There’s been some “buzz” lately about buyers of new construction condos who purchased pre-construction now wanting out of the deal with a return of their earnest money. Motivations vary: they are no longer able to get financing (“WHAT? I need a down PAYMENT!? Since when??”); their life situations have changed (baby + one bedroom condo = problem); or they simply don’t want to be under water the moment they close (those 2007 prices are not so attractive now…). Regardless of the motivation, though, the developer’s response is almost always the same: “Go pound sand. The earnest money is mine.”

Luckily for buyers, there are various federal and state laws designed to protect consumers that may give the buyer a right of rescission (and thus the right to a full return of the earnest money). For example, several decades ago the federal government enacted the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act (known to its afficionados as “ILSA”), 15 USC 1701 et seq. specifically to protect buyers of new construction. Generally speaking (its a complex statute), a developer must register the project with the Dept of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and provide buyers with a comprehensive set of disclosures. However, the developer is exempt from the registration and disclosure requirements if it contractually obligate itself to complete the building within two years.

For reasons unknown, many of the new condo developments in the area decided to structure the purchase and sale agreements to fall within this “two year” exemption. Unfortunately for the developers, it is more difficult than first appears, and most of the contracts at issue at least arguably fail to qualify for the exemption. Thus, the buyers of those condos arguably have the right, under ILSA, to rescind the contract and receive a full return of their earnest money. (My partner Marc Holmes and I recently prevailed in an action against WA Square on this basis, so in at least one case its no longer “arguable” — the developer failed to comply with the statute and the buyer had a right of rescission.)

All of this raises an interesting question: Is it unethical for a new construction buyer to seek a legal basis for getting out of the contract with a full return of the earnest money? Our very own Ardell has argued that, if a buyer simply changes her mind about the purchase, the buyer should lose her earnest money. Other people have voiced a similar opinion. Is that right? Is it morally wrong for a buyer to seek a return of the earnest money? Does the buyer’s motivation in seeking to get out of the contract even matter?

I think the answer to that question can be determined by flipping it around. New condo developers are large entities typically owned by sophisticated multi-millionaires. What if one of those multi-millionairre owners signed a contract that required her to perform her contractual obligations two years later, and when the date for performance arrived she stood to lose substantial money if she performed? What if the owner just changed her mind for some other reason? In either case, I think its safe to say that the owner would not perform her obligations. Rather, she would hire a lawyer to identify each and every possible basis for avoiding her contractual obligations. The lawyer would then approach the other party to the contract and see if the parties could reach a compromise. Rich people got rich for a reason: they don’t intentionally make a bad business decision, and when faced with a situation that will cause them to lose money, they hire an attorney to negotiate their way out of it. They use the law in every way possible way to protect and advance their interests.

Which is, of course, the purpose of the law. It only works when it is applied to a particular situation. ILSA was designed to protect consumers. Developers should comply with this law. If they don’t, the law gives consumers the right to avoid their contractual obligations. There is nothing immoral or unethical in using the law to protect and advance your interests. It’s what is expected of every citizen, and its certainly what is done by every citizen who can afford legal counsel. If you’ve decided to not buy that condo –for whatever reason — then you should determine whether the law is on your side. It’s what every person should do — and what wealthy people do all the time.