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A purchase agreement in Hennepin County, Minnesota includes a standard 'as-is' clause. The seller has actual knowledge that the property's furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, which poses a carbon monoxide risk. The seller does not disclose this defect, relying on the 'as-is' clause. Under the Minnesota Residential Real Property Disclosure Act, what is the legal effect of the 'as-is' clause on the seller's disclosure obligation?

Correct Answer

D) The 'as-is' clause does not eliminate the seller's statutory obligation to disclose known material defects under Minnesota law

Under Minn. Stat. § 513.52–513.60, the seller's obligation to disclose known material defects is a statutory duty that cannot be waived or overridden by an 'as-is' clause in the purchase agreement. An 'as-is' clause generally means the buyer accepts the property in its current condition and cannot require the seller to make repairs, but it does not permit the seller to conceal known material defects. A cracked heat exchanger posing a carbon monoxide risk is clearly a material defect that the seller must disclose under Minnesota law.

Answer Options
A
The 'as-is' clause fully protects the seller from any disclosure obligation for known defects under Minnesota law
B
The 'as-is' clause is enforceable only if the buyer waives their inspection contingency in writing alongside the clause
C
The 'as-is' clause shifts the duty to inspect to the buyer, eliminating the seller's duty to disclose known latent defects
D
The 'as-is' clause does not eliminate the seller's statutory obligation to disclose known material defects under Minnesota law

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

as_is_clausedisclosure_obligationmaterial_defectseller_dutyminn_stat_513latent_defect

Related Concepts

Novation is the substitution of a new contract for an existing one, or the replacement of one party with a new party, with the consent of all parties involved. The original party is completely released from all obligations.

Offer and acceptance is the process by which one party proposes specific terms for a contract and the other party agrees to those exact terms, creating mutual assent. This mutual agreement, also called a meeting of the minds, is an essential element of every valid contract.

An option contract gives one party the exclusive right, but not the obligation, to purchase or lease a property at a specified price within a specified time period. The buyer pays option consideration to keep the option open.

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