When you enter into a purchase-and-sale contract for real estate, keep in mind that you can modify the contract to include terms particular to the transaction.  These modifications can be important if an issue arises such as if closing does not timely occur.  In a new case, discussed here, three noteworthy pointers can be found below:

 

 

 

1. Including an addendum with a drop-dead closing date can be valuable to a buyer and seller because it prevents any excuse to the closing date. For example, if the seller cannot deliver marketable title by this drop-dead date, the buyer has the option to terminate the contract.  However, the addendum can include any modification or provision important to you for purposes of the transaction.
2. The arguments of waiver and estoppel are very difficult arguments to raise when it comes to real estate contracts. This is because: (a) the contract will provide that modifications to it must be in writing and signed by the parties, and (b) the statute of frauds requires contracts relating to real estate transactions to be in writing and signed by the party to be charged.   In other words, if the objective is to modify the contract, that modification needs to be in writing and signed otherwise the statute of frauds and the contract itself can bar that argument.
3. A lis pendens does create a cloud on title. Thus, if you purchase a property with a lis pendens, this prevents the seller from delivering marketable title to you as the buyer.  A lis pendens remains a cloud on title until the appellate time period expires as it pertains to any order to discharge the lis pendens.

 

 

Please contact David Adelstein at dadelstein@gmail.com or (954) 361-4720 if you have questions or would like more information regarding this article. You can follow David Adelstein on Twitter @DavidAdelstein1.