Minnesota Statutory Cancellation of Residential Real Property Purchase Agreements

In addition to the statutory procedure for terminating a buyer’s rights in a purchase agreement pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.21 – which is only available to sellers – Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217 makes available to either buyers or sellers two mechanisms for the cancellation of purchase agreements with respect to residential real property:

A cancellation with the right to cure – pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 3, and
A “Declaratory Cancellation” – pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 4.

Definition – Minnesota Purchase Agreement

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 1, the term “purchase agreement”, means an:

earnest money contract,
purchase agreement, or
exercised option,

whether or not the instrument is subject to M.S. Section 559.21.

Definition – Minnesota Residential Real Property

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 1, the term “residential real property”, means real property, including vacant land:

occupied by, or intended to be occupied by,
in the aggregate, one to four families as their residence.

Minnesota Statutory Cancellation – Application

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 2, either the buyer, or the seller, may cancel a purchase agreement for residential real property pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217.

(i) One Party Cancellation

If the procedures identified in Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217 are followed in a timely manner by either the buyer or the seller, but not by both:

the purchase agreement will be deemed canceled upon expiration of the 15 day notice period, and
the earnest money will belong to the party initiating the cancellation – regardless of any purchase agreement provision to the contrary,

unless the party upon whom the notice was served – within the 15 day notice period:

Complies with the conditions in default;
Completes any unfulfilled condition;
Serves a counter cancellation notice upon the other party pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217; or
Obtains a court order suspending the cancellation.

Nevertheless, under federal law, it’s possible that the seller may not be allowed to retain the earnest money when the buyer applied for, but was unable to obtain, FHA or VA mortgage financing.

(ii) Two Party Cancellation

If both the buyer and the seller serve in a timely manner a cancellation notice pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217:

the purchase agreement will be deemed to be canceled as of the date on which the later cancellation notice is served upon the other party,
but the earnest money will not be awarded to either party.

In that event:

either party may subsequently petition the court for an award of the earnest money, and
the court shall make a determination as to which party is entitled to the earnest money, without giving any regard to the party which first initiated any cancellation proceeding.

In making such determination, the court is allowed to consider the terms of the canceled purchase agreement in making its determination.

The court’s order regarding the disposition of the earnest money may be required because a real estate broker cannot release the earnest money to a buyer, or a seller, without receiving either:

a court order directing the disposition of the earnest money,
an Affidavit of Cancellation pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd 7(b), or
the written agreement of the parties.

However, obtaining a court order may involve a considerable expense, including the payment of court filing fees, motion fees, and attorney fees.

Therefore, achieving a negotiated settlement with the other party regarding the earnest money may be advisable.

Cancellation of Minnesota Purchase Agreement – With the Right to Cure

Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 3, identifies the procedure which may be followed by either party if:

a default occurs, or
an unfulfilled condition exists after the date specified for fulfillment of such condition in the terms of a purchase agreement for the conveyance of residential real property, which does not by its terms cancel the agreement.

In other words, if there is either:

a default – which is capable of being cured, or
an unfulfilled condition – which can be satisfied,

by the second party, the first party can serve a notice upon:

the second party, and
any third party holding the earnest money,

declaring a conditional cancellation of the purchase agreement.

(i) Conditional Cancellation Notice

Under this procedure, the conditional cancellation notice must:

specify by legal description the residential real property involved, and
identify the purchase agreement by the date and names of the parties, and the unfulfilled condition or default.

In addition, the conditional cancellation notice must state that the purchase agreement will be canceled 15 days after service of the notice upon the other party to the purchase agreement, unless prior to the cancellation date, the party upon whom the notice is served either:

complies with the condition in default, or
completes the unfulfilled condition(s) – including, if necessary, completion of the purchase or sale of the residential real property according to the terms of the purchase agreement.

The actual form of the notice required is identified in the statute, and should be followed verbatim.

(ii) Service of the Conditional Cancellation Notice

The notice of conditional cancellation must be served upon the required parties in the same manner as:

a notice of termination of a contract-for-deed pursuant to M.S. 559.21, or
a summons in District Court,

which usually requires personal service upon the required parties.

On occasion, if the parties to be served cannot be located, service by publication of the notice may be necessary.

The statutory notice requirement cannot be waived by any provision of the purchase agreement to the contrary.

(iii) Legal Effect of Service

Once notice has been provided to all of the required parties in the manner specified by statute, the purchase agreement will be canceled unless within 15 days after service of the notice upon the other party to the purchase agreement, the party upon whom the notice was served:

fully complies with the condition(s) in default,
completes the unfulfilled condition(s),
initiates a counter cancellation pursuant to M.S. 559.217, or
secures from a court an order suspending the cancellation.

However, obtaining a court order may involve a considerable expense, including the payment of court filing fees, motion fees, and attorney fees.

Therefore, negotiating a settlement agreement with the other party regarding the earnest money may be advisable.

Minnesota Cancellation of Purchase Agreement – No Right to Cure

Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 4, identifies the procedure to be followed by either party if:

a default occurs, or
an unfulfilled condition exists after the date specified for fulfillment of such condition in the terms of a purchase agreement for the conveyance of residential real property, which by the terms of the purchase agreement cancels the purchase agreement.

(i) Confirmation of Cancellation Notice

The statute identifies that:

if an unfulfilled condition exists after the date specified for fulfillment of the condition in the terms of a purchase agreement for the conveyance of residential real property,
which by the terms of the purchase agreement cancels the purchase agreement,

either the purchaser or the seller may confirm the cancellation by serving upon:

the other party to the purchase agreement, and
any third party that is holding earnest money under the purchase agreement,

a notice:

specifying the residential real property that is the subject of the purchase agreement, including the legal description;
specifying the purchase agreement by date and names of parties, and the unfulfilled condition; and
stating that the purchase agreement has been canceled.

The actual form of notice which is required is identified in the statute, and should be followed verbatim.

(ii) Service of the Confirmation of Cancellation Notice

The confirmation of cancellation notice must be served upon the required parties in the same manner as:

a notice of termination of a contract-for-deed pursuant to M.S. 559.21, or
a summons in District Court,

which usually requires personal service upon the required parties.

On occasion, if the parties to be served cannot be located, service by publication of the notice may be necessary.

The statutory notice requirement cannot be waived by any provision of the purchase agreement to the contrary.

(iii) Legal Effect of Service

Once notice has been provided to all of the required parties in the manner specified by statute, the cancellation of the purchase agreement will be confirmed unless – within 15 days after the service of the notice upon the other party to the purchase agreement – the party upon whom the notice was served either:

initiates a counter-cancellation proceeding against the other party pursuant to M.S. Section 559.217, Subd. 3 or M.S. Section 559.217, Subd. 4; or
secures from a court an order suspending the cancellation.

However, obtaining a court order may involve a considerable expense, including the payment of court filing fees, motion fees, and attorney fees.

Therefore, either:

achieving a negotiated settlement agreement with the other party regarding the earnest money, or
initiating a counter-cancellation,

may be advisable.

In addition, the availability of the remedy identified in Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 4 has perhaps been limited by a 2011 Minnesota Court of Appeals decision.

Therefore, consultation with a Minnesota attorney is suggested before attempting to utilize the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 4.

Suspension of Cancellation of a Minnesota Purchase Agreement

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 1, the term “suspend”, means:

to temporarily or permanently restrain or enjoin a cancellation proceeding under Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 3 or 4,
pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.211.

(i) Proceeding under M.S. 559.211

Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 6, provides that:

A seller or a purchaser upon whom the notice is served may commence a proceeding under section 559.211 to obtain a court order to suspend the cancellation of a purchase agreement under this section, and in the proceeding the court may award court filing fees, attorney fees, and costs of service actually expended to the prevailing party in an amount not to exceed $3,000.

Therefore, while obtaining a court order suspending the cancellation of a purchase agreement may involve a considerable expense, if successful, the party requesting the order may receive reimbursement of up to $3,000 in expenses.

However, if a party is not successful in obtaining a court order suspending a cancellation, such party may have to pay up to $3,000 in costs and attorney fees to the other party.

(ii) Payment of Costs to the Prevailing Party

Therefore, if a party:

elects a declaratory cancellation remedy pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 4,
when a cancellation with a right to cure pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 3 would have been required,

the party initiating the declaratory cancellation action risks:

facing an injunction by the court to stop the cancellation proceeding initiated pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 4,
being required to pursue a cancellation with a right to cure pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 3, and
being required to pay up to $3,000 in costs and attorney fees to the other party.

Therefore, declaratory cancellations should be pursued only when there is certainty that the purchase agreement by its terms has been canceled without a right to cure.

Effect of Cancellation of a Minnesota Purchase Agreement

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 7(a):

After a cancellation under subdivision 3 or a confirmation of cancellation under subdivision 4,
the purchase agreement is void and of no further force or effect, and,
except as provided in subdivision 2 [court order awarding the earnest money], any earnest money held under the purchase agreement
must be distributed to, and
become the sole property of,
the party completing the cancellation of the purchase agreement.

Therefore, notwithstanding the provisions of any purchase agreement to the contrary, the earnest money may be distributed to the party completing the cancellation procedure – in the absence of a court order to the contrary.

Affidavit of Cancellation of a Minnesota Purchase Agreement

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 7(b):

When a cancellation under this section has been completed,
the party who served the notice, or that party’s attorney,
may execute an affidavit stating

that the party caused a notice of cancellation to be served upon the other party,
that the other party neither complied with the actions required in the notice, if applicable, nor obtained a court order suspending the cancellation, and
that the property is residential real property.

The Affidavit of Cancellation may be used to support any claim to the earnest money.

Evidentiary Value of a Minnesota Affidavit of Cancellation

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 7(c):

A copy of the affidavit of cancellation, when attached to a copy of the notice, is prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated.

Therefore, the facts recited in an Affidavit of Cancellation are presumed to be true, unless contradicted by other evidence.

Release of Earnest Money

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 7(d):

Except as provided in subdivision 2 [court order awarding the earnest money],
the affidavit of cancellation,
when delivered to a third party holding earnest money under the purchase agreement,
is a sufficient basis for that person to release the earnest money to the party initiating the cancellation.

Therefore a residential real property broker may release earnest money to a party submitting an Affidavit of Cancellation – in the absence of a court order to the contrary.

Minnesota Affidavit of Competing Cancellations

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 559.217, Subd. 7(e):

If either a seller or purchaser commences a cancellation proceeding under this section and before completion of the first proceeding the other party initiates a cancellation proceeding under this section,
either party or that party’s attorney may execute an affidavit
stating that both parties caused the notice of cancellation to be served upon the other party and
further specifying the date the second notice of cancellation was served upon the other party.
A copy of the affidavit of cancellation,
when attached to copies of both notices of cancellation,
is prima facie evidence of
the cancellation of the purchase agreement and of
the effective date of the cancellation of the purchase agreement.

Therefore, an Affidavit of Competing Cancellation is presumed to establish that the purchase agreement has been canceled, as of a certain date, unless contradicted by other evidence.

Conclusion – Statutory Minnesota Cancellation of Residential Real Property Purchase Agreements

The laws regarding the cancellation of Minnesota purchase agreements are complicated, and the available procedures are not well-suited to do-it-yourselfers.

Please contact Minnesota Attorney Gary C. Dahle for assistance:

with the preparation or interpretation of any Minnesota Real Property Purchase Agreement, or
upon any default in the terms of a Minnesota real property purchase agreements, or any unfulfilled condition in such purchase agreement, which may allow for a statutory cancellation of the purchase agreement, or other negotiated settlement.

If you have an e-mail account, and a good Internet connection, Attorney Gary C. Dahle can assist you in any Minnesota County.

Gary C. Dahle – Attorney at Law

2704 Mounds View Blvd., Mounds View, MN 55112

Phone: 763-780-8390 Fax: 763-780-1735

gary@dahlelaw.com

Related topics of interest:

——— Gary C. Dahle Attorney at Law ———

Minnesota Statutory Cancellation of Residential Real Property Purchase Agreements

Definition – Minnesota Purchase Agreement

Definition – Minnesota Residential Real Property

Minnesota Statutory Cancellation – Application

(i) One Party Cancellation

(ii) Two Party Cancellation

Cancellation of Minnesota Purchase Agreement – With the Right to Cure

(i) Conditional Cancellation Notice

(ii) Service of the Conditional Cancellation Notice

(iii) Legal Effect of Service

Minnesota Cancellation of Purchase Agreement – No Right to Cure

(i) Confirmation of Cancellation Notice

(ii) Service of the Confirmation of Cancellation Notice

(iii) Legal Effect of Service

Suspension of Cancellation of a Minnesota Purchase Agreement

(i) Proceeding under M.S. 559.211

(ii) Payment of Costs to the Prevailing Party

Effect of Cancellation of a Minnesota Purchase Agreement

Affidavit of Cancellation of a Minnesota Purchase Agreement

Evidentiary Value of a Minnesota Affidavit of Cancellation

Release of Earnest Money

Minnesota Affidavit of Competing Cancellations

Conclusion – Statutory Minnesota Cancellation of Residential Real Property Purchase Agreements