Chapter 11 - Contracts (12%) Flashcards
Section 11.1: CONTRACTS
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.A: PREPARATION OF CONTRACTS:::
**Creation of a Contract
** One party accepts an offer
** Acceptance is communicated
** Acceptance indicates meeting of the
minds
** Not a contract until communication
takes place
** Actual delivery of contract to all
parties - proof
Section 11.1: CONTRACTS
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.B: ESSENTIALS OF A CONTRACT:::
**Essential of a Valid Contract
MEMORY DEVICE: “COLIC”
1) Lawful subject
Must have a legal purpose to be
enforceable
2) Agreement Offeror gives an offer Offeree receives an offer Meeting of the minds Parties must reach agreement on all terms of a contract An offer becomes a contract when accepted and acceptance is communicated to all parties
** 3) Consideration
** Each party must be obligated by
including sufficient consideration
** Two types
** Valuable consideration - money or
something equivalent
** Good consideration - love and
affection
** THE PROMISE OF FUTURE MONEY IN A
CONTRACT
** An executory contract must be accompanied
by a sufficient consideration
** However, once the contract is executed, the
sufficiency of the consideration will not
come into question
4) Two or more competent parties
Legal age
Sane and sober
Voidable contract
Contract between an adult and a minor
At the option of the minor
The adult is bound by the agreement
Minor is incompetent under the law
Section 11.1: CONTRACTS
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.C: STATUTE OF FRAUDS:::
**Statute of Frauds
** Enacted in England in 1677 to provide protection against fraud in the sale of real property
** Transfer of a right or interest in land
Must be in writing to be enforceable
** Purchase and sale contract
** Lease over a year
** Deeds
** Mortgages
** Option contract
** An executed oral real estate sales agreement that reaches a successful conclusion is perfectly legal. The courts will not overturn an executed oral real estate sales contract (i.e. NOT ILLEGAL TO VIOLATE THIS STATUTE. AN ORAL CONTRACT IS LEGAL BUT MAY BE UNENFORCEABLE)
** TWO EXCEPTIONS to the Statute of Frauds exists when:
** 1) Title has transferred to Buyer
** 2) Buyer has paid part of the purchase price,
and
a. Taken possession
or
b. Made improvements
Section 11.1: CONTRACTS
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.D: STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS:::
**Statute of Limitations
- Time periods for contract enforcement
- Parol (oral) contract – 4 years
- Written contracts – 5 years
- Time periods for contract enforcement
Section 11.2: CLASSIFICATION OF CONTRACTS
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.F: CONTRACT CATEGORIES:::
** Express vs. Implied Contracts
Express (expressed) 100% of terms and conditions are agreed either: Orally In writing
- Implied Contract
- All of the terms are not stated
- May be implied from the actions of the parties
- either:
- Orally
- In writing
- Implied provision of another contract
Section 11.2: CLASSIFICATION OF CONTRACTS
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.F: CONTRACT CATEGORIES:::
Bilateral vs. Unilateral Contract
Bilateral - A promise is given in exchange for a promise
Two parties are obligated to perform
e.g. sales contract
Unilateral - A promise is given in exchange for an act
Two parties
Only One is obligated to perform
e.g. option contract
Section 11.2: CLASSIFICATION OF CONTRACTS
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.F: CONTRACT CATEGORIES:::
Executory vs. Executed Contract
Executory Contract - remains to be performed
An agreement has been reached
Obligations have not been met or
performed
Executed Contract - fully performed
Parties have kept all promises and
performed all obligations
Section 11.2: CLASSIFICATION OF CONTRACTS
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.F: CONTRACT CATEGORIES:::
Formal vs Informal (Parol) Contracts
Formal Contract - valid and legal, AND enforceable under the Statute of Frauds
Written
Under seal
The initials L.S. or the word seal
Informal Contract - valid and legal, BUT NOT
enforceable under the Statute of Frauds
Oral
Parol
Section 11.2: CLASSIFICATION OF CONTRACTS
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.F: CONTRACT CATEGORIES:::
** Void vs. Voidable Contracts
** Void Contract
** Not legal – unenforceable
** Reasons
** requires an impossible or illegal act
** becomes legal due to changes in the
law or government policy
** was legal, but was declared null by the
courts b/c it violated a fundamental
principle such as fairness, or is against
public policy
Voidable Contract Valid – may be enforceable One party may void contract Reasons Material fact not disclosed Minor & adult are parties to contract Incompetent party
Section 11.3: CONTRACT NEGOTIATION
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.G: CONTRACT NEGOTIAITON:::
Offer and Counteroffer
1) Offer is made by offeror
2) Received by offeree
3) Offeree changes offer and becomes offeror
(counteroffer) This in effect “kills” the previous offer
4) New offeree can accept, reject or present
counteroffer – becomes offeror
Applied
1) Seller offers home for sale
2) Buyer sees sign
3) Buyer makes offer less than full price
4) Seller counters with different price
Section 11.3: CONTRACT NEGOTIATION
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.G: CONTRACT NEGOTIAITON:::
** Termination of Offers
MEMORY DEVICE: “WILD CARD”
** ACCEPTANCE - offer becomes a
contract when communicated (BEST WAY)
** WITHDRAWAL - offeror may end an offer
at will
** REJECTION - offeree says “no” or makes
a COUNTEROFFER
** LAPSE OF TIME - offer usually has an
expiration date
** DEATH or INSANITY – terminates an offer
** DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY - if house burns
down, offer is ended
** Answer of test is: NOT NOVATION
Section 11.4: CONTRACT TERMINATION
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.G: TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS:::
Contract Termination
MEMORY DEVICE: “BRRLAP”
BREACH – fail to meet obligations REVOCATION - party terminates the contract RENUNCIATION– mutual consent LAPSE OF TIME – “time is of the essence” ABANDONMENT – “walk away” PERFORMANCE – all obligations met (BEST WAY)
Section 11.4: CONTRACT TERMINATION
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.G: TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS:::
** Legal Remedies for Breach of Contract
** 1) Suit for Cancellation
** wronged party may sue for cancellation
of contract
** 2) Suit for Specific Performance
** sue in court to enforce performance
** usually available in connection w/ the sale
of real estate, and usually taken by a buyer
** 3) Suit for Damages
** a) Liquidated Damages - amount of money
noted in contract
** usually involves seller retaining the
deposit in the event of a buyer default
b) Unliquidated damages – not specified in
contract – decided in court
** Answer of test is: NOT A CLAIM FROM
REAL ESTATE RECOVERY FUND
Section 11.4: CONTRACT TERMINATION
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.G: TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS:::
** Assignment of Contracts
** Transfer of rights and obligations
** Assignor - person transferring the
rights to another
** Assignee - person receiving the
rights from another
** Assignor remains ultimately responsible
for performance
** NOVATION - a substitution of the parties
Section 11.5: REAL ESTATE SALES CONTRACTS
:::STATE EXAM CONTENT AREA: XI.I.4: CONTRACTS IMPORTANT TO REAL ESTATE - SALES AND PURCHASE CONTRACTS:::
Parties and Essential Elements of a Sales Contract
Parties
Vendor – seller
Vendee – buyer
MEMORY DEVICE: COLC Essential elements Meeting of the minds (offer and acceptance) Consideration Competent parties Legal subject matter
- Witnesses are NOT REQUIRED, although most standard forms have spaces for them
- Sales contracts are BILATERAL