If a client defaults on a purchase agreement, what can a broker do?

When a client defaults on a purchase agreement, seeking legal remedies, such as enforcing the contract or seeking damages, is the appropriate action for a broker. This option acknowledges the legal rights and responsibilities established in the contract. If one party fails to meet their obligations, the other party can pursue enforcement of the agreement, which may involve legal proceedings to compel performance or to claim damages suffered because of this default.

The rationale behind this option is grounded in contract law, where the terms agreed upon by both parties are legally binding. Enforcing the contract or seeking damages is aimed at remedying the situation and holding the defaulting party accountable to the terms originally laid out in the agreement.

The other options do not align with the legal framework governing real estate transactions. Automatically terminating the partnership might not be justifiable without considering the specific circumstances surrounding the default. Waiving the purchase agreement and restarting negotiations overlooks the validity of the initial contract and may set a precedent for future defaults. Reducing the commission percentage seems unconnected to the issue of defaulting on a purchase agreement, as the broker’s commission is typically defined in the context of the agreement that the client is now breaching. Thus, pursuing legal remedies is the most appropriate and legally sound course of action.