§163. Private transfer fee obligations void and unenforceable








1. Definitions.  
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms
have the following meanings.





A. "Private transfer fee" means a fee or charge payable upon the transfer of an interest
in real property, or payable for the right to make or accept such a transfer, regardless
of whether the fee or charge is a fixed amount or is determined as a percentage of
the value of the property, the purchase price or other consideration given for the
transfer. "Private transfer fee" does not include:



(1) Any consideration payable by the grantee to the grantor for the interest in real
property being transferred, including any subsequent additional consideration for
the property payable by the grantee based upon any subsequent appreciation, development
or sale of the property, if such consideration is payable on a one-time basis only
and the obligation to make such payment does not bind successors in title to the property;




(2) Any commission payable to a licensed real estate broker or real estate brokerage
agency for the transfer of real property pursuant to an agreement between the broker
or agency and the grantor or the grantee;




(3) Any interest, charges, fees or other amounts payable by a borrower to a lender
pursuant to a loan secured by a mortgage against real property;




(4) Any rent, reimbursement, charge, fee or other amount payable by a lessee to a
lessor under a lease or license, including, but not limited to, any fee payable to
the lessor for consenting to an assignment, subletting, encumbrance or transfer of
the lease or license;




(5) Any consideration payable to the holder of an option to purchase an interest
in real property or the holder of a right of first refusal or first offer to purchase
an interest in real property for waiving, releasing or not exercising the option or
right upon the transfer of the property to another person;




(6) Any tax, fee, charge, assessment, fine, dues or other amount payable to or imposed
by a governmental authority;




(7) Any fee, charge, assessment, fine or other amount payable to a homeowners association,
condominium owners association, cooperative, mobile home owners association or property
owners association pursuant to a declaration or covenant or law applicable to such
an association for the maintenance, improvements, services or expenses related to
real property that is owned, used or enjoyed in common by the members;




(8) Any fee, charge, assessment, dues, fine, contribution or other amount pertaining
solely to the purchase or transfer of a club membership relating to real property
owned by a club member, including, but not limited to, any amount determined by reference
to the value, purchase price or other consideration given for the transfer of the
real property;




(9) Any obligations created pursuant to affordable housing covenants under chapter
6 or working waterfront covenants under chapter 6-A; or




(10) Any fee payable, upon a transfer of real property, to a nonprofit corporation,
organization or trust organized under the laws of this State, if the sole purpose
of the corporation, organization or trust is to support cultural, educational, charitable,
recreational, conservation, preservation or similar activities benefiting the real
property being transferred and the fee is used exclusively to fund such activities. [2011, c. 200, §1 (NEW).]











B. "Private transfer fee obligation" means an obligation arising under a declaration
or covenant recorded against the title to real property or under any other contractual
agreement or promise, whether or not recorded, that requires or purports to require
the payment of a private transfer fee upon a subsequent transfer of an interest in
the real property. [2011, c. 200, §1 (NEW).]










C. "Transfer" means the sale, gift, grant, conveyance, lease, license, assignment, inheritance
or other act resulting in a transfer of an ownership interest in real property located
in this State. [2011, c. 200, §1 (NEW).]







[
2011, c. 200, §1 (NEW)
.]








2. Void and unenforceable.  
A private transfer fee obligation recorded or entered into in connection with real
property located in this State on or after the effective date of this section does
not run with the title to real property and is not binding on or enforceable at law
or in equity against any subsequent owner, purchaser, mortgagee or holder of any interest
in real property as an equitable servitude or otherwise. A private transfer fee obligation
that is recorded or entered into in connection with real property located in this
State on or after the effective date of this section is void and unenforceable. This
subsection may not be construed to mean that a private transfer fee obligation recorded
or entered into in connection with real property located in this State before the
effective date of this section is presumed valid and enforceable.


[
2011, c. 200, §1 (NEW)
.]








3. Liability for violation.  
A person who records, or enters into, an agreement imposing a private transfer fee
obligation in that person's favor after the effective date of this section is liable
for all damages resulting from the imposition of the private transfer fee obligation
on the transfer of an interest in the real property, including, but not limited to,
the amount of any private transfer fee paid by a party to the transfer and all attorney's
fees, expenses and costs incurred by a party to the transfer or mortgagee of the real
property to recover any private transfer fee paid or in connection with an action
to quiet title. When an agent acts on behalf of a principal to record or secure a
private transfer fee obligation, liability must be assessed to the principal rather
than the agent.


[
2011, c. 200, §1 (NEW)
.]








4. Effect of transfer of certain interests in real property.  
A transfer, on or after the effective date of this section, of an interest in real
property subject to a private transfer fee obligation recorded or entered into prior
to the effective date of this section does not constitute the recording or entering
into of a new private transfer fee obligation on or after the effective date of this
section.


[
2011, c. 200, §1 (NEW)
.]








5. Disclosure.  
The following provisions govern the disclosure of private transfer fee obligations.





A. A contract for the sale of real property subject to a private transfer fee obligation
must include a provision disclosing the existence of that obligation and a description
of that obligation. A contract for the sale of real property that does not conform
to the requirements of this paragraph is not enforceable by the seller, and the buyer
is not liable to the seller for damages under such a contract and is entitled to the
return of any deposits made under that contract. [2011, c. 200, §1 (NEW).]










B. When a private transfer fee obligation is not disclosed as required by paragraph A
and a buyer subsequently discovers the existence of the private transfer fee obligation
after title to the real property has passed to the buyer, the buyer has the right
to recover against the seller all damages resulting from the failure to disclose the
private transfer fee obligation, including, but not limited to, the amount of any
private transfer fee paid by the buyer and the difference between the market value
of the real property subject to the private transfer fee obligation and the market
value of the real property if the real property were not subject to the private transfer
fee obligation. The buyer is also entitled to recover all attorney's fees, expenses
and costs incurred in seeking the remedies under this subsection. [2011, c. 200, §1 (NEW).]










C. Any provision in a contract for the sale of real property that purports to waive the
rights of a buyer under this subsection is void. [2011, c. 200, §1 (NEW).]







[
2011, c. 200, §1 (NEW)
.]





SECTION HISTORY

2011, c. 200, §1 (NEW).