Question

Scenario:

John purchased a piece of land from Peter on January 1, 2021. The sale was evidenced by a notarized deed of sale, and John immediately took possession of the land and started building a house on it.

On March 1, 2022, a new law was enacted which states that all sales of agricultural land are void unless approved by the Department of Agriculture. The law also imposes penalties for violations.

The question is:

1. What is the effect of the new law on John's purchase of the land from Peter? Does the new law render the sale void? Explain your answer.
2. If John's purchase is deemed valid under the old law, can he still continue with the construction of his house despite the new law's requirement for approval from the Department of Agriculture? Explain your answer.