Do you know your legal rights as a buyer? You may not know its importance until you decide on buying a real estate property. There is quite a good number of laws that can protect the homebuyer against unlicensed agents and scammers. Due to the prevalence of scams, more and more buyers are making an effort to equip themselves with knowledge about real estate laws.
Real Estate Agent Insists On A Contract To Sell Instead Of Issuing A Deed Of Sale
More often than not developers issue a Contract to Sell (CTS) when payment has not yet been completed. CTS signifies that the buyer and seller are bound to an exclusive agreement. There are some cases when the buyer can obtain the property's physical possession from the seller and gain full ownership and title once the payment has been completed.
Legal Options For Homebuyers Victimized By Unlicensed Real Estate Agent
These days, buyers gain protection from being duped by unlicensed real estate agents through the Real Estate Service Act. This act requires homebuyers to buy properties from licensed real estate agents only. Licensed real estate agents are registered with the Professional Regulatory Board of Real Estate Service.
In the event you have been victimized by scammers, your only recourse is to file fraud-related charges against the broker or agent. For cases when a buyer dealt with registered agents who did not perform their duties, the buyer can report the incident to the Professional Regulation Commission.
Your Rights As A Buyer
For first-time homebuyers, it is important that you demand the developer the property's title once payment has been completed. You also have the right to receive a reimbursement of the amount you have paid in relation to the agreement including the payment for amortization. A developer cannot forfeit any installment payments in favor of the owner or developer.
Miss Paying Monthly Amortization
In case you miss paying your monthly amortization, your developer should allow you to pay the unpaid amount of installment without additional interest if grace period is one month for every year-worth of installments. It is also your developer's obligation to issue a refund in the event the contract was cancelled.
The buyer has the right to sell the rights or assign the payment to another person if they no longer have the capacity to make a payment to the property. The buyer can aso ask a reinstatement of the contract so the account will be updated within the grace period or before the cancellation of contract takes place. These processes must be done by notarial act.
