32-2185.01

32-2185.01. Sale of unimproved lots or parcels; conditions precedent; methods

A. It is unlawful for the owner, agent or subdivider of subdivided lands to sell or offer to sell unimproved lots or parcels within a subdivision unless the sale complies with one of the following:

1. Execution, delivery and recording of a deed in good and sufficient form conveying to the purchaser merchantable and marketable title to the property subject only to such exceptions as may be agreed to in writing by the purchaser. Any balance remaining unpaid by the purchaser may be evidenced by a note and mortgage or deed of trust. The deed and mortgage or deed of trust shall be recorded by the owner, agent or subdivider within sixty days of execution thereof by the purchaser.

2. Execution, delivery, recording and depositing in escrow, not later than sixty days after execution by the purchaser, with a person or firm authorized to receive escrows under the laws of this state or the state in which the subdivision is located, of a real estate sales contract pertaining to the property, which contract sets forth the full and correct legal description of the property being sold and the precise terms and conditions under which the property is being sold together with:

(a) A copy of a preliminary title report showing the conditions of title to the property on the date of the real estate sales contract or a preliminary title report showing the condition of title on an earlier date together with a copy of any document, recorded subsequent to the date of the preliminary title report, which affects the title to the property.

(b) An executed deed in good and sufficient form conveying to the purchaser merchantable and marketable title, subject only to such exceptions as may be agreed to in writing by the purchaser which deed, under the terms of the real estate sales contract, is to be delivered to the escrow agent provided for under the contract within sixty days of the purchaser's execution of the contract and is to be recorded within sixty days after purchaser's compliance with the obligations imposed on him under the contract together with any release or partial release of any blanket encumbrance pertaining to said lot.

(c) Any and all documents necessary to release or extinguish any blanket encumbrance to the extent it applies to the real property being sold, or a partial release of the lot or parcel being sold from the terms and provisions of such blanket encumbrance.

3. Execution, delivery and recording of a deed to the real property to a trustee together with a trust agreement and any and all documents necessary to release or extinguish any blanket encumbrance to the extent it applies to property being sold, or a partial release of the lot or parcel being sold from the terms and provisions of such blanket encumbrance. The trust agreement shall provide for conveyance by the trustee to a purchaser, upon purchaser's compliance with the obligations imposed on him under his real estate sales contract, by a deed in good and sufficient form conveying to the purchaser merchantable and marketable title, subject only to such exceptions as may be agreed to in writing by the purchaser. The real estate sales contract of the lot being sold shall be recorded by the owner, agent or subdivider within sixty days of execution of the real estate sales contract by the purchaser. The trustee shall execute, record and deliver the deed and record the release or partial release required by this subsection within sixty days of the purchaser's fulfillment of the terms of his real estate sales contract.

B. All documents required to be recorded under the provisions of this section shall be recorded in the county and state wherein the subdivision is located.

C. Any sale or assignment of a mortgage, deed of trust or real estate sales contract by an owner, agent, subdivider or trustee shall be recorded in the county and state where the subdivision is located and a notice of such sale or assignment provided to the commissioner, the recording and notice thereof to be effected not later than sixty days after the execution of such assignment.

D. Any contract or agreement entered into after January 1, 1977, to purchase or lease an unimproved lot or parcel may be rescinded by the purchaser without cause of any kind by sending or delivering written notice of rescission by midnight of the seventh calendar day following the day on which the purchaser or prospective purchaser has executed such contract or agreement. The subdivider shall clearly and conspicuously disclose, in accordance with regulations adopted by the commissioner, the right to rescind provided for in this subsection and shall provide, in accordance with regulations adopted by the commissioner, an adequate opportunity to exercise the right to rescission within the time limit set forth in this subsection. The commissioner may adopt regulations to exempt commercial and industrial subdivisions from such requirements.

E. If a buyer of an unimproved lot or parcel has not inspected the lot or parcel prior to the execution of the purchase agreement, the buyer shall have a six-month period after the execution of the purchase agreement to inspect the lot or parcel and at the time of the inspection have the right to unilaterally rescind the purchase agreement. At the time of inspection the buyer must sign an affidavit stating that he has inspected the lot, and at the request of the commissioner, such affidavit may be required to be filed with the department.

F. Only a bank, savings and loan association, or title insurance company doing business under the laws of this state or the United States or the state in which the subdivision is located, or a title insurance company wholly owned subsidiary or underwriting agent qualified under section 20-1580, or persons or firms authorized to receive escrows under the laws of this state or the state in which the subdivision is located may act as trustee under paragraph 3 of subsection A of this section. Nothing in this subsection extends to a firm or individual authority to act as a trustee unless such authority is otherwise provided by law.

G. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the sale of improved lots as defined by section 32-2101.

H. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the sale of cemetery lots or parcels within a cemetery which has been formed and approved pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.