Sec. 20-329o. Real property securities dealers. Definitions. Certain sales not deemed a sale to the public.

(a) As used in sections 20-329o to 20-329bb, inclusive:

(1) “Real property securities dealer” means any person, acting as principal or agent, who engages in the business of (A) selling real property securities to the public, or (B) offering to accept or accepting funds for continual reinvestment in real property securities, or for placement in an account, plan or program whereby the dealer implies that a return will be derived from a specific real property sales contract or promissory note secured directly or collaterally by a lien on real property which is not specifically stated to be based upon the contractual payments thereon.

(2) “Real property security” means (A) an investment contract made in connection with the sale of a single promissory note secured directly or collaterally by a lien on real property or a single real property sales contract wherein the real property securities dealer or his principal agrees to do or implies that such dealer or principal will do any of the following: (i) Guarantee the note or contract against loss at any time, (ii) guarantee that payments of principal or interest will be paid in conformity with the terms of the note or contract, (iii) assume any payments necessary to protect the security of the note or contract, (iv) accept, from time to time, partial payments toward the purchase of the note or contract, (v) guarantee a specific yield or return on the note or contract, (vi) pay with his own funds any interest or premium for a period prior to actual purchase and delivery of the note or contract, (vii) pay with his own funds any money after the note or contract falls into arrears, or (viii) repurchase the note or contract; (B) one of a series of promotional notes secured by liens on separate parcels of real property in one subdivision or in contiguous subdivisions; or (C) one of a series of real property sales contracts pertaining to separate parcels of real property in one subdivision or in contiguous subdivisions, all of which are executed by one person or persons associated together as owners. As used in this subdivision, “real property sales contract” does not include a contract executed more than three years prior to being offered for sale. Performance of services in connection with loans or promissory notes secured directly or collaterally by a lien on real property or a real property sales contract, as agent for and at the direction of the lender, borrower, or purchaser, including, but not limited to, the payment of taxes, insurance premiums or costs of foreclosure, if all such costs, excluding routine office expenses, of such services are paid by or payable by borrower, lender or purchaser shall not be construed to be an investment contract under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. As used in this subdivision, “promotional note” means a promissory note secured by a trust deed executed on unimproved real property, or executed after construction of an improvement of the property but before the first sale of the property as so improved, or executed as a means of financing the first purchase of the property as so improved, and which is subordinate or which by its terms may become subordinate to any other trust deed on the property, but does not include a note which was executed in excess of three years prior to being offered for sale or a note secured by a first trust deed on real property in a subdivision, which evidences a bona fide loan made in connection with the financing of the usual costs of the development of a residential, commercial, or industrial building or buildings on the property under a written agreement providing for the disbursement of the loan funds as costs are incurred or in relation to the progress of the work and providing for title insurance insuring the priority of the security as against mechanic's liens or for the final disbursement of at least ten per cent of the loan funds after the expiration of the period for the filing of mechanic's liens. “Real property security” does not include any bond, debenture or note which is one of a series of notes of equal priority secured by an interest in the same real property.

(3) “Sale” or “sell” includes every issuance, creation for resale, disposition or attempt to dispose of a real property security for value and includes all of the following, whether done directly or by circular letter, advertisement, radio or television broadcast or otherwise: (A) An offer to sell, (B) an attempt to sell, (C) a solicitation of a sale, (D) a contract of sale or (E) an exchange.

(b) The sale to pension, retirement or similar trust funds, to corporations, to any bank and trust company, savings bank, savings and loan association, credit union or national banking association, to real estate brokers or to attorneys shall not be deemed a sale to the public for the purpose of sections 20-329o to 20-329bb, inclusive.

(1971, P.A. 603, S. 1; P.A. 78-121, S. 7, 113; P.A. 88-65, S. 2; P.A. 98-10, S. 52.)

History: P.A. 78-121 deleted “building or” in phrase “building or savings and loan association” in Subsec. (4); P.A. 88-65 deleted the reference in Subsec. (4) to industrial bank; P.A. 98-10 designated existing Subdivs. (1) to (3) as Subsec. (a), redesignated existing Subdiv. (4) as Subsec. (b) and made technical changes.