A buyer under a GAR Purchase and Sale Agreement fails to apply for financing in good faith, does not make reasonable efforts to obtain a loan, and misses the financing deadline without requesting an extension. The buyer then refuses to close. Under the standard GAR form provisions, what happens to the earnest money?
Correct Answer
D) Retained by the seller as liquidated damages due to the buyer's failure to act in good faith
Under the standard GAR Purchase and Sale Agreement, the financing contingency requires the buyer to act in good faith and use diligent efforts to obtain financing. If the buyer fails to pursue financing in good faith and misses the deadline without requesting an extension, this constitutes a default under the contract. The earnest money is then retained by the seller as liquidated damages per the GAR liquidated damages provision.
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Related Topics & Key Terms
Key Terms:
Related Concepts
Consideration is something of value exchanged between parties to a contract, making the agreement legally binding. It can be money, a promise to act, a promise to refrain from acting, or anything else of value.
Contingencies are conditions written into a real estate contract that must be met before the transaction can close. If a contingency is not satisfied, the buyer can typically cancel the contract without penalty.
Contract termination occurs when a contract is ended or discharged, releasing both parties from their obligations. A contract can be terminated through performance, mutual agreement, operation of law, or breach.
More Ga Contracts Gar Forms Questions
A licensee is reviewing office compliance policies regarding the use of GAR forms in Georgia transactions. Which statement about GAR forms is NOT correct?
Which statement most accurately describes the legal status of GAR (Georgia Association of REALTORS®) forms in Georgia real estate practice?
Broker Tom's firm has a GAR membership, and he wants to modify the standard GAR Purchase and Sale Agreement by adding a custom clause about pool maintenance responsibilities. Under GAR form usage rules, what is the appropriate action?
A Georgia buyer's agent is reviewing a purchase contract to determine what remedies are available if the seller defaults. The contract includes an earnest money provision and an attorney-fee clause. Which statement best describes how remedy provisions work in Georgia residential contracts?
A special stipulation requires the seller to 'provide documentation that the septic system has been inspected within the last 2 years.' The seller provides a 25-month-old inspection report. Does this satisfy the requirement?
- → Under Georgia contract law and GAR form provisions, which statement most accurately describes how earnest money disposition is determined when a transaction fails to close?
- → A buyer wants to add a special stipulation to a GAR Purchase and Sale Agreement requiring the seller to leave the kitchen refrigerator, which is not addressed elsewhere in the contract. How is this special stipulation made binding on both parties under GAR form procedures?
- → A buyer and seller executed a GAR Purchase and Sale Agreement with a special stipulation stating: 'Buyer may terminate this contract if unable to obtain financing at 6% or less.' The buyer was offered financing at 6.25% but did not terminate the contract. Instead, the buyer accepted the 6.25% financing, completed the appraisal, scheduled movers, and continued performing under the contract for several weeks. Two days before closing, the buyer now attempts to terminate citing the financing stipulation. What is the most likely legal outcome?
- → A non-REALTOR® licensee asks whether the fact that GAR forms require membership access proves they are state-mandated documents. Which statement best reflects the correct understanding of GAR forms under Georgia law?
- → Under Georgia contract law and GAR form requirements, which statement about contract amendments is NOT correct?
- → New agent Carlos just obtained his Georgia real estate license and is working for a brokerage that is a GAR member. Regarding his use of GAR forms, which statement is most accurate?
- → A seller breaches a purchase and sale agreement for a $300,000 home. The buyer deposited $8,000 in earnest money and spent $3,500 on inspections and an appraisal. The property's current market value is $320,000. If the buyer elects to sue for benefit-of-the-bargain damages under Georgia law, what is the most the buyer could recover in damages (excluding the return of earnest money)?
- → Agent Sarah is representing a buyer and wants to use the GAR Purchase and Sale Agreement form. She downloaded a version from a real estate website that claims to be the 'latest GAR form.' Under Georgia law, what is the primary concern with this practice?
- → A newly licensed agent in Georgia asks her broker whether the state requires all real estate transactions to use GAR (Georgia Association of REALTORS®) forms. Which statement most accurately describes the legal status of GAR forms in Georgia?
- → Broker Smith's trust account contains earnest money from multiple transactions. One buyer's earnest money check bounces after deposit, but before anyone is notified, Broker Smith uses funds from other transactions in the same account to cover a different earnest money release. This practice is:
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