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Morgan, an agent, was instructed to sell Drew's property at a specified "firm" price of 450,000. A month later, the value of the property decreased substantially to75,000 because of zoning changes. What is the status of the agency relationship?

1) Most likely, the agency is terminated because of impossibility.
2) It would terminate unless Drew had given Morgan a durable power of attorney.
3) It becomes an agency coupled with an interest, and continues unaffected by any change what so ever.
4) It requires the agent to compensate the principal with less compensation.

User DraxDomax
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The status of the agency relationship is likely terminated due to impossibility since it is unreasonable to expect the agent to sell the property at the initial 'firm' price after a substantial decrease in property value.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question relates to the status of the agency relationship between Morgan, an agent, and Drew, the principal, given a substantial decrease in property value due to zoning changes. If Morgan was instructed to sell Drew's property for a 'firm' price of 450,000, but the property's value has now decreased to 75,000, it is unlikely that the agency relationship would continue based on the original terms.

The most applicable scenario would be the first option: agency is terminated due to impossibility. This impossibility arises because it would be unreasonable to expect the agent to perform the task of selling the property at the originally mandated price when the property's value has diminished significantly.

Contracts, including agency agreements, can be discharged on the grounds of impossibility when events occur that are neither party's fault and render the performance of the contract substantially different from what was agreed upon. Therefore, unless Drew and Morgan come to a new agreement, the agency relationship, based on the specified 'firm' price, cannot continue in its current form.

The examples of Freda and Ben buying houses indicated that property values can fluctuate, which is related to the concept of changes in value affecting agreements in real estate. However, these examples do not directly relate to the agency relationship in question.

User Ritik Mishra
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