Which party to a contract for the sale of land has the right to sue for specific performance if the other party defaults?

In a contract for the sale of land, the seller typically retains the right to sue for specific performance if the buyer defaults. Specific performance is a legal remedy where the court orders the breaching party to fulfill their obligations under the contract, rather than merely providing monetary damages. This remedy is prominent in real estate transactions because each piece of real property is unique, and monetary damages may not sufficiently compensate the seller for losing that specific sale.

In the context of this scenario, when a buyer defaults, the seller can seek specific performance to compel the buyer to complete the sale as agreed upon. This right stems from the fact that the seller is usually relying on the buyer to complete the transaction, and the loss of the sale could severely impact their interests, especially in real estate where properties are unique, and market conditions may vary.

The other options, while they may contain some truths about the seller's interests, don’t capture the full scope of who can initiate specific performance claims. A buyer may have some remedies available if the seller defaults, but those remedies typically differ from specific performance rights. Thus, focusing specifically on the remedies available to the seller highlights why the seller has the distinguished right in this context.