Title 44, Chapter 3, Section 3
( 44-3-3)
(a)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale or to sell any subdivided land to any person in this state unless such offering complies with this article or is exempt under Code Section 44-3-4. Any person offering to sell any subdivided land shall provide each prospective purchaser a property report containing the following: (A) Information about the subdivider to include the name, street
address, form of organization, and telephone number of the
subdivider; the state or foreign jurisdiction in which the
subdivider is organized and the date of organization; a
statement of authorization to do business in this state, if the
subdivider is a foreign corporation; the name and address of the
subdivider's resident agent; the name and address of the person
to whom correspondence concerning the subdivider should be
addressed; the name, address, and telephone number of the person
or persons who are in charge of the subdivider's sales in this
state; and a statement indicating where the subdivider's records
are located; (B) Information about the subdivided land to include the total
acreage in the subdivision as a whole, including land held for
future expansion; the number of lots, parcels, or tracts
included in the filing; the number of acres in the filing; the
size of the smallest parcel to be offered for sale; the county
and state in which the land is located; the name of the nearest
incorporated town; and the route and distance from the nearest
incorporated town to the land; (C) Information about the title of the subdivided land to
include the name, address, and telephone number of the record
titleholder; (D) Information about any existing or contemplated future
improvements to include statements of the condition of drainage
control systems, streets, roads, sewage disposal facilities,
sidewalks, electrical services, telephone connections, water
supply, gas supply, clubhouses, golf courses, and other
recreational facilities; a statement as to whether any
performance bonds or other obligations have been posted with any
public authority to assure the completion of any improvements; a
statement as to whether the county or city wherein the land lies
has agreed to accept maintenance of any improvements other than
recreational facilities; a statement as to whether any contracts
have been made with any public utility for the installation of
any improvements; a statement as to the existence or
contemplated future existence of any improvement maintenance
charge; and a statement as to whether all improvements promised
to purchasers are included in the sales contracts; (E) The provisions of any zoning ordinances and regulations
affecting the subdivided land and each lot or unit thereof; (F) A statement of all existing taxes or assessments affecting
the subdivided land; (G) The terms and conditions of sales of the subdivided land and
a statement which declares any sums which purchasers will be
required to pay other than the actual purchase price, with
interest, and any taxes or assessments validly imposed by any
governmental authority; (H) A statement which indicates whether the subdivision has been
approved or disapproved for loans by any lending institutions or
agencies; (I) The names of the governmental authorities or private
entities which will provide police protection, fire protection,
and garbage collection; (J) The name and address of the person who prepared the
registration statement; (K) A statement which indicates the use for which the property
is offered; (L) The estimated costs, dates of completion, and the party
responsible for the construction and maintenance of all existing
and proposed improvements which are referred to in connection
with the offering or disposition of any interest in the
subdivided land including such party's name and address; (M) A conspicuous statement on the top two-thirds of the front
cover of the property report which reads as follows: "YOU MAY CANCEL WITHOUT PENALTY OR OBLIGATION ANY SALES
AGREEMENT WHICH YOU HAVE SIGNED WITHIN SEVEN DAYS, SUNDAYS AND
HOLIDAYS EXCEPTED, AFTER SIGNING ANY SALES AGREEMENT AND YOU
ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE A REFUND. IF THIS PROPERTY REPORT WAS
NOT GIVEN TO YOU BEFORE YOU SIGNED ANY SALES AGREEMENT, YOU
MAY CANCEL THE SALES AGREEMENT WITHIN SEVEN DAYS, SUNDAYS AND
HOLIDAYS EXCEPTED, AFTER YOUR RECEIPT OF THIS PROPERTY REPORT
AND YOU ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE A REFUND. YOU MAY NOT GIVE
UP OR WAIVE THIS RIGHT TO CANCEL. IF YOU DECIDE TO CANCEL A
SALES AGREEMENT, YOU MUST NOTIFY THE DEVELOPER IN WRITING
WITHIN THE CANCELLATION PERIOD OF YOUR INTENT TO CANCEL BY
SENDING NOTICE BY CERTIFIED MAIL OR STATUTORY OVERNIGHT
DELIVERY, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO (insert the name and
address of the developer or the developer's agent). YOUR
NOTICE WILL BE EFFECTIVE ON THE DATE YOU MAIL IT." (N) A conspicuous statement on the bottom third of the front
cover of the property report which reads as follows: "THE PURCHASER SHOULD READ THIS DOCUMENT BEFORE SIGNING
ANYTHING"; (O)(i) Except as provided in division (ii) of this
subparagraph, a conspicuous statement which reads as follows: "THIS IS A REAL PROPERTY TRANSACTION. YOU OR YOUR ATTORNEY
SHOULD REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THIS TRANSACTION ON
FILE IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE COUNTY WHEREIN THE
PROPERTY IS LOCATED." (ii) If the subdivision is located outside the State of
Georgia, then the conspicuous statement must read as follows:
"THIS IS A REAL PROPERTY TRANSACTION. YOU OR YOUR ATTORNEY
SHOULD REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THIS TRANSACTION ON
FILE IN THE APPROPRIATE LAND RECORDS OF THE JURISDICTION IN
WHICH THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED." (2) Every subdivider shall make available at the project location
to every purchaser for inspection thereof the following documents: (A) A legal description of the subdivided land; (B) A general map, drawn to scale, showing the total subdivided
land area and its relation to the existing streets, roads,
waterways, schools, churches, shopping centers, and bus and rail
transportation in the immediate vicinity and showing all lands
reserved for future expansion, if any; (C) A copy of the conveyances by which the subdivider or owner
acquired title to the land, with such copy bearing the public
record book and page number; (D) A copy of all instruments presently creating liens,
mortgages, encumbrances, reservations, or defects upon the use
of title of the subdivided land included in the filing; (E) A copy of the title insurance policy or an attorney's title
opinion for the subdivided land, issued within 30 days of the
date of submission of the registration statement; (F) A copy of each deed restriction, if any; (G) A copy of the purchase agreement to be employed in the sales
program; (H) A copy of the deed to be employed in the sales program; (I) Statements from the appropriate governmental agencies
approving the installation of the improvements enumerated in
subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1) of this subsection, including,
but not limited to, a statement of approval from the state water
quality control board concerning the sewage disposal facilities
and siltation; (J) A statement which indicates how streets and other public
places in the subdivided land are to be maintained; (K) A copy of any contract or franchise with a public utility
company, if any; (L) A copy of a plat of the subdivided land approved by the
appropriate specified governmental agency and recorded in the
appropriate specified public record book, with such copy bearing
the public record book and page number; (M) A copy of any performance bonds or agreements with the
public authorities guaranteeing completion; (N) A phased development schedule for all improvements promised
by the subdivider and not completed, showing each type of
improvement and the month and year of the start of the
improvement and the proposed completion;
(O) A statement by the subdivider of any additional and material
facts that should be called to the attention of the purchaser; (P) If the county or municipality in which the subdivision is
located has a planning and zoning ordinance in effect, a
certificate of approval or compliance from the local governing
authority stating that the subdivision is in compliance with the
applicable ordinance or, if the county or municipality in which
the subdivision is located has no planning and zoning ordinance
in effect, a certificate of approval from the appropriate
regional development center; and (Q) A statement of the terms of payment. (b) The purchaser shall be informed by the subdivider of all
material changes with respect to the subdivided land. (c) The subdivider must update the property report whenever any
material change occurs. (d) The property report shall not be used for advertising purposes
unless the report is used in its entirety. No portion of the report
shall be underscored, italicized, or printed in larger or heavier
type than the balance of the report unless specifically required by
law or by this article or such emphasis is intended to call to a
prospective purchaser's attention some risk or warning not otherwise
readily observable. (e) Where lots or parcels within a subdivision are subject to a
blanket encumbrance, the developer shall ensure that such blanket
encumbrance contains provisions evidencing the subordination of the
lien of the holder or holders of the blanket encumbrance to the
rights of those persons purchasing from the subdivider or provisions
evidencing that the subdivider is able to secure releases from such
blanket encumbrance with respect to the property. (f) A copy of the instruments executed in connection with the sale
of parcels within a subdivision shall be kept available by the
subdivider and subject to inspection by the purchaser for a period
of three years. The purchaser shall be notified of any change
affecting the location of the records. (g)(1) The subdivider shall cause a copy of the property report to be given to each prospective purchaser prior to the execution of any binding contract or agreement for the sale of any lot or parcel in a subdivision. If such a report is not given at least 48 hours prior to such execution, the purchaser may rescind the contract by written notice to the seller until midnight of the seventh day, Sundays and holidays excepted, following the signing of such contract or agreement. A receipt in duplicate shall be taken from each purchaser evidencing compliance with this provision. Any such election by the purchaser to void the contract or agreement must be made within seven days, Sundays and holidays excepted, following the signing of such contract or agreement. Receipts taken for any published report shall be kept on file for three years from the date the receipt is taken. If such a report is never given prior to or after the execution of any binding contract or agreement for sale, the purchaser may have rights exercisable under Code Section 44-3-8 in addition to the right of rescission given in this paragraph. (2) The receipt in duplicate required by this subsection must be signed by the purchaser upon receipt of a property report and must contain the following language: I hereby acknowledge that I have received the property report of
(insert name of subdivision) on (insert date) at (time). If I
receive the property report less than 48 hours prior to signing
any contract or agreement, I understand that my right to cancel
that contract or agreement is midnight of the seventh day,
Sundays and holidays excepted, following the signing of such
contract or agreement. I understand that I must notify the
developer or the developer's agent in writing within the
cancellation period of my intent to cancel by sending notice by
certified mail or statutory overnight delivery, return receipt
requested, to (insert name and address of developer or
developer's agent). Notice will be effective on the date that
it is mailed. (h)(1) Every sales contract relating to the purchase of real
property in a subdivision shall state clearly the legal
description of the parcel being sold, the principal balance of the
purchase price which is outstanding at the date of the sales
contract after full credit has been given for the down payment,
and the terms of the sales contract. (2) Every sales contract relating to the purchase of real property
in a subdivision shall provide that the purchaser shall receive a
warranty deed to the property together with a copy of any
purchase money deed to secure debt or purchase money mortgage as
may be specified in the sales contract within not more than 180
days from the date of execution of the contract; provided,
however, that, in the case of contracts to purchase dwelling
units not yet completed, the warranty deed need not be delivered
until 180 days after such completion. (i) The developer must make any changes in the property report which
are necessary to assure its truthfulness and accuracy at all times. (j) When a subdivider offers additional subdivided land for sale,
the subdivider shall amend the property report to include the
additional subdivided land. |