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National curriculum lesson 81 · Contracts

Contract Validity and Enforceability

A valid contract requires competent parties, mutual agreement, lawful objective, and consideration, plus any legally required form. A void agreement has no legal effect. A voidable contract is valid unless the protected party rescinds. An unenforceable contract may be valid in substance but cannot be enforced because a defense such as a writing requirement or limitations period applies.

Facts checked against the current PSI Candidate Information Bulletin and GREC sources. Last reviewed August 2, 2026. Editorial standards.

What is the exam-ready answer?

A valid contract requires competent parties, mutual agreement, lawful objective, and consideration, plus any legally required form. A void agreement has no legal effect. A voidable contract is valid unless the protected party rescinds. An unenforceable contract may be valid in substance but cannot be enforced because a defense such as a writing requirement or limitations period applies.
Official syllabus mapping for Contract Validity and Enforceability
Roadmap lesson81 of 500
Official syllabus topicContract Validity and Enforceability
Official PSI areaContracts
Published area weight19% of the 100-question national portion
Exam portionNational salesperson portion
Source editionPSI Georgia Candidate Information Bulletin dated July 1, 2026
Last verifiedAugust 2, 2026

The Rule

PSI publishes the weight for the complete content area, not a fixed question count for this lesson. Learn the rule well enough to apply it when PSI changes names, numbers, or parties in a new scenario.

Complete lesson

Read each concept as part of one decision system. The exam often gives one accurate statement and three statements that belong to a nearby concept.

Capacity and legality

Parties must have required legal capacity, and the objective cannot violate law or public policy. Capacity problems often make an agreement voidable rather than automatically void.

Agreement and consideration

Mutual assent requires an offer and acceptance of the same material terms. Consideration is bargained-for legal value and need not be equal in economic amount.

Writing and signatures

The statute of frauds requires specified real estate agreements to be evidenced by a sufficient signed writing. Electronic records and signatures may satisfy applicable requirements.

Four classifications

Valid, void, voidable, and unenforceable describe different legal consequences. An executed or executory label instead describes performance status.

Decision rule

Check formation elements, required form, and available defenses before classifying the agreement.

Georgia-specific distinction

Georgia contract and statute-of-frauds rules govern Georgia transactions. Georgia licensees should use approved brokerage forms within their competence and refer questions about legal sufficiency, capacity, or enforceability to an attorney.

Worked example

Scenario. A competent buyer and seller orally agree to a year-long future purchase of land but never sign a writing.

Reason it through. The parties may have discussed all terms, but a land-sale agreement ordinarily falls within a writing requirement.

Answer. The agreement may be unenforceable under the statute of frauds rather than void for an illegal objective.

Common exam traps

  • Calling every defective agreement void
  • Assuming consideration must be cash
  • Confusing enforceability with formation
  • Calling an executory contract void

Original practice questions with detailed explanations

These questions were written for instruction and mapped to the current outline. They are not copied from PSI or any live examination. Choose an answer before opening the explanation.

Question 1

Which agreement has no legal effect from inception?

  1. A. Void
  2. B. Voidable
  3. C. Executory
  4. D. Unilateral
Show answer and explanation →

Answer: A. Void

A void agreement cannot create an enforceable contract.

Question 2

Who can usually avoid a voidable contract?

  1. A. Any stranger
  2. B. The party protected by the legal rule
  3. C. Only the broker
  4. D. Only the appraiser
Show answer and explanation →

Answer: B. The party protected by the legal rule

Voidability protects a particular party, who may generally affirm or rescind subject to law.

Question 3

What is consideration?

  1. A. A bargained-for legal value
  2. B. Only earnest money
  3. C. Only the purchase price
  4. D. A recorded deed
Show answer and explanation →

Answer: A. A bargained-for legal value

Consideration is the exchange of legal value or promises, not only cash.

Mastery tracking

Mark this lesson mastered only when every statement is true.

  • State the direct answer and decision rule without notes.
  • Explain every core concept in plain English.
  • Solve the worked example after changing one important fact.
  • Identify the Georgia distinction before reading answer choices.
  • Answer all three questions correctly and reject every distractor.
  • Repeat the topic in mixed practice on a later day.

Recommended next lesson

Continue with Contract Classifications. Continue to roadmap lesson 82 and build on this decision rule.

Return to the Contracts hub to see every official branch and the complete lesson sequence for this content area.

Contract Validity and Enforceability questions

Facts checked against the current PSI Candidate Information Bulletin and GREC sources. Last reviewed August 2, 2026. Editorial standards.

Is Contract Validity and Enforceability on the Georgia real estate exam?

Yes. It belongs to PSI's Contracts content area, which is 19% of the 100-question national portion. PSI publishes content-area weights, not a guaranteed question count for this individual lesson.

What is the main rule for Contract Validity and Enforceability?

Check formation elements, required form, and available defenses before classifying the agreement.

What Georgia-specific distinction should I remember?

Georgia contract and statute-of-frauds rules govern Georgia transactions. Georgia licensees should use approved brokerage forms within their competence and refer questions about legal sufficiency, capacity, or enforceability to an attorney.

How do I know I have mastered this lesson?

Explain the rule without notes, solve the worked example again with changed facts, answer all original questions correctly, explain every distractor, and repeat mixed practice on a later day.