Contract Syllabus
Course Syllabus
Law of Contracts RELE 1311
Houston Community College System
INSTRUCTOR:John Haynie
OFFICE HOURS:Tue. & Thur. 12:30 to 5:00 Missouri City Center
E-MAIL/PHONE:john.haynie@hccs.edu /281-835-5632
CRN#:
PLEASE TURN OFF ALL PHONES AND PAGERS DURING CLASS
This course provides three semester hours of college credit and forty-five hours of classroom credit. It is a core real estate course and i is required by The Texas Real Estate Commission to make application for a salesperson’s license.
Houston Community College Real Estate Department Website: http://swc2.edu.rele
John Haynie Web Site :http://learning.swc.hccs.edu/members/john.haynie
TEXT: Texas Real Estate Earnest Money Contracts 2006, Jim WiedemerTextbook may be purchased at any HCCS bookstore.(
http://hccs.bkstore.comto order or reserve books)
AUDIENCE:
Individuals who need hours as a part of the requirements to acquire a Real Estate License, or hours toward a degree or certificate of
achievement, or to better understand the role of the earnest money contract in a real estate transaction.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A review of real estate contracts required by Section 6A (3) of the Real Estate License Act with emphasis on general contract law requirements. Also covers the purpose, history, and working process of the Broker-Lawyer Committee. Includes preparation of real estate contract forms with emphasis on the most commonly used forms. The first six classroom hours consist of a review of the subject required by Section 6A (3) of the Real Estate License Act with emphasis on general contract law requirements. The Texas Real Estate Commission requires this course for new salesperson applicants.
LEARNING OUTCOMES(wecm):
Demonstrate a working knowledge of current Texas real estate contracts.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
By completing this course, you should be able to:
1.State what constitutes competent parties
2.Explain the element of a valid contract
3.Explain Statute of Frauds, breach of contract, and unauthorized practice of law.
4.Describe the purpose Broker-Lawyer committee
5.Complete the earnest money contract, required addenda, and closing cost estimate for an conventional, FHA, and VA
transaction.
6.Complete the SCANS modules entitled “Exhibit Reasoning Skills” and “Negotiate Conflict Resolution”.
7.The student may obtain information about career opportunities in the real estate professionfrom guest
speakers, videos, and the web sites attached to this syllabus.These sites would offer the student additional sources of real estate information to enhance the classroom learning experience.
GRADING SCALE:
A = 90 - 100%B = 80 - 89%C = 70 - 79%D = 60 - 69%Below 60% = F
Daily grades 10%;Mid-term exam 40%; Final exam 50%
ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES:
The College System policy on absences is stated in the Student Handbook and the Faculty Handbook. Instructors may drop students with excessive absences. Since the Texas Real Estate Commission requires full attendance in approved courses, any absences must be made up with the approval and concurrence of the instructor.
TARDINESS:
The Faculty Handbook states that the College System does not have a policy on students arriving late to class but that instructors may impose any sanction that they feel appropriate. Since the real estate commission requires full attendance in approved courses, any tardiness will be considered as similar to absences and will require make up as determined by the instructor.
POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
The following is an excerpt from the Student Conduct section of the College System catalog:
“Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.” Students guilty of academic dishonesty can be given a grade of “F” or “0” for the particular test or assignment involved.
STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS:
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable
accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester.Faculty is authorized to provide only accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
STUDENT CONDUCT:
Adult behavior is expected.Disruptive behavior/activities, which interfere with the teaching and learning, will not be tolerated, and may result in an administrative withdrawal without refund.
HCC Course Withdrawal Policy
The State of Texas has begun to impose penalties on students who drop courses excessively. That is, if you repeat the same course more than twice, you have to pay extra tuition. In addition, as of Fall 2007, students are limited to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career at a Texas public college or university.
To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by which your professor will “alert” you and Distance Education (DE) counselors that you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. Contact your DE professor regarding your academic performance or a DE counselor to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be available to assist you – online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your academic performance.
In order to withdraw from your DE class, you MUST contact your DE professor and this must be done PRIOR to the withdrawal deadline to receive a “W” on your transcript. If you do not withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade that you have earned by the end of the semester. Zeros averaged in for required assignments/tests not submitted will lower your semester average significantly, most likely resulting in a failing grade (“F”). If you do not feel comfortable contacting your professor to withdraw, you may contact a DE counselor. However, please do not contact both a DE counselor and your DE professor to request a withdrawal; either one is sufficient.
The final withdrawal deadline for regular term and second start classes is November 6, 2008 at 4:30pm. Classes of other duration (mini-term, flex-entry, 8-weeks, etc.) may have different final withdrawal deadlines. Please visit the online registration calendars or contact the HCC Registrar’s Office to determine class withdrawal deadlines.
Student Services
DISTANCE EDUCATION ADVISING AND COUNSELING SERVICES:
Much DE student information can be found on the DE Student Services website: www.de.hccs.edu. Advising or counseling can be accomplished by telephone at 713/718-5275 - option # 4 or via email at decounseling@hccs.edu. Student Services Associates (SSA) and Counselors can assist students with admissions, registration, entrance testing requirements, degree planning, transfer issues, and career counseling. In-person, confidential sessions, can also be scheduled, if necessary, as HCC counselors maintain a local referral base in order to provide appropriate referrals to students with personal or family issues that may require long-term solutions.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: International Students are restricted to ONLY ONE online/distance education class per semester. Please contact the International Student Office at 713-718-8520 if you have additional questions about your visa status.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
"Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the appropriate HCC Disability Support Service (DSS) Counselor at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the
Disability Support Services Office.
Students who are requesting special testing accommodations must first contact the appropriate (most convenient) DSS office for assistance:
Disability Support Services Offices:
System: 713.718.5165
Central: 713.718.6164 – also for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services and Students Outside of the HCC District service areas.
Northwest: 713.718.5422
Northeast: 713.718.8420
Southeast: 713.718.7218
Southwest: 713.718.7909
After student accommodation letters have been approved by the DSS office and submitted to DE Counseling for processing, students will receive an email confirmation informing them of the Instructional Support Specialist assigned to their professor.
NOTICE FOR STUDENTS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON: Students who live or work outside the Houston area and cannot take paper exams at one of our HCC testing locations MUST make arrangements for a proctor. Please see the DE Student Services Additional Resources webpage for more information.
VIRTUAL CLASSROOM CONDUCT: As with on-campus classes, all students in HCC Distance Education courses are required to follow all HCC Policies & Procedures, the Student Code of Conduct, the Student Handbook, and relevant sections of the Texas Education Code when interacting and communicating in a virtual classroom with faculty and fellow students. Students who violate these policies and guidelines will be subject to disciplinary action that could include denial of access to course-related email, discussion groups, and chat rooms or being removed from the class.
USE OF CAMERAS OR RECORDING DEVICES:
Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable accommodation should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for information regarding reasonable accommodations.
The attached pages of real estate-related websites, and various guest speakers who are industry professionals, will provide supplemental instruction to assist students in their exploration of career opportunities.
HCCS Common Book:
The Common Book for this academic year is
Generation Debt: How Our Future Was Sold Out for Student Loans, Bad Jobs, No Benefits, and Tax Cuts for Rich Geezers - And How to Fight Back
MAKEUP WORK:
In accordance with Texas Real Estate Commission guidelines and departmental policy, no makeup work will be accepted ninety days or more from the ending date of the course.
HCCS Common Book:
The 2007 Common Book is Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: An Entrepreneur’s Odyssey to Educate the World’s Children by John Wood(ISBN # 006112107X). It is available at the HCC bookstore or borrowed from the HCCS Library.
REAL ESTATE SITES:
The following sites contain information for additional student learning and career opportunities in real estate; (see attached list)
SCHEDULE:
Session 1 Introduction and History of contracts
Session 2 Elements of a contract (pg. 1- 32)
Session 3 Study of each paragraph in the One to Four Family Contract (paragraphs 1 - 5)
Session 4 Study of paragraphs continued (paragraph 6-15)
Session 5 Study of paragraphs continued (paragraph 16-24)
Session 6 Midterm Exam and discussion of financing options
Session 7 CASE A ASSUMPTIONComplete the One to Four Family Contract, Addendum for Property Subject to Mandatory
Membership in an Owners’ Association, Loan Assumption Addendum, and Release of Liability Addendumand
CASE B THIRD PARTY CONVENTIONAL Complete the One to Four Family Contract, Environmental Assessment, Threatened or Endangered
Species, and Wetlands Addendum, Addendum for “Back-Up” Contract and Third Party Financing Condition Addendum
Session 8 CASE C SELLER FINANCING Complete the One to Four Family Contract, Addendum for Seller’s Disclosure of
Lead-Based Paint and the Seller Financing Addendum
Session 9 CASE D FHA INSURED FINANCING Complete the One to Four Family Contract and Buyer’s Temporary Residential
Lease
Session 10 CASE E DVA GUARANTEED FINANCING Complete the One to Four Family Contract, Third Party Financing Condition
addendum and the Addendum for Sale of Other Property by Buyer (done on Realty One software)
Session 11 New Home Contracts and Farm and Ranch ContractsAddenda study and review
Session 12 Final
WEB SITES OF REAL ESTATE INTEREST
US GOVERNMENT
www.hud.gov US Department of Housing and Urban Development
www.va.gov Department of Veteran Affairs
www.ftc.gov Federal Trade Commission
www.hud.gov/fha/sfh/res/respa_hm.html Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
www.fairhousing.com/ National Fair Housing Advocate
www.epa.gov Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
www.scorecard.org/ Air Pollution Sites
www.whitehouse.gov The White House
STATE OF TEXAS
www.trec.state.tx.us The Texas Real Estate Commission
http://recenter.tamu.edu Real Estate Center at A & M
www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/statutes.htm Texas Laws
www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/pptoc.html Texas Property Code
www.texasonline.com Texas Government e-Services (records-birth-death)
www.talcb.state.tx.us Texas Appraiser Licensing & Certification Board
www.sml.state.tx.us Texas Mortgage Broker Regulation
www.cpa.state.tx.us Window on State Government (school data)
LOCAL SITES
www.hcad.org Harris County Appraisal District
www.tax.co.harris.tx.us Harris County Tax Collector (autos, voter registration, etc)
MORTGAGE INFORMATION
www.homepath.com Fannie Mae’s Home Buying
www.rate.net An Index of Loan Rates
www.eloan.com Internet Mortgage Information
REALTOR SITES
www.realtor.com National Association of Realtors
www.texasrealtors.com Texas Association of Realtors
www.har.com Houston Association of Realtors
MAPS
http://terraserver.microsoft.com Satellite Maps
www.mapquest.com Maps and Trip Planner
www.excite.com/travel/maps Maps and Trip Planner
www.mapblast.com Maps and Trip Planner
NEWS
www.inman.com Inman News Service
www.frogpondgroup.com Real Estate News and Information
www.realdata.com Real Estate News and Information
www.realtytimes.com Real Estate News and Information
www.homes.com Home Search
www.nytimes.com NY Times
APPRAISAL AND DATA SITES
www.loopnet.com Listing of Commercial Properties
www.caci.com Demographics
www.digitalcity.com Demographic information
www.census.gov U S Census Bureau Information
ORGANIZATIONS
www.alta.org American Land Title Association
www.boma.org Building Owners and Managers Association
www.naahq.org National Apartment Association
www.nareb.org National Association of Real Estate Brokers
www.irem.org Institute of Real Estate Managers
www.nahb.org National Association of Home Builders
www.ccim.org Commercial Investment Institute
www.uli.org Urban Land Institute
www.treta.org Texas Real Estate Teachers Association
www.reea.org Real Estate Educators Association
CLIP ART
www.presentersuniversity.com Presentation Information and Tutorials
www.wilderpresentations.com Presentation Information and Tutorials
www.presentationpro.com Presentation Information and Tutorials
www.indezine.com Presentation Information and Tutorials
www.soniacoleman.com Presentation Information and Tutorials
www.digitalartware.com Presentation Information and Tutorials
www.photoshare.com Presentation Information and Tutorials
www.eclipsed.com Clipart
www.clipart.co.uk/ Clipart
MISC.
www.gallup.com Gallup Polls
www.geocities.yahoo.com Free Web Page
www.homestead.com Free Web Page
www.realtown.com Real Estate Software
www.digitalcity.com Demographic information
PROBLEMS AND STIGMA
www.efloodmap.com Flood info Harris and Ft Bend counties
http://records.txdps.state.tx.us/default.cfm List of registered sex offenders
www.ci.houston.tx.us/department/police/stats.htm Crime statistics
FORECLOSURE SITES
www.fore.com Foreclosure Listing Service
www.brucebates.com Bates Foreclosure Report
www.4close.com Foreclosure Online
www.homesteps.com Freddie Mac’s REO site
www.fanniemae.com/home/index.html FNMA
www.bank.com Bank of America REO site
www.hud.gov/local/suns HUD/FHA
www.treas.gov/action/custom Treasury Dept. Seizures