguished without any action being taken by Landlord/seller and the option shall be considered as never have been written.
Also confected on December 17, 2008, the Labra lease designated its thirty-six month term from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2010, and required a monthly rate of $2,165.27. Like the Martinez lease, the Labra lease included insurance and tax payment provisions. Its respective “Option to Purchase” section provided, in part, as follows:
Landlord further appears and declares that for and in consideration of the payment of the above all of the above monthly rental payments, Landlord then grants unto Tenant the exclusive right, privilege or option to purchase the property leased hereinabove and heretofore described subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth and for the price and terms of payment set forth to-wit:
1. In the event that Tenant exercises his option herein granted, the purchase price of the property is to be $130,000.00 subject to a credit of $4,000.00 paid in cash leaving an unpaid balance of $126,000.00 and subject to a credit for all previous monthly rentals paid to date
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2. In order to exercise his option to purchase Tenant shall notify Landlord on or before September 30, 2010 by Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested that Tenant wishes to exercise his option to purchase. Said notice shall be sent to Landlord at the address listed below.
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*4548. Should Tenant/buyer violate any of the conditions of the lease, or fail to exercise the option the lease is automatically terminated and this option shall be automatically extinguished without any action being taken by Landlord/seller and the option shall be considered as never have been written. Should Tenant/buyer not exercise his option within the above stated time limit his option shall be automatically extinguished without any action being taken by Landlord/seller and the option shall be considered as never have been written.
Thus, the leases themselves clearly reflect that, in order to exercise the options to purchase, the plaintiffs/tenants were required to contact the defendant/landlord by the respective designated dates and to do so by certified mail. See La.Civ.Code art. 2046 (“When the words of a contract are clear and explicit and lead to no absurd consequences, no further interpretation may be made in search of the parties’ intent.”). See also Prejean v. Guillory, 10-0740 (La. 7/2/10), 38 So.3d 274.
In support of the motion for partial summary judgment, the defendant also submitted his affidavit, wherein he stated that “The Rivet Trust never received a certified letter or any other notice of an intent to exercise the options which expired approximately five years ago.” The defendant also broadly stated within the affidavit that the “defendants-in-reconvention failed to exercise either of the options to purchase.”
In opposition, the plaintiffs argued that they had been in the process of purchasing the properties for a number of years, that they continued to make payments after the expiration of the option period contained in the lease term, and that the payments exceeded the sums due under the option to purchase. The plaintiffs included Mr. Martinez’s affidavit in their opposition, wherein he explained the plaintiffs’ payment history for the two properties and alleged as follows:
I have approached Mr. Rivet on numerous occasions inquiring about the transfer of title and was assured by him that I (me and my |9wife (891)6 and Victor Ray Labra (893) were the legal owners of the duplexes and not to worry that the property was paid for in full.
I had heard rumors that Mr. Rivet was going to file for bankruptcy. I went to see him about the duplexes. He told me that “he had enough other problems and do not worry him about the duplexes, they were paid in full and would not be a part of a bankruptcy because the duplexes are yours, you don’t need a piece of paper to prove it”.
(Emphasis in the original.) The plaintiffs suggest that differences as to accounts of the amounts paid and the allegations the defendant’s representations as to their ownership of the property indicates that the written contract was modified by verbal agreement and that the options to purchase may be viewed as having been exercised.
Despite the differing accounts cited by the plaintiffs, however, La.Code Civ.P. art. 966(B)(2) provides that summary judgment shall be rendered upon a showing that there is no genuine issue of “material” fact. “A fact is ‘material’ when its existence or nonexistence may be essential to plaintiffs cause of action under the applicable theory of recovery.” Cheramie Services, Inc. v. Shell Deepwater Prod., Inc., 09-1633, p. 10 (La. 4/23/10), 35 So.3d 1053, 1059. The plaintiffs attempt, in part, to *455establish ownership of the properties via the options to purchase. However, the plaintiffs did not exercise those options as specified by the leases as it is undisputed that they did not notify the defendant of such by the appropriate dates and by certified mail. As seen above, that method of selection is required by Paragraph 2 of the option to purchase section of the respective leases. Furthermore, Paragraph 8 provided that both the lease terminated and the option to purchase “automatically extinguished” upon failure to exercise the option. Thus, | inas of the end of the specified lease terms of October 15, 2009, for the Martinez property, and September 30, 2010, for the Labra property, the options to purchase were extinguished. Payments made after the options were extinguished would, thus, be irrelevant for purposes of purchase thereunder.
Neither is there merit in the plaintiffs’ argument that genuine issues of material fact remain with regard to whether the parties verbally modified the leases so as to permit verbal acceptance of the options to purchase. Certainly there is dispute as to whether such verbal communication occurred. However, resolution of that issue is not relevant to the pertinent cause of action, i.e., enforceability of the options to purchase. In addition to the lease’s requirement that the defendant be notified that the plaintiffs chose to exercise the options by certified mail, the Louisiana Civil Code indicates that a writing was required in this instance.
“[A]n option to buy, or an option to sell, is a contract whereby a party gives to another the right to accept an offer to sell, or to buy, a thing within a stipulated time.” La.Civ.Code art. 2620. The “option must set forth the thing and the price, and meet the formal requirements of the sale it contemplates.”7 Id. The options, in this instance, contemplate the sale of an immovable. Of course, “[a] sale or promise of sale of an immovable must be made by authentic act or by act under private signature, except as provided in Article 1839.” La. Civ.Code art. 2440. In this regard, La.Civ. Code art. 1839 indicates that “[a] transfer of immovable property must be made by authentic act or by act under private signature. Nevertheless, an oral transfer is valid between the parties when the property has In been actually delivered and the transferor recognizes the transfer when interrogated on oath.” Clearly, the latter circumstances are not present. Additionally, jurisprudence has construed this requirement of a writing to extend to all contracts regarding transfers of immovable property. See Chauvin v. Bohn, 411 So.2d 442, n. 4 (La.1982). See also East Tangipahoa Dev. Co., LLC v. Bedico Junction, LLC, 08-1262 (La.App. 1 Cir. 12/23/08), 5 So.3d 238, writ denied, 09-0166 (La. 3/27/09), 5 So.3d 146. As observed by the trial court, and as addressed below, the plaintiffs’ concerns regarding any alleged verbal assurances may pertain to their remaining claim for damages. They do not, however, determine the enforceability of the options to purchase.
Thus, in consideration of the parties’ submissions, we find that the trial court did not err in granting the motion for partial summary judgment.
Eviction
While the plaintiffs challenge the judgment for eviction, they do not specifically question whether the defendant met the burden of proving entitlement to evic*456tion per La.Code Civ.P. art. 4701, et seq. Rather, the plaintiffs challenge the judgment for evictions within the larger context of the ownership issue determined by the partial summary judgment, a ruling we find not to be in error. Neither do we find error in the trial court’s related order of eviction. Instead, the respective lease terms of 2009 and 2010 had ended and, absent the above-claim of ownership, the lease may be viewed as having reconduct-ed by operation of law on a month to month basis.8 It is further unquestioned that the defendant provided notices to 112vacate for both properties in May 2015, citing “Expiration of lease” on each notice. See La.Code Civ.P. art. 4701. Yet, the plaintiffs remained in the properties at the time of the hearing in light of their ownership claim, now found to be without merit.
Accordingly, the plaintiffs’ arguments regarding eviction are without merit.
Prematurity and Parol Evidence
Finally, the plaintiffs argue that the trial court erred in denying their exception of prematurity and that a trial on the merits was required as to ownership. Such a trial, the plaintiffs suggest, would allow the introduction of parol evidence due to them allegations of misrepresentations as to the options to purchase. They further contend that the parol evidence should have been admitted insofar as it may relate to their claim for unfair trade practices.
As recognized by the trial court, however, the parol evidence sought to be introduced by the plaintiffs cannot be viewed as relating to the enforcement of the options to purchase. Louisiana Civil Code art. 1848 provides that:
Testimonial or other evidence may not be admitted to negate or vary the contents of an authentic act or an act under private signature. Nevertheless, in the interest of justice, that evidence may be admitted to prove such circumstances as a vice of consent or to prove that the written act was modified by a subsequent and valid oral agreement.
While the plaintiffs contend that the interests of justice require the introduction of the evidence as to ownership, we note that they do not seek to prove a vice of consent in the confection of the lease. They instead seek to enforce the contract. To the extent they seek a modification of the options to purchase, a writing was required for a modification as explained above. Thus, evidence could not be | ^admitted to prove that the written options to purchase were “modified by a subsequent and valid oral agreement.” Accordingly, we find no error in the trial court’s rulings denying the exception of prematurity.
Finally, we find no merit in the plaintiffs’ argument regarding the necessity of the trial court’s consideration of parol evidence as it may relate to their remaining claim for unfair trade practices. Rather, the trial court considered the partial summary judgment on the issue of the options to purchase, the rule of eviction, and the plaintiffs’ exception of prematurity. The trial court did not consider the plaintiffs claim of remaining damages associated with the course of conduct between the parties. The trial court instead remarked that it was “comfortable granting the motion for partial summary judgment, because I think that justice can be served *457and the rights of the lessees/buyers can be protected in further proceedings that relate to their understandings and their remedies[J”
This assignment lacks merit.
DECREE
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. Costs of this appeal are assessed to the plaintiffs/defendants-in-reconvention/appellants, Jose Raful and Maria Victoria Martinez and Victor Ray Labra.
AFFIRMED.
Cooks, J., Dissents and assigns written reasons. Saunders, J., dissents.. The affiant stated that Mr. Martinez approached him in October 2012 regarding “formalizing the purchase of two duplexes by Martinez and Victor Ray Labra from The Rivet Family Trust.” He stated that he prepared cash deeds to transfer title to both properties, but was later informed by Mr. Martinez that "Mr. Rivet refused to sign.” The affiant further stated that he "contacted Mr. Rivet on behalf of Martinez to come in and sign the documents and he refused.”
. By prior opinion, a panel of this court addressed the defendant/appellee’s motion to dismiss the appeal filed with this court. See Jose Raful Martinez, et al. v. George Robert Rivet, Trustee of the Rivet Family Trust, 16-100 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/13/16), 190 So.3d 461.
. See abo La.Code Civ.P. art. 1602, which relates to a moving party’s efforts to obtain evidence, provides, in part, that: "A continuance shall be granted if at the time a case is to be tried, the party applying for the continuance shows that he has been unable, with the exercise of due diligence, to obtain evidence material to his case[.]”
. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 966 was amended by 2015 La. Acts No. 422, § 1. However, its provisions became effective on January 1, 2016, after the motion for partial summary judgment was heard. Thus, we consider this matter under the version of the Article in effect at that time. See 2015 La. Acts No. 422, § 2 (“The provisions of this Act shall not apply to any motion for summary judgment pending adjudication or appeal on the effective date of this Act.”).
. Notwithstanding the November 2006 commencement date, the lease reflects a creation date of December 2008. In further filings in this matter, Mr. and Mrs. Martinez alleged that they first executed an Act of Vendor’s Lien with the defendant in October 2006, but that the Act was cancelled by an August 2007 dation en payment.
, The Leases with Option to Purchase listed municipal addresses as 891 Sistrunk Road and 893 Sistrunk Road, respectively.
. Further, La.Civ.Code art. 2621 provides that: "The acceptance or rejection of an offer contained in an option is effective when received by the grantor. Upon such an acceptance the parties are bound by a contract to sell. Rejection of the offer contained in an option terminates the option but a counteroffer does not.”
. See La.Civ.Code art. 2721 (providing that "A lease with a fixed term is reconducted if, after the expiration of the term, and without notice to vacate or terminate or other opposition by the lessor or the lessee, the lessee remains in possession ... (2) For one week in the case of other leases with a fixed term that is longer than a week[.]”). See also La.Civ. Code art. 2723 (providing that "The term of a reconducted nonagricultural lease is: (1) From month to month in the case of a lease whose term is a month or longer[.]”).