Module 2 Contracts Flashcards
What needs to be included in an offer to purchase in the legal description of the property?
Legal description of the property:
Identifies boundaries
Address
What are the contract elements of an express contract?
Competent Parties
Mutual Assent (Offer and Acceptance)
Consideration
Legality of Purpose (Lawful Object)
All written contracts are what type of contract?
Express.
Oral contracts may not be enforceable
What is an implied contract?
One created by implication or deduced
What is a Unilateral versus a Bilateral contract?
Bilateral: both parties have mutual promises. They are enforceable against each other.
Unilateral: One party makes a promise
What is the meaning of an executed and executory contract?
Refers to the stage of the contract and its performance.
Executory is one that has not been fully executed.
Executed has been performed.
What are elements to a valid contract?
Competent parties
Mutual assent (Offer and Acceptance)
Consideration
Legality of purpose. (Legal Object)
Must real estate contracts be in writing?
Yes
Real estate contracts must generally include 3 elements:
WDA
Writing
An adequate Description
Communicated acceptance to the person who made the offer
Competent parties relates to what 6 issues?
Age
Criminal History
Literacy
Identifiable Parties
Mental Capacity
Legal Authority
If a person who does not have mental capacity enters into a contract the contract is…
Void. Unless that person had a court appointed guardian enter into that contract on their behalf.
If a person makes an offer to enter into a contract, but dies before that contract is signed the contract is ….
Void
If a person enters into a contract and it is finalized and then that person passes away the contract is..
Enforcable
The four types of individuals considered to have legal authority are:
- Court Appointed Guardian
- A person holding Power of Attorney
- A duly appointed representative
- A person granted legal authority
Examples of individuals granted legal authority are:
- A Corportations Bylaws or employment contract
- A General Partnership
- A Limited Partnership
- Trusts, Non Profits, Homeowners Associates, etc - Trustee or representatives may be granted by the charters or in the bylaws.
How is Mutual Assent met?
A clear and definite offer, and an intentional unequivocal acceptance of it.
What does Legality of Purpose mean?
The contract terms are legal. Note this includes for the term of the contract. If the consideration of the contract becomes illegal 2 years into the contract then the contract is then void.
A lease of one years duration or less must be in writing…T/F
False. A lease of one year or less may be oral.
A Written contract is a _______ Contract
Express
An express contract is one having the following contract elements explicitly stated in words.
Competent Parties
Mutual Assent
Legal Object
Consideration
An express contract is one expressed by words. An Implied contract is one deduced from implication
What is a Nullity?
Something in a contract that makes it legally voidable
What defines a voidable contract?
What is it called when the defect is cured?
Something in the contract that allows a party to declare the contract void without adverse legal effect.
Ratification. Makes a voidable contract enforceable.
What is Rescission?
Makes a voidable contract unenforceable.
What are the types of conduct or behavior that can void a contract?
- Fraud in the execution
- Misrepresentation
- Actionable statements of opinion
- Concealment
- Duress
- Undue Influence
- Mutual Mistake
What does Fraud in the Execution mean?
Misrepresentation of essential terms of the contract or producing a contract different than what was signed.
What is misrepresentation, regarding a voidable contract?
A contract is entered into based on misrepresented information. The contract may be voided by the party to whom the misrepresentation was made.
What is False Representation?
A representation signed to give a false representation.
The property has a well. (But leaves out the fact that it is dry most the year)
OR
A party denies knowledge of a fact that it has knowledge of.
*The information falsified must be material to the information of the contract.
The well being dry means that the property does not function for the purpose of the sale.
What is concealment?
Hiding material fact that relates to the property.
Example: Putting furniture in front of a door leading to a cavity under the foundation.
What is Puffing?
A Licensee boasting about a properties benefits which are a matter of opinion and could lead to misrepresentation as a concealment of fact.
What is Duress in regard to voidable contracts?
Threat of harm against a contracting party. (Hard to prove)
What is the difference between Duress and Undue Influence?
Duress: Putting a gun to someone’s head
Undue Influence: refers to persuasion. Telling an elderly mother she has to buy a house for someone because otherwise they wont be able to be cared for.
What is a Mutual Mistake in relation to a voidable contract?
Mistaken assumption by both parties in a contract.
What things can make a contract unenforceable?
- Impossibility of Performance
- Subsequent Illegality
- Bankruptcy
- Laches
- Prevention not performance
- Conditions
- Breach
What defines Impossibility of Performance?
A contract is impossible to meet. The facts are such that nobody could perform the contract.
What is Subsequent Illegality?
A contract is for an act that is legal but subsequently becomes illegal.
Bankruptcy can cause an unenforceable contract because:
Real Estate contracts are discharged once a party files for bankruptcy.
What are Laches?
An excessive amount of time passes which has the effect of discharging a party, known as the Doctrine of Laches. The claim must be acted upon within a timely manner.
What does Prevention of Performance mean?
One party prevents the other party from performing.
A buyer makes a contingent offer on a home pending an inspection, however the seller refuses to allow inspectors access to the home. The buyer can be discharged from the contract.
What are Conditions or Contingencies in regard to an unenforceable contract?
When a action that must or must not happen is included as a requirement for the contract to be enforced.
May a Waiver be oral?
Yes, but since the sale agreement is subject to the Statute of Frauds you’d be cray cray.
If a buyer makes a contingency that says they must qualify for a loan but fails to apply for that loan can they be in breach?
Yes. Oregon law requires reasonable due diligence and contract law requires good faith.
What are the questions to include in drafting a contingency?
Who must act?
What has to be done?
When must the contingency be satisfied?
What is to happen if its not?
Would this be an example of a good contingency?
“A property inspection shall occur on the property and all elements and systems shall be inspected.”
No. It doesn’t say who is responsible for the inspection to occur.