Real Property Flashcards
Is Virginia a RACE-NOTICE or NOTICE statute jurisdiction?
RACE-NOTICE
What’s the effect of VA’s RACE-NOTICE statute?
Grantee who RECORDS FIRST prevails
Grantee must be a BFP
What is a BFP
Bona fide purchaser - means they PAID VALUE (must be of some pecuniary value) and have NO NOTICE OF PRIOR INSTRUMENT
What is doctrine of MERGER?
Says that title warranties made in a sales K are extinguished and MERGED INTO THE DEED.
Means SELLER NO LONGER LIABLE FOR BR/K provisions re to TITLE. Means that if a buyer has claim against seller, basis of claim must be based on the covenants in the deed and NOT on K itself.
Effectively, a deed is the FINAL EXPRESSION of the agreements between the parties as to every subject which it undertakes to deal with. Any conflicts between the deed and prior agreements are resolved by the DEED.
BUT, provisions that are COLLATERAL to the passage of title and not covered by the deed are NOT MERGED into deed and survive its execution
MERGER: Can merger apply to K provisions unrelated to title if the parties have expressly agreed in the land sale K that representations and warranties shall be merged into K?
No. Merger can only apply to provisions related to TITLE. Not terms that are COLLATERAL to title.
MERGER DOCTRINE: when are agreements considered COLLATERAL to the sale?
When they are 1. DISTINCT AGREEMENTS made in connection w/ the sale
- DO NOT AFFECT TITLE to the property,
- are NOT ADDRESSED in the DEED,
- do NOT CONFLICT w/ the deed
What are the required formalities for a valid DEED?
- in WRITING
- SIGNED BY GRANTOR
- REASONABLY IDENTIFY PARTIES AND LAND
When is a deed valid?
- FORMALITIES MET (in writing, signed by grantor, describes parties/land)
- DELIVERY
- ACCEPTANCE
What are the requirements for a deed conveying real property as INTER VIVOS GIFT?
- DONATIVE INTENT
- DELIVERY
- ACCEPTANCE
When constitutes DELIVERY of a deed?
Grantor’s INTENTION to make deed PRESENTLY effective (even if possession is postponed). Can be:
- Manual delivery
- Notarized acknowledgement by grantor and RECORDATION
- anything else showing grantor’s INTENT TO DELIVER
Does a deed need to be signed by grantee?
No, grantee becomes bound by terms of deed BY HIS ACCEPTANCE OF A DEED delivered by grantor (even if deed is only signed by grantor)
Does parol evidence rule apply to deeds?
Yes
What does parol evidence rule state?
That parol evidence is inadmissible to vary or contradict a complete and unambiguous written instrument.
Does failure to record a deed invalidate it?
NO, Once delivery occurs, title has passed
What does ENGLISH COVENANTS OF TITLE mean?
That deed is conveyed IN FEE SIMPLE, WITHOUT ENCUMBERANCES OF TENANCIES, or LIENS on property.
What are the ENGLISH COVENANTS OF TITLE?
- SEISIN
- RIGHT TO CONVEY
- QUIET ENJOYMENT
- FURTHER ASSURANCES
- no ENCUMBRANCES
What is the covenant of QUIET POSSESSION FREE FROM ENCUMBRANCES?
A promise that grantee will hold and enjoy the land free from any interruption, claim, or demand by anybody
and that grantor will INDEMNIFY and SAVE GRANTEES HARMLESS against any and every charge or encumbrance
What do encumbrances include?
the existence of PHYSICAL INTRUSTIONS or ENCROACHMENTS or
SUPERIOR TITLE OR INTEREST in the land held by another party
Are lawful zoning ordinances considered encumbrances?
No
Is grantor automatically liable to grantee when there’s an encumbrance (and there was CVT FREE FROM ENCUMBRANCES)?
Not until he suffers ACTUAL DAMAGES (pays off lien or creditor executes on lien)
What is a GENERAL WARRANTY DEED?
Grantor covenants against TITLE DEFECTS that either he or his predecessors created
What is SEISIN?
Grantor has the interest she purports to convey.
Must have both TITLE & POSSESSION at the time of grant.