Case ID: ga_154/html/0430-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Atkinson, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Howard v. Sills & Purvis.
    No. 3055.
    November 15, 1922.
    The Court of Appeals certified for decision the following question (in Case No. 12573), as necessary for a proper determination of the case: “ Where property is listed by an owner for sale through a real-estate broker at a stipulated price and commission, without anything being said as to terms of payment, and where the broker procures a purchaser who is ready, willing, and able, and who through the broker actually offers, to buy at the price named, but only on terms, other than all cash, such as might be mutually agreed upon with the owner, are the commissions earned, where the owner refuses to meet such purchaser, for the sole reason assigned that he wishes to withdraw the property from sale ? ” .
   Atkinson, J.

1; Generally a broker’s commissions are earned when, during the agency, he • finds a purchaser ready, able, and willing to buy, and who actually offers to buy on the terms stipulated by the owner. Civil Code (1910), § 3587. An offer by the proposed purchaser to buy on terms not stipulated by the owner will not entitle the broker to his commissions.

2. As a general rule, where property is listed by an owner for sale through a real-estate broker at a stipulated price and commission, without anything being said as to terms of payment, the contract is to be construed as authority to the broker to sell for cash alone. 9 C. J. 526, § 27; 4 R. C. L. 257, § 11, 4 R. C. L. 262, § 14.

3. Where property is listed as indicated in the preceding note and the broker procures a purchaser who is ready, willing, and able, and who through the broker actually offers, to buy at the price named, but only on terms, other than all cash, such as might be agreed upon with the owner, and the owner refuses to meet the purchaser, assigning as the sole reason therefor that he wishes to withdraw the property from sale, the commissions of the broker are not earned.

4. The rulings announced in the preceding notes sufficiently 'answer the question propounded by the Court of Appeals.

All the Justices concur.

B. L. Maynard, for plaintiff in error.

Shipp & Sheppard, contra.