Vacant lot purchased from a builder

[Kyle Paczesny]

Hi all!!

So my wife and I recently purchased a 3 acre residential lot in Indiana.

Our plan was to either sit on the land for a few years and sell it or eventually build on it.

The catch to all of this is the seller of the lot is a small local builder. He wanted us to sign an agreement that we would build with him.

We countered and came to an agreement on a price and added the clause “ We agree to build with XYZ builder, unless unforeseen circumstances in the future were to occur”.

We’ve been looking around and found another builder that we absolutely love and have been way easier to work and communicate with.

Would this be an example of a “tie in” agreement by chance? Are we bound to the builder? Can we sell the land to a family member on paper to clear us? Quit claim?

We are kind of at a stand still and figured I would try and get some advice here before we seek an attorney.

Thanks as always!

Kyle