REAL ESTATE LAW

1. REAL ESTATE LAW Real Estate Brokers’ Program Barbara Grodaes

2. Sources of Law • Common Law – foundation of other elements of law, legislation and case law. • Legislation – statutes and regulations passed by government. • Case Law (decisions on the basis of earlier ruling/judgment) precedents.

3. Real Property Law • Deals with rights or interests in land and all that is erected, growing upon or fixed to the land. • Not dealing with moveable property or all types of property other than land and fixtures (personal property law). • Tenure – theoretical basis in that only the Crown is the absolute owner.

4. Estates • Defines the nature, degree, extent and duration of ownership in land. • Real estate and real property mean the rights or interest an individual holds with respect to land. • 4 types of estates in land: fee simple, life estate, leasehold and dower.

5. 4 Types of Estates in Land • Fee Simple – most common, can be inherited, any heir can inherit, absolute owner of the land. • Life Estate – has most of the rights of fee simple owner except right to sell. • Leasehold – fixed period of time. • Dower – spouse right to life estate.

6. Methods of Holding Land • In Trust – legal estate held by one for the beneficial interest of another. • Co-Ownership – joint tenancy (right of survivorship) and tenancy in common (interests split) • Co-operative Housing Ownership – incorporated, non-profit business.

7. Methods of Holding Land cont. • Time Share Ownership – rights of ownership limited for a specific part of the year (undivided or interval). • Strata Title Ownership – subdivision plan subdivides the volumetric space above or beneath land surface (3-dimensional drawings necessary).

8. Surface and Mineral Rights • Generally, surface rights only, title showing “excepting thereout all mines and minerals.” • Most titles separated into “surface only” and “minerals only” titles. • Surface Rights Act regulates rights and relationship between holders.

9. Law of Agency • Agency is a contractual relationship in which the principal and the agent agree that the agent will do certain acts on the principal’s behalf in dealing with a third party. • Legal relationship between the brokerage and the client (written).

10. Fiduciary Duties • Loyalty (RANCOLD) • Obedience • Disclosure • Confidentiality • Reasonable care and skill • Non-delegation • Full accounting

11. Single Agency • Single agent represents either the buyer or the seller, never both. • The Seller’s Agent represents seller. • The Buyer’s Agent represents buyer. • Buyers and/or Sellers can represent themselves or by their legal counsel.

12. Dual Agency • Same brokerage represents more than 1 party in same transaction; Seller and Buyer or 2 or more Buyers or all 3, all competing for property. • Brokerage canNOT disclose price OR motivation and no confidentiality concerning material facts.

13. Dual Agency continued … • Agent MUST have proper written authorization of both (all) clients. • Agent MUST be particularly careful and act fairly, honestly & with integrity. • Agent MUST obtain written acknowledgement in timely manner. • Agent MUST obtain informed consent.

14. Other Agency • Dual agency also applies to lease transactions by substituting Landlord for seller and Tenant for buyer and is otherwise the same. • No Agency Relationship if one party acts on his or her own behalf – Ethical duties – be honest, fair, careful and do not misrepresent.

15. Contract Law • An agreement, based on a promise or a set of promises, which results in some legally enforceable obligations between two parties. • Written or verbal, long or short, are essential parts of many business transactions. • Legally binding – get legal advice!

16. Elements Must Exist • Capacity of parties (legally competent). • Legality of object (lawful). • Legal intention (intent to be legally binding). • Consideration (each receives something of value [promise is value]). • Mutual agreement (offer/acceptance). • Genuine consent (all facts needed to make a reasonable decision and have free will).

17. Contract valid if all 6 present, otherwise, contract is: • Void (never existed). • Voidable (originally valid but able to be rejected by one of the parties later. • Illegal (contravene a law and not enforceable).

18. Capacity of Parties (Competent) • Individuals NOT considered to have the capacity to make a contract are: • Infants or minors (>=18 years). • Mentally incapacitated persons. • Intoxicated persons. • Cannot read OR speak English or vision impaired.

19. Legality of Object (Lawful) • Courts will not enforce contracts made for illegal purposes and violate criminal laws. • Contracts can NOT contravene regulatory statutes or public policy. • Though no longer legality of object, practical reasons suggest contracts be made during a weekday as opposed to being conducted on a weekend (closing date).

20. Legal Intention • Parties to contract MUST have intended their actions to be legally binding. • In real estate, there MUST be an invitation to treat in the form of a statement inviting prospective buyers to negotiate a purchase contract. • Listed price is intended to solicit offers.

21. Consideration • To be enforceable, a contract MUST be made under seal or be supported by consideration. • What each party in a contract receives in exchange for the promise to act in a specified way. • Past consideration NO consideration.

22. Mutual Agreement  Offer • MUST be definite & made with intent to create legal, binding obligation. • MUST contain all essential terms of the proposed agreement so that a contract exists upon acceptance. • CAN remain open until acceptance and/or until a stated time limit unless withdrawn before acceptance is communicated.

23. Agreement  Offer, cont… • CAN lapse after the passing of a reasonable amount of time if it contains no time-limit or acceptance. • MAY be revoked if communication of the revocation is communicated to the offeree prior to the communication of the acceptance of the offeror.

24. Mutual Agreement  Acceptance • MUST be unconditional (NO changes to the Offer – any change is a rejection and making it a counter-offer). • MUST be communicated to the offeror in the manner required by the offer. • MUST be made within the time specified in the offer OR a reasonable amount of time if no time-limit.

25. Mutual Agreement • If the offer does not specify a manner of communication, then the method of acceptance MUST be in a manner as good or better than communication of the offer. • If this is mail or fax, contract is binding even if mail or fax not received.

26. Genuine Consent • To form binding contract, mutual agreement MUST be real and genuine. Inducements that may invalidate a contract are: • Mistake. • Misrepresentation. • Failure to disclose. • Duress or undue influence.

27. Contract Deemed Invalid • MAY be deemed invalid if one of following occurs. Courts ultimately decide if contract is enforceable – they are not automatically void: • Mistake • Misrepresentation • Failure to Disclose • Duress and Undue Influence

28. Mistake • May nullify apparent consent, contract has no legal effect as is based on mistake that has a ‘narrow’ meaning in contract law. • May remove the element of genuine consent essential to a contract. • MUST be a mistake of fact and go to root of contract. • General rule – people are bound by their signatures, whether they’ve read it or not.

29. Misrepresentation • Any statement made before or at the time of contracting, with regard to any existing fact which induces other party to enter contract. Can be: • Innocent (false without realizing). • Negligent (intended to be fact without checking for accuracy). • Fraudulent (knows it is false).

30. Note for Misrepresentation • The law treats a statement of opinion made by a real estate agent as a statement of fact. • An agent making statement of opinion about real estate may be found having made negligent representation and be liable for compensation to the person who relies of this statement.

31. Failure to Disclose • Agents have a legal DUTY to exercise care when providing information. Hiding a significant defect can be considered FRAUD. • Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware). • Patent defects (visible to the eye & should be discovered on examination). • Latent defects, must be disclosed. Failure to do so or conceal may INVALIDATE.

32. Duress and Undue Influence • Duress is compulsion which forces a person to act through fear of personal suffering – not of his/her own free will. • Undue influence is the improper use of one’s power over another to induce into a contract (such as educated/uneducated, experienced/inexperienced) takes advantage because of his/her position.

33. Conditions • Condition precedent (normal in real estate) calls for event or act to occur before agreement becomes binding. • Condition subsequent (after contract is binding) that if not met can give right to end contract. • Conditions are fundamental to the contract and warranties important when a breach occurs.

34. 5 Ways to Terminate Contract • Performance (fulfillment). • Agreement (mutually agree). • Frustration (events beyond control). • Non-fulfillment of a condition (“subject to” clauses/condition not met in time. • Breach of contract (fails to complete).

35. Remedies • Rescission (court have contract set aside). • Damages (financial compensation for losses caused) *damages not available where innocent misrepresentation occurred – rescission is only available recourse. • Specific performance (court force). • Injunction (court order). • Quantum Meruit (as much as he deserves).

36. Considerations for Agent • Requirement of writing (Statute of Frauds requires any contract for the sale of lands or any interest in lands must be in writing and signed by parties. *Any contract must be performed in one (1) year unless written). • Dower act – IMPORTANT only when title shows only one owner and that owner is married.

37. Duty of Care • Special relationship where one party relies on information supplied by second party in position of knowledge. • Relationship exists brokerage/client. • Agent MUST represent information honestly and accurately to others.

38. Further Considerations • Power of Attorney – (general/specific). • Trustee/Guardian of Mentally Incompetent (court appointed under the Dependent Adults Act or other. • Bankruptcy – trustee has power to deal with land (files caveat on title). • Privity – binding to parties in contract.

39. Listing Contract • MUST contain essential elements. • MUST contain clear description of 3 Ps (Parties, Property, Price – Property is professional service of selling). • Other information and documentation is important as Agent – independently verify ALL information wherever possible.

40. Purchase Contract • MUST contain essential elements. • MUST contain clear description of 3 Ps (Parties, Property, Price – to render contract “certain” of intentions). • Possession Date, completion date, adjustment date, payment date or closing date – ALL same thing. • Deposit NOT required to be binding.

41. 2 Common Seller Financing • Vendor Take-Back Mortgage – title transfers and mortgage registered. • Agreement for Sale – possession transfers but title remains in Sellers name until paid in full. • Seller’s foreclosure procedures are same, protecting buyer’s interest.

42. Option/First Right of Refusal • Option – buyer acquires right to purchase within a specified time (sole control of buyer – interest in land and subject to caveat against title). • First Right of Refusal – (not absolute right to acquire) Two Steps: (1)make offer to holder and (2)its acceptance by the holder, or not.

43. Encroachments • MUST make reference to any encroachments on real estate purchase contract if there is any on title. • Check the standard real estate purchase contract to ensure that seller is not providing warranty wrongly.

44. Commercial Transactions • Unique in nature and encompasses: • Industrial sales • Commercial sales • Investment sales • Sale of businesses and companies. • AREA has customized contracts.

45. Sale of Assets Versus Shares • Business can be sold by either sale of assets or sale of shares – different tax consequences – do NOT give advice. • This field has securities law implications and must comply with the Securities Act – obtain legal advice.

46. Recognize and Be Aware • Business records searches – obtain and analyse to better advise client. • Employment conditions MUST comply with the Employment Standards Code. • Non-Competition Agreements – seek legal advise contracts restricting trade. • Warranties and representations vary.

47. Commercial Leases • Leasing involves complex negotiations and contractual terms. • MUST contain specific elements to be valid and enforceable. • Closely examine lease and confirm information. • Advise client to seek legal advice.

48. Land Titles System • Torrens Land Registration System in Alberta under the Land Titles Act(1+1+1) 1 one piece of paper +1 one piece of property +1 located in one place (North or South Alberta Land Titles Office – Edmonton or Calgary)

49. Legal Land Descriptions • Meridians north/south W4, W5 and W6. • Ranges N/S every 6 miles starting meridian line. • Townships E/W every 6 miles apart (#1-126: 1-34 SALS, 35-126 NALS – 36 sq.miles divided into 36 sections 1sq.mile. • Sections –measurement 1x1 mile (640 acres/259 hectares) (correction lines for earth curvature). • LSDs (legal subdivisions) divide sections in 16 (40 acres each or 4/quarter).

50. Exceptions • Settlement Plans –plans accommodating settlements (St. Albert, Fort McMurray and Edmonton) small fixed areas, no fixed pattern. • Metes and Bounds – irregular shape that is difficult to describe. • Unsubdivided to subdivided, description is replaced except condominiums.