Real Estate Contracts Flashcards
contract
a voluntary agreement between legally competent parties to perform or refrain from performing some legal act
what are the four essential elements of a valid contract?
- competent parties
- offer and acceptance
- consideration
- legality of object
competent parties
18 years old or under 18 if married
offer and acceptance
there must be meeting of the minds on each term of the contract
aka mutual assent
consideration
what the parties promise in the agreement to give or receive from each other (legal tender, exchange of value, love, etc.)
legality of object
contract must not involve a purpose that is illegal or against public policy
parol evidence rule
written contracts take precedence over oral contracts
amendment
a change used by the signing parties to correct/clarify something in the original contract
what are common amendments made in real estate contracts?
- closing date
- sales price
- extending term of agreement
addendum
a document that alters the terms of the original contract
changing the contract rather than clarifying (amendment)
what are common addenda in real estate contracts?
- inspections
- HOA documents
- disclosures
- updates to terms
Statute of Frauds
states that a contract for the sale of real estate must be in writing and signed in order to be enforceable
exception for statute of frauds
oral contracts can be enforced with “clear and convincing evidence” that buyer and seller agreed orally on the exact real estate to be transferred
express contract
parties state the terms and show their intentions in words
may be oral or written
implied contract
agreement between parties is demonstrated by their acts and conduct
bilateral contracts
both parties promise to do something
unilateral contract
one party makes a promise to induce a second party to do something
are real estate contracts bilateral or unilateral contracts?
bilateral because the seller promises to sell a parcel of real estate and deliver title to the property to the buyer
what is an example of a unilateral contract in real estate?
buyer pays a fee to the seller for the promise to convey title in a certain time frame.
buyer is not obligated to buy if timeline is not met
executed contract
contract in which both parties have fulfilled their promises and therefore performed the contract
executory contract
a contract that exists when something remains to be done by one or both parties