Opinion ID: 2551536
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Kessler's ability to perform the agreement

Text: Tortoise argues that the district court erred in granting specific performance because Kessler was not ready, willing, and able to close on April 14, 1995. We disagree. Ordinarily, where time is of the essence of a contract for sale of real estate, a buyer cannot enforce the contract without tendering payment within the time and according to the contract. Machold v. Farnan, 14 Idaho 258, 94 P. 170 (1908). However, a purchaser of real property is not required to tender payment where such a tender would be futile. See Ford v. Lord, 99 Idaho 580, 586 P.2d 270 (1978); Esplendido Apartments v. Olsson, 144 Ariz. 355, 697 P.2d 1105 (App.1984). In this case, Tortoise informed Kessler prior to the date scheduled for closing, that it could not perform. We do not reach the question of whether Kessler would have been able to perform in this case because tender of the purchase price would have been futile. The district court did not err by granting specific performance.