Deeds of Trust and Community Property
A deed of trust beneficiary usually feels pretty confident with the validity of the deed as long as it is signed by an owner of the…
A Trustee’s Sale Says Nothing About a Property’s “Fair Market Value”
Under California’s Revenue and Taxation Code, the purchase price of real property usually creates a rebuttable presumption regarding the property’s “fair market value.” However, for that…
How a Junior Lien Can Survive Judicial Foreclosure
This post was primarily authored by Patton Sullivan Brodehl attorney Zachary Young. Oscar Wilde is quoted for saying—“To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect.”…
Lender Has No Duty to Monitor and Correct Public Records
Mortgage lenders tend to pay a lot of attention to the real property securing their loans, as they should. Before the loan is made, lenders scrutinize…
Cotenant Owner vs. Junior Creditor — Battle for Sale Proceeds from Senior Creditor Foreclosure
After a foreclosure sale by a senior creditor, California’s Civil Code section 2924k governs how the sale proceeds are applied in the following order of priority:…
Ninth Circuit Weighs in on “Preemptive” Challenges to Lender’s Authority to Foreclose
Can a California real property owner challenge a lender’s authority to foreclose before a foreclosure sale has occurred? It’s looking less likely with each new appellate opinion.…
A Notice of Trustee’s Sale Does Not Necessarily “Disturb Possession”
Flashback: Five years ago, Money and Dirt covered the Salazar v. Thomas opinion from California’s Fifth District Court of Appeal holding that a Notice of Default does not…
Rescinding a Trustee’s Sale Based on Lien Position “Mistake” — Good Luck With That
The statutory scheme governing nonjudicial foreclosure — found in California Civil Code sections 2924 through 2924k — aims for speed, efficiency, and finality. For example, a…
Can a Loan Modification Waive the Borrower’s Right of Reinstatement?
Loans secured by a deed of trust typically provide that upon default (commonly, missed interest payments) the lender may elect to “accelerate” the loan, making the…
Is an APN Sufficient to Describe Property in a Deed of Trust?
To be enforceable, a deed of trust must sufficiently describe the real property security. There are several different ways to describe real property. Commonly used methods…