In New York, a buyer's mortgage application is denied due to a change in lending standards after contract signing. The mortgage contingency clause specifies "conventional financing at prevailing rates." The buyer applied timely and in good faith. What happens to the earnest money?
Correct Answer
C) The earnest money is returned to the buyer because the contingency was not satisfied through no fault of the buyer
Under New York law, when a buyer makes good faith efforts to satisfy a mortgage contingency but cannot obtain financing due to circumstances beyond their control (like changing lending standards), the contingency failure is not considered a breach. The earnest money must be returned to the buyer.
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Related Topics & Key Terms
Key Terms:
Related Concepts
Liquidated damages are a predetermined amount of money specified in the contract that the non-breaching party is entitled to receive if the other party breaches. In real estate, the earnest money deposit typically serves as liquidated damages.
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.
More Contracts Ny Real Property Law Questions
A buyer in New York breaches a contract to purchase a $600,000 home and forfeits a $30,000 earnest money deposit. The seller incurs $8,000 in additional carrying costs and $4,000 in remarketing expenses before selling to another buyer for $585,000. What is the seller's total recoverable damages?
A New York buyer exercises their right to cancel a purchase contract within the attorney review period. The seller demands to keep the earnest money as compensation for taking the property off the market. What is the legal outcome?
A seller in New York breaches a contract for a $750,000 home. The buyer must purchase a comparable property for $785,000 and incurs $3,200 in additional costs (inspection, appraisal, attorney fees). The buyer also loses $1,800 in non-refundable application fees from their original lender. What are the buyer's total recoverable damages?
Tom is buying a condominium in Syracuse and reviewing the purchase contract. What type of title insurance should Tom expect to receive?
Jennifer owns a condominium unit in Albany and wants to rent it out. What approval is required under New York condominium law?
- → Karen enters into a contract to purchase a cooperative apartment in Manhattan. The contract is contingent upon board approval. The co-op board rejects Karen's application without stating reasons. Under New York law, what is the effect on the contract?
- → A New York purchase contract specifies that the buyer will provide 'good faith deposit' but does not specify the amount. What is the legal effect of this provision?
- → In New York real estate transactions, what is the primary role of attorneys?
- → Who typically conducts the closing in a New York residential real estate transaction?
- → In a typical New York residential real estate transaction, at what stage do attorneys commonly become involved?
- → What typically happens during the attorney review period in a New York real estate contract?
- → In New York, can a real estate broker prepare a deed for a property transfer?
- → A real estate agent in New York is asked by their client to recommend a specific attorney for the transaction. What is the most appropriate way for the agent to handle this request?
- → A New York real estate agent prepares a purchase offer using a standard form contract. After the seller accepts the offer, what typically happens next regarding attorney involvement?
- → What is the primary difference between the role of a real estate agent and an attorney in a New York real estate transaction?
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