QUESTION #1: If the property does not appraise for the purchase price, may the seller terminate the contract if the buyer still wishes to proceed? My seller no longer wants to sell and is looking for a way to get out of the contract. If the property does not appraise for the purchase price, may … Continue Reading
Co-Author: Patricia A. Leighton, Esq. Quit Claims & The $500K Exclusion Consider the following parent who has allowed her adult son to live in her second house for the last 2 ½ years. The parent now wants to sell the house. Can the parent quit claim the house to her son so that he can … Continue Reading
Co-Author: Brad M. Lund, Esq. I am a real estate broker. If I refer a potential mortgage customer to a mortgage business in which my husband is employed or has an ownership interest, must I give the customer an “affiliated business arrangement” disclosure when making the referral? Under RESPA (the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act), disclosure … Continue Reading
The new financing contingency in the Real Estate Commission-approved contract is §5b and reads as follows: “Loan Commitment. If Buyer is to pay all or part of the Purchase Price by obtaining a new loan as specified in §4b, this contract is conditional upon Buyer obtaining a written loan commitment including, if required, (i) … Continue Reading
I. Affirmative Obligations vs. Contingencies. Many contract issues which could be addressed by affirmative obligations could also be addressed by contingencies. The first step in writing contingencies is deciding whether you wish to create an “affirmative obligation” or a “contingency.” An affirmative obligation is a provision which requires one of the parties to do … Continue Reading
Co-Author: Brad M. Lund, Esq. Who has the responsibility for making the FHA inspection disclosure notice to buyers: listing brokers, selling brokers or lenders? What are the consequences if the buyer does not execute such a disclosure? Technically, the lenders have the obligation to make the disclosure. However, real estate brokers should monitor timely execution … Continue Reading
12-61-203.5. Referral fees – interference with brokerage relationship No licensee under parts 1-4 of this article shall pay a referral fee unless reasonable cause for payment of the referral fee exists. A reasonable cause for payment means: An actual introduction of business has been made; A contractual referral fee relationships exists; or A contractual … Continue Reading
Supreme Court Rulings: A Mandate for Employers to Provide a Formal Sexual Harassment Policy and Complaint Procedure? Recent decisions of the United States Supreme Court can be viewed as a mandate for employers: communicate to all employees a formal policy against sexual harassment, including a sensible complaint procedure. An employer who fails to do … Continue Reading
The foundation of Colorado employment law, the doctrine of employment at-will, is eroding away. It is the consequence of three recent decisions of the Colorado Supreme Court, which held in favor of individuals who had sued their former employers for terminating their employment. The lawsuits were based on assurances that the employers would be … Continue Reading
Co-Author: Amy E. Allison, Esq. Question: I am starting my own real estate company and will invest much of my time and money promoting my company. I have hired a graphic artist to design a logo. How can I avoid using someone else’s name? How can I protect against someone taking advantage of the goodwill I … Continue Reading
