Course Syllabus
Law of Contracts RELE 1311 (1018)
Houston Community College System
INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE HOURS:
E-MAIL/PHONE:
CRN#:
George Silaski
Tue. –Thur. 6:00 to 10:00
gsilaski@sbcglobal.net
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 is required by The Texas Real Estate Commission to make
application for a salesperson’s license.
TEXT: Texas Real Estate Contracts, Jim Wiedemer
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.
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 and addenda.
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 profession
from 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%
Daily grades 10%; Mid-term exam 40%; Final exam 50%
Below 60% = F
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 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 are authorized to provide only
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
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.
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
One to Four Family Rresidential Contract (ReSale)
Session 2
Elements of a contract
0ne to Four Family Residential Contract (ReSale)
Third Party Financing Addendum
Session 3
New Home Contracts
Computer Lab
Session 4
Condominium Contracts
Session 5
Addendums and Amendments
Computer Lab
Session 6
Financing and Mid Term Review
Session 7
Mid Term
Session 8
Case Study
Session 9
FHA financing and Case Study
Session 10
DVA and Case Study
Session 11
Unimproved Property, and Farm and Ranch Contracts
Final Exam Review
Session 12
Final
WEB SITES OF REAL ESTATE INTEREST
US GOVERNMENT
www.hud.gov
www.va.gov
www.ftc.gov
www.hud.gov/fha/sfh/res/respa_hm.html
www.fairhousing.com/
www.epa.gov
www.scorecard.org/
www.whitehouse.gov
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of Veteran Affairs
Federal Trade Commission
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
National Fair Housing Advocate
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Air Pollution Sites
The White House
STATE OF TEXAS
www.trec.state.tx.us
http://recenter.tamu.edu
www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/statutes.htm
www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/pptoc.html
www.texasonline.com
www.talcb.state.tx.us
www.tsld.state.tx.us
www.cpa.state.tx.us
The Texas Real Estate Commission
Real Estate Center at A & M
Texas Laws
Texas Property Code
Texas Government e-Services (records-birth-death)
Texas Appraiser Licensing & Certification Board
Texas Mortgage Broker Regulation
Window on State Government (school data)
LOCAL SITES
www.hcad.org
www.ftbendcc.org/
www.tax.co.harris.tx.us
etc)
MORTGAGE INFORMATION
www.homepath.com
www.rate.net
www.eloan.com
Harris County Appraisal District
Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce
Harris County Tax Collector (autos, voter registration,
Fannie Mae’s Home Buying
An Index of Loan Rates
Internet Mortgage Information
REALTOR SITES
www.realtor.com
www.tar.org
www.har.com
National Association of Realtors
Texas Association of Realtors
Houston Association of Realtors
MAPS
http://terraserver.microsoft.com
www.mapquest.com
www.excite.com/travel/maps
www.mapblast.com
Satellite Maps
Maps and Trip Planner
Maps and Trip Planner
Maps and Trip Planner
NEWS
www.inman.com
www.frogpondgroup.com
www.realdata.com
www.realtytimes.com
www.homes.com
Inman News Service
Real Estate News and Information
Real Estate News and Information
Real Estate News and Information
Home Search
www.nytimes.com
Washington Post
APPRAISAL AND DATA SITES
www.loopnet.com
www.caci.com
www.digitalcity.com
www.census.gov
Listing of Commercial Properties
Demographics
Demographic information
U S Census Bureau Information
ORGANIZATIONS
www.alta.org
www.appraisalinstitute.org
www.boma.org
www.naahq.org
www.nareb.org
www.idrc.org
www.irem.org
www.nahb.org
www.ccim.org
www.uli.org
www.treta.org
www.reea.org
American Land Title Association
Appraisal Institute
Building Owners and Managers Association
National Apartment Association
National Association of Real Estate Brokers
Industrial Real Estate
Institute of Real Estate Managers
National Association of Home Builders
Commercial Investment Institute
Urban Land Institute
Texas Real Estate Teachers Association
Real Estate Educators Association
CLIP ART
www.presentersuniversity.com
www.wilderpresentations.com
www.presentationpro.com
www.indezine.com
www.soniacoleman.com
www.digitalartware.com
www.photoshare.com
www.eclipsed.com
www.clipart.co.uk/
MISC.
www.gallup.com
www.geocities.yahoo.com
www.homestead.com
www.realtown.com
www.translator.go.com
www.digitalcity.com
Presentation Information and Tutorials
Presentation Information and Tutorials
Presentation Information and Tutorials
Presentation Information and Tutorials
Presentation Information and Tutorials
Presentation Information and Tutorials
Presentation Information and Tutorials
Clipart
Clipart
Gallup Polls
Free Web Page
Free Web Page
Real Estate Software
Translate English to a Foreign Language
Demographic information