Chapter 11 - Real Estate Contracts Flashcards
Contract
Voluntary agreement or promise between legally competent parties
Bilateral Contract
Reciprocal, both parties agree to do a specific thing. One promise is pledged in return for another promise.
Unilateral contract
Only one person is bound to perform. It is a one-sided contract where one party makes a promise to encourage a second party to perform an action.
Option to Purchase
contract where one party retains the option to enforce the contract in the future during a specific time period. Form WB-24
Executed Contract
agreement in which all parties have fulfilled their duties.
Executory Contract
Agreement when something remains to be done by one or both parties.
Essential Elements of a valid contract
Offer and Acceptance
Consideration (something of value)
Legal Purpose
Legally competent parties
Mutual assent
meeting of the minds or an absolute agreement about the terms of the contract.
Offer
expression of willingness by one party
Acceptance
Means that both buyers and sellers have signed an identical contract/offer.
Consideration
Something of value. Its the incentive of a thing of value presented by one party and accepted by another as an inducement to act or refrain from acting.
Discharge of a contract
Discharge of a contract means a contract has been terminated. Ideally, in the case that a contract is fully performed, and every party receives what they initially agreed to.
Assignment
When the rights and duties of a contract are assigned to another third party called the assignee.
Novation
When a new, clear contract with all accepted changes is signed by all parties.
Breach of contract
Violation of a contract or agreement that occurs when the party fails to fulfill its promises according to the provisions of the agreement.
Specific Performance
The buyer is forcing the seller to transfer the title.
Reasons a termination of contract can occur
- Mutual Agreement
- Operation of law
- Partial Performance
- Substantial performance
- Impossibility of performance
- Rescission
Operation of Law
Expiration of statue of limitations
Partial Performance
terms are partially performed, accompanied by a written acceptance by the other party
Substantial Performance
which one party has substantially performed the duties of the contract but has not completed all the details exactly as required in the contract (this performance may be enough to force an adjusted payment, along with any damages suffered by the second party)
Impossibility of performance
The contract cannot legally be accomplished
The use of preprinted forms raises three issue:
- what to write in the blanks
- what words and phrases should be ruled out by drawing lines through them because they don’t apply
- what additional clauses or agreements (called riders or addenda*) should be added. All changes and additions are usually initialed in the margin or on the rider by both parties when a contract is signed.
Time required to give each person signing a contract
24 hours
Ripening the contract
When the offer is accepted and signed by the sell and becomes a contract of sale.
Sales Contracts Include
- Purchaser’s name and statement of the purchaser’s obligation to purchase the property
- An adequate description of the property
- Seller’s name and statement of a deed
- Purchase price and how the purchaser tends to pay for the property
- Amount and form of down payment or earnest money
- Provision for closing of the transaction and the transfer of possession of the property to the purchaser by a specific date
- A provision for title evidence
- The method by which real estate taxes, rents, fuel costs, and other expenses are to be prorated
- A provision for the completion of the contract should the property be damaged or destroyed between the time of signing and the closing date
- A liquidated damages clause, a right-to-sue provision, or another statement of remedies available in the event of default
- Contingency clauses (such as the buyer’s obtaining financing or selling a currently owned property or the seller’s acquisition of another desired property or clearing of the title; attorney approval and home inspection are other commonly included contingencies)
- The dated signatures of all parties (the signature of a witness is not essential to a valid contract)—In some states, the seller’s non-owning spouse may be required to release potential marital or homestead rights. An agent may sign for a principal if the agent has been expressly authorized to do so. When sellers are co-owners, all must sign if the entire ownership is being transferred
- In most states, an agency disclosure statement
Sale of a Residence
includes personal property, such as appliances, as well as items that are fixtures, such as screens and storm windows or a built-in range. In Wisconsin, any fixtures that might be questioned as fixtures need to be listed in the contract.