From Principles Workbook Unit 4 Flashcards
a contract is a legally binding agreement
between two or more competent parties to do or not do certain things for consideration
contract that has been put into words, either spoken or written
express contract
implied contract
created by the actions of the parties
in order to comply with statute of frauds (and enforaceable by courts), all contracts for the sale or transfer of real estate must be
express written contracts with the exception of a lease for 12 months or less
a breach of contract occurs when
a party fails, without legal excuse, to perform any promise contained in the agreement.
after a breach, the nonbreaching party has four options:
- acceptance of partial performance
- specific performance
- liquidated damages
- actual money damages
bilateral contract
promise exchanged for a promise
both parties are boudn to perform
I.E. a purchase agreement
unilateral contract
promise exchagned for performance
only one party is bound
I.E. an option
statute of limiations for breach of oral contract
two yeras
statute of limiations for breach of written contract
four years
statute of limiations for fraud
three years from the date of discovery
stages of a contract
- offer
- contract
- termination
the offer stage is
a negotiation period, no contract exists yet
- offers may be countered and new offers made until there is “meeting of the minds”
in the offer stage, earnest money is
not usually deposited because there is not a contract yet
strike-through changes on an offer must be
initialed (and dated for clarity) by all parties to be enforceable
a contract is formed when
a meeting of the minds and communication of acceptance by the parties
termination of an offer can occur through
- counteroffer
- revocation or withdrawl by offeror
- rejection by offeree
- lapse of an unreasonable time
- event that destroys the property
- death of either party
in order for the contract terms ot be changed,
an amendment must be negotiated and signed by all parties
termination of a contract examples
lease - on expiration date or notice as determined by the lease contract
option - on expirationd ate unless option is excercised, then the option will need a purchase contract to close
purchase contranct - either by a party excercising a contingency and termination or at closign with conveyance of the deed
breach - nonbreaching party will have remedies against he breaching party per the contract
ESSENTIALS OF A VALID CONTRACT
CO-CA-CO-LA COnsent/Mutual Agreement CApacity/Legally COnsidersation LAwful objective
when does a contract become binding?
upon communication of acceptance
a counteroffer is a
rejection of the original offer and the creation of a new one
in a counteroffer, the original offerre becomes
the offeror
caveat emptor means
“let the buyer beware”
not common due to disclosure requirements
seller must disclose
all material defects and facts even if selling as is
actual fraud consists of
- lyling
- suppressing known facts
- making a promise with no intention of performing it
to be a competent party, you must be
- 18 years old or an emancipated minor
- must be sane
executory
not yet fully performed
starts upon communication of acceptance of the offer
executed
duties fully performed
purchase agreement is executed once the deed has been delivered and accepted
assignments transfer
contract rights, but not liability
novation transfers
contract rights and liability
this is a new contract that replaces original contract
most contracts are
not terminated by death so a deceased’s estate would have to honor the contract. a contract would terminate when there is no one left to perform.