BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



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          Date of Hearing:   May 3, 2010

                      ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BANKING AND FINANCE
                                   Mike Eng, Chair
                 AB 2024 (Blumenfield) - As Amended:  March 24, 2010
           
          SUBJECT  :   Loan modification

           SUMMARY  :   Provides that any lender or servicer that rejects a  
          loan modification request shall respond to the borrower making  
          the request within 7 days via certified mail with the specific  
          reasons why the request was rejected.  Additionally requires  
          that the response must comply with certain language translation  
          requirements.  

           EXISTING LAW  

          1)Regulates the non-judicial foreclosure process pursuant to the  
            power of sale contained within a mortgage contract, and  
            provides that in order to commence the process, a trustee,  
            mortgagee, or beneficiary must record a notice of default  
            (NOD) and allow three months to lapse before setting a date  
            for sale of the property. [Civil Code Section 2924, all  
            further references are to the Civil Code].

          2)Provides that the mortgagee, trustee or other person  
            authorized to make the sale must give notice of sale, and  
            requires notice of sale to be made, as specified, at least 20  
            days prior to the date of sale. [Section 2924f].

          3)Provides that a mortgage, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized  
            agent (entities) may not file a NOD until 30 days after  
            contact has been made with the borrower who is in default.  
            [Section 2923.5a1].

          4)Requires entities to contact a borrower in default in person  
            or by telephone and inform them of their right to a subsequent  
            meeting, and telephone number of the United States Department  
            of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to find a HUD certified  
            housing counselor.  [Section 2923.5a2].

          5)Allows a borrower to assign a HUD-certified counselor,  
            attorney or other advisor to discuss with the entities options  
            for the borrower to avoid foreclosure. [Section 2923f].









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          6)Provides that a NOD may be filed when an entity has not  
            contacted the borrower provided that the failure to contact  
            the borrower occurred despite reasonable due diligence on the  
            part of the entity and that "due diligence" means and requires  
            the following:

             a)   The entity sends a first class letter that includes the  
               toll-free number available for the borrower to find a  
               HUD-certified housing counseling agency; and,

             b)   Subsequent to the sending of the letter the entity  
               attempts to contact the borrower by telephone at least  
               three times at different hours and on different days.   
               [Section 2923g].

          7)Requires an entity to maintain a toll-free number for  
            borrowers that will provide access to a live representative  
            during business hours and requires the entity to maintain a  
            link on the main page of its Internet Web site containing the  
            following information:

             a)   Options that may be available to borrowers who are  
               unable to afford their mortgage payments and who wish to  
               avoid foreclose, and instructions to borrowers advising  
               them on steps to take to explore these options; and,

             b)   A list of documents borrowers should collect and be  
               prepared to submit when discussing options to avoid  
               foreclosure. [Section 2923g (5)].

          8)Specifies that the notice and contact requirements do not  
            apply in the following circumstances:

             a)   The borrower has surrendered the property as evidenced  
               via a letter or delivery of keys to the property to the  
               entity;

             b)   The borrower has contacted a person or organization  
               whose primary business is advising people who have decided  
               to leave their homes on how to extend the foreclosure  
               process and avoid the contractual obligations; or,

             c)   The borrower has filed for bankruptcy. [Section 2923h].

          9)Makes a legislative finding and declaration that a loan  








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            servicer acts in the best interests of all parties if it  
            agrees to, or implements a loan modification or workout plan  
            in one of the following circumstances:

             a)   The loan is in payment default, or payment default is  
               reasonably foreseeable; or,

             b)   Anticipated recovery under the loan modification or  
               workout plan exceeds the anticipated recovery through  
               foreclosure on net present value basis. [Section 2923.6].

          10)Provides that a notice of sale may not be given for 90 days  
            in order for parties to pursue a loan modification.  [Section  
            2923.52].

          11)Specifies that a servicer can get an exemption from the  
            90-day foreclosure moratorium if they demonstrate proof of a  
            comprehensive modification program.  [Section 2923.53]

          12)Requires that upon posting of a notice of sale, an entity  
            shall mail to the borrower a notice in English and Spanish,  
            Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or Korean that states:
               
               "Foreclosure process has begun on this property, which may  
          affect your right to continue to live in this property. Twenty  
          days or more after the date of this notice, this property may be  
          sold at foreclosure. If you are renting this property, the new  
          property owner may either give you a new lease or rental  
          agreement or provide you with a 60-day eviction notice.   
          However, other laws may prohibit an eviction in this  
          circumstance or provide you with a longer notice before  
          eviction. You may wish to contact a lawyer or your local legal
               aid or housing counseling agency to discuss any rights you  
          may
               have."  [Section 2924.8].

          13)Under Section 1632 of the Civil Code, Requires a person in a  
            trade or business who negotiates certain specified contracts  
            or agreements primarily in Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog,  
            Vietnamese, or Korean must provide an unexecuted translation  
            of the contract or agreement in the language in which the  
            contract or agreement was negotiated prior to its execution.   
            In addition, any subsequent document making substantial  
            changes in the rights and obligations of the parties must also  
            be translated.  Provides that this requirement does not apply  








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            if the consumer negotiates the terms of the contract through  
            an interpreter.  The contracts covered by this requirement  
            are:

             a)   Retail installment or automobile conditional sales  
               contracts;

             b)   Unsecured loans or extensions of credit for use  
               primarily for personal, family or household purposes;

             c)   A lease, sublease, or rental contract or agreement; 

             d)   A loan or extension of credit for use primarily for  
               personal, family or household purposes where the loan is  
               subject to the Industrial Loan Law (involving industrial  
               banks or industrial loan companies) or the California  
               Finance Lenders Law (generally involving higher-end  
               consumer loans, but may also include some home loans), or  
               loans involving a real estate broker (in which case only  
               specified information must be translated); 

             e)   A reverse mortgage; and,

             f)   Legal services agreements.  

          14)Provides that the requirement to provide translated copies of  
             agreements is deemed complied with if a supervised financial  
            organization, which includes a bank, savings association or  
            credit union, provides a translation of the disclosures  
            required by Regulation M (consumer leasing) or Regulation Z  
            (consumer lending) of the federal Truth in Lending Act.   
            (Section 1632.)

          15)Specifies that the executed English-language contract shall  
            determine the rights and obligations of the parties, but  
            provides that the translation may be admissible in evidence    
            only to show that no contract was entered into because of a  
            substantial difference between the contract and the  
            translation.  (Section 1632.)

          16)Provides that the consumer may rescind the contract if a  
            required translation is not provided and the transaction was  
            initiated by a mortgage broker.  If the contract has been sold  
            or assigned to a financial institution, the consumer must make  
            restitution to, and have restitution made by, the person with  








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            whom he or she made the contract.  In addition, the assignor  
            is required to promptly repurchase the contract from the  
            assignee. 

          17)Section 1632 was updated via AB 1160 (Fong), Chapter 274  
            Statutes of 2009 with the following changes that take effect  
            July 1, 2010:

             a)   Specifies that anyone engaged in a trade or business  
               that negotiates mortgage loan transactions in Spanish,  
               Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or Korean shall provide a  
               translation to the contracting consumer.

             b)   Requires the Department of Corporations (DOC) and  
               Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and Department  
               of Real Estate (DRE) to create a translated summary of key  
               terms of a mortgage transaction.

             c)   Specifies that the licensing agency may impose a  
               penalty, addition to any civil liability, in the amount of  
               $2,500 for the first violation, $5,000 for the second  
               violation, $10,000   for the third violation, and each  
               subsequent violation. 

             d)   Provides that nothing shall be construed to prevent any  
               enforcement by a governmental entity against any person who  
               originates a loan and who is exempt or excluded from  
               licensure by all of the licensing agencies, based on a  
               violation of any provision of this section. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   None

           COMMENTS  :   

          According to the author, this bill is an attempt to ensure that  
          borrowers have a clear understanding as to the reasons why they  
          are rejected for a loan modification.   A common complaint of  
          many homeowners is that they are rejected for a modification but  
          are not told the reasons why, or are unable to understand the  
          reasons for rejection.  

          This bill would require that a notice describing the specific  
          reasons for a denial of a loan modification must be sent to the  
          borrower within seven days via certified mail of denial and  
          comply with language translation requirements under current law.








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          Where have we been, where are we now, where are we going?
           
          According to the latest report from the Office of the Inspector  
          General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) issued  
          March 25, 2010, 2.8 million Americans received a foreclosure  
          filing in 2009 and millions more are expected to receive a  
          filing in 2010.
          
          The first major legislative effort in California to tackle the  
          growing foreclosure crisis was the introduction of Senate Bill  
          1137 (Perata, Corbett, Machado) Chapter 69, Statutes of 2009.   
          The intent of SB 1137 was to ensure that servicers contact  
          borrowers prior to the first filing of the foreclosure process,  
          at least 30 days prior to filing a notice of default NOD,  
          servicers must either make contact to borrowers or satisfy due  
          diligence requirements.  Contact with the borrower must be in  
          person or by telephone "in order to assess the borrower's  
          financial situation and explore options for the borrower to  
          avoid foreclosure." The borrower must be advised that he or she  
          has the right to request a subsequent meeting, and if requested,  
          the meeting must be scheduled to occur within 14 days. The  
          borrower must be provided with the toll-free telephone number  
          made available by the United States Department of Housing and  
          Urban Development to find a HUD-certified housing counseling  
          agency.    Servicers could then file a NOD if, with the filing,  
          they certify that they have made efforts to contact the  
          borrower.  Early, after the passage of SB 1137 the filing of  
          NODs dropped significantly for a few months, but eventually  
          climbed back up as servicers started to understand the steps  
          needed for compliance.

          On February 20, 2009 the Governor signed the California  
          Foreclosure Prevention Act (CFPA) as an urgency statute.   
          Implementation of the CFPA occurred 90 days after the signing of  
          the bill and subsequent to California's three mortgage  
          regulators (DFI, DOC and DRE) drafting emergency regulations,  
          culminating on June 1, 2009.  The CFPA modified the foreclosure  
          process by providing for a delay of 90-days to give borrowers an  
          opportunity to work with their servicers on a loan modification.  
           However, a 90-day delay in foreclosure proceedings does not  
          apply in those cases where a mortgage loan servicer has received  
          an exemption based on the existence of a comprehensive loan  
          modification program.   In addition to the specific  
          characteristics a comprehensive program as outlined in the  








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          legislation, participation in the Home Affordable Modification  
          Program (HAMP) was deemed sufficient to receive an exemption  
          from the moratorium.  The majority of mortgage loan servicers  
          operating in the state have received an exemption from the  
          90-day foreclosure moratorium (More information on those who  
          have received exemptions can be found at  
           http://www.corp.ca.gov/FSD/CFP/default.asp  ).   The CFPA does not  
          require an individual to receive a modification, only that a  
          servicer has a program in place.

          On February 18th, 2009, President Obama announced a  
          multi-pronged approach to deal with the foreclosure crisis  
          through the use of mortgage refinancing and mortgage  
          modification.  

          The Making Home Affordable Program (MHAP) is part of the Obama  
          Administration's broad, comprehensive strategy to get the  
          economy and the housing market back on track. MHAP offers two  
          different potential solutions for borrowers: (1) refinancing  
          mortgage loans, through the Home Affordable Refinance Program  
          (HARP), and (2) modifying mortgage loans, through HAMP.   HAMP  
          is the tip of the spear in the government's attempt to mitigate  
          foreclosures.   

          How does HAMP work?  In order to be eligible for HAMP, the  
          borrower must be in default (60 or more days late) or be at risk  
          of imminent default.  The property must be owner-occupied and  
          have a maximum unpaid principal balance of $729,750 and the  
          mortgage must have been originated by January 1, 2009.  Once the  
          mortgage meets the criteria the servicer undertakes a net  
          present value test (NPV) to determine whether modification,  
          foreclosure, or foreclosure alternatives are in the best  
          interest of the mortgage holder.  If the model generates a  
          positive value for modification, meaning that loss to the owner  
          of the mortgage would be less than foreclosure then HAMP  
          participating servicers are required to offer a modification so  
          long as modification is not prohibited by investors.  Once the  
          aforementioned criteria are met the servicer follows HAMP's  
          "waterfall" formula in order to design a modification that will  
          result in a front end (meaning costs of housing, property taxes,  
          property insurance and HOA dues) debt to income (DTI) ration of  
          31%.  The "waterfall" is a series of steps that go in order  
          until the DTI is close to 31% as possible.  The following are  
          the "waterfall" steps:









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          1)Capitalize all outstanding interest, escrow advances and third  
            party fees, and waive late fees for borrowers who meet trial  
            modification guidelines.

          2)Reduce mortgage interest rate in increments of .125 percent  
            with a floor of two percent.

          3)Extend term of mortgage up to 480 months (40 years) from the  
            modification date.  

          4)Provide non-interest bearing and non-amortizing principal  
            forbearance.

          In order to encourage participation in the program, Treasury  
          pays incentives using Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP)  
          funds.  If a servicer makes modification to the get the  
          homeowner down to a 38% DTI, Treasury will provide 50% of the  
          costs of the modification to get the loan modified to the target  
          31% DTI.  Payments are made only after the modification becomes  
          permanent and last for up to five years, or until the loan is  
          paid off, whichever is earlier.  HAMP also includes the  
          following incentive programs:

          1)Servicers will receive an up-front incentive payment of $1000  
            for each permanent modification.  They will also receive pay  
            for success payments as the borrower stays in the program, of  
            up to $1000 each year for up to three years.

          2)Borrowers are eligible to receive a pay-for-performance  
            success payment that goes straight toward reducing the  
            principle balance on the mortgage loan of up to $1000 per  
            monthly payment for up to five years.

          3)One-time bonus incentive payments of $1,500 to investors and  
            $500 to servicers will be provided for modifications made  
            while the borrower is still current on mortgage payments, but  
            in danger of imminent default.

          Principle forgiveness is not required under HAMP, however recent  
          changes to HAMP address this issue and will be discussed later  
          in this analysis.  

          Over a year after its implementation the reviews are mixed as  
          over a million trial modifications have been offered, yet only  
          169,000 have been made permanent.  Several factors have  








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          contributed to this performance such as program guidelines that  
          have changed many times.  A major change just recently announced  
          is the requirement of income verification at the time of  
          starting the trial modification, which is set to begin mid-April  
          of 2010.  Prior to this change, servicers were allowed to use  
          undocumented income declarations from the borrower to make a  
          determination for a trial modification.  During the three month  
          trial period servicers attempt to verify income through proper  
          documentation.  This process may have been a contributing factor  
          to the low permanent loan modification numbers thus far.

          A report, "Factors Affecting Implementation of the Home  
          Affordable Modification Program", issued March 25, 2010 by  
          SIGTARP reveals several obstacles and difficulties that plague  
          HAMP even a year after its inception.   Since HAMP started, it  
          has undergone 11 program changes and updated directives and an  
          additional 9 changes to its NPV model.    The following are a  
          few of the issues identified by SIGTARP:

          1)Five of the HAMP servicers visited by SIGTARP for the audit  
            covered in the report, mentioned that they lacked guidance on  
            identifying and determining eligibility for borrowers at  
            imminent risk of default on privately owned mortgages  
            (Non-GSE).

          2)Some servicers have told borrowers that they must be in  
            default to be considered for a modification even though HAMP  
            provides help for those facing default.

          3)Servicers are still undergoing challenges in maintaining and  
            training staff to handle modifications.

          4)Marketing of the availability of HAMP as an option has been  
            limited by a lack of guidance from Treasury and servicer  
            specific delays.

          5)Treasury informed SIGTARP that potentially only 50-66% of  
            estimated three million trial modifications will convert to  
            permanent status.

          In testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and  
          Government Reform (March 25, 2010), the Acting Comptroller  
          General of the United States, Gene L. Dodaro testified to the  
          difficulties faced by the HAMP program based on findings from  
          the Government Accountability Office (GAO).  The following are  








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          some of the HAMP issues highlighted by the GAO:

          1)Treasury has not year finalized remedies or penalties for  
            servicers who are not in compliance with HAMP guidelines.

          2)Each major program change has required servicers to update  
            computer systems, adjust business practices and retrain  
            servicing staff.

          3)Ten servicers contacted by GAO had 7 different sets of  
            criteria for determining whether borrowers who were not yet 60  
            days delinquent qualified for HAMP.

          4)Although Treasury guidelines state that servicers must provide  
            borrowers with information designed to help them understand  
            the modification process and must respond to HAMP inquires in  
            a timely manner, the HAMP servicers contacted by GAO varied  
            widely in the timeliness and content of their initial  
            communications with borrows about HAMP.  Some servicers  
            contacted borrowers about HAMP as soon as payment was 30 day  
            delinquent, and other servicers did not inform borrowers until  
            they were at least 60 days delinquent.

          5)Treasury has not developed standards to evaluate servicers'  
            performance in communicating with borrowers or penalties for  
            servicers that do not meet Treasury's requirements.

          6)Servicers do not a systematic process for tracking HAMP  
            complaints.

          The GAO also reported that the numerous program changes to HAMP  
          and often, a lack of clarity on certain provisions have made the  
          program less effective than it could be.

          Servicer guidance on the implementation of HAMP is governed by  
          Supplemental Directives issued by the Treasury Department.   
          These directives can be found at  
           https://www.hmpadmin.com/portal/programs/directives.html  .   

          The most recent change to HAMP, announced on March 26th, 2010  
          involves program changes intended to address unemployed  
          borrowers, negative equity and the concurrent pursuant of a  
          foreclosure while a loan is being reviewed for modification.   
          According the limited details released, the new enhancements  
          will require servicers to provide 3-6 months of temporary  








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          forbearance for eligible unemployed borrowers, after which they  
          will be evaluated for a HAMP modification.  Second, servicers  
          will be encouraged through various incentives to consider  
          principle reductions for loans that are over 115% of current  
          value of the property.  Finally, guidance will be forthcoming on  
          the issue of borrowers who continue to face the foreclosure  
          process while under evaluation for a HAMP modification.  These  
          guidelines will provide clarification on protections for  
          borrowers from foreclosure actions who are under consideration  
          for a modification.

          Specific to the proposal in the bill under consideration is HAMP  
          Supplemental Directive 09-08 issued on November 3, 2009.  The  
          directive requires that a servicer must send a notice to a  
          borrower who has been evaluated for HAMP but is not offered a  
          trial modification.  The notices must describe the specific  
          reason(s) the borrower was not offered a trial plan, or if they  
          did receive a trial, then the reasons for not receiving a  
          permanent modification.   Additionally, the notices must include  
          information on foreclosure alternatives and the steps the  
          borrower should take in order to utilize one of those  
          alternatives.  Finally, borrower notices must include a  
          toll-free number through which the borrower can reach a servicer  
          representative capable of providing specific details about the  
          contents of the notice, the HOPE Hotline number with an  
          explanation that they borrower can receive free assistance from  
          HUD approved counselors, and any other information or  
          disclosures required by state or federal law.

          HAMP is not the only foreclosure prevention effort.  Several  
          large servers with the most market share also have proprietary  
          modification programs in place for borrowers who may not qualify  
          for HAMP.   Proprietary mortgage modification programs vary by  
          servicer and range in ways in which they attempt to modify  
          loans.  While HAMP has a formulaic structure used to accomplish  
          a modification, servicers can use their own judgment and  
          flexibility to perform proprietary loan modifications.   HOPE  
          NOW a coalition of servicers, counselors and investors  
          collections and releases data specific to non-HAMP  
          modifications.  HOPE NOW released data regarding January loan  
          modifications and found that proprietary modifications outpaced  
          HAMP modifications 2-1 and that that 74% of modifications  
          conducted in January involved reduction of principle and  
          interest.
           








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          Issues for discussion.

           1)How prevalent is the problem identified by the bill?   Are  
            denial letters not occurring?  Is issue for homeowners that  
            they didn't get a denial letter, or is the real issue that  
            they were denied?

          2)This bill references Civil Code Section 1632 by requiring that  
            the loan modification rejection letter must comply with its  
            provisions.  Section 1632, as noted under the "existing law"  
            section contains a multitude of situations and documents that  
            require translation.  While section 1632 contains provisions  
            relating to mortgage loans, it does not provide any specifics  
            on correspondence between a servicer and a borrower subsequent  
            to the origination of the mortgage.  In those cases where a  
            translation is required for the mortgage transaction, 1632 has  
            created a requirement that DRE, and DOC create standardized  
            translation forms for use by licensees.  This bill does not  
            propose to create a standardize form.  Additionally, reference  
            to this code section without specificity could lead to  
            confusion as the reference does not provide guidance as to  
            which particular provision would apply.

          3)What specific items should be included in the notice?   
            Currently, the bill does not provide for specific reasons or  
            disclosures relating to the denial notice?
           

          Related legislation.
           
          AB 1720 (Galgiani),  The Buyer's Choice Act prohibits a  
          mortgagee who acquired title to residential real property at a  
          foreclosure sale from requiring, as a condition of selling the  
          property, that the buyer purchase title insurance or escrow  
          services in connection with the sale from a particular title  
          insurer or escrow agent.  This bill would revise the act to  
          require the Department of Financial Institutions, the Department  
          of Corporations, the Department of Real Estate, and the  
          Department of Insurance to develop a single-standard complaint  
          form for reporting a violation of these provisions and to make  
          that form available on each department's respective Internet web  
          site. The bill would also prohibit a seller from conditioning  
          approval of the sale of residential real property that is in  
          foreclosure on the selection made by the buyer as indicated on  
          an independent selection form. The bill would also specifically  








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          define residential real property to include residential real  
          property that is in foreclosure.
          Status: In Assembly Judiciary Committee
           
          AB 2043 (Torrico), redefines the term "redevelopment" to include  
          the provision of loan assistance to qualified homeowners  
          participating in the federal Home Affordable Modification  
          Program. Authorizes a redevelopment agency to use redevelopment  
          funds to issue loans, up to a maximum of $75,000, to reduce the  
          principal mortgage balance of a borrower that has received a  
          mortgage modification under the federal Home Affordable  
          Modification Program and meets other specified requirements.
          Status: In Assembly Housing & Community Development Committee

          AB 2189 (Ma), requires a loan modification agreement to be  
          translated into one of five non-English languages if the  
          original mortgage was negotiated in that language.
          Status: In Assembly Banking Committee.

          AB 2236 (Monning), requires a mortgagee, trustee, or  
          beneficiary, or an authorized agent of that person, to include  
          on all notices informing a borrower that he or she has either  
          failed to make a required minimum payment or failed to make a  
          payment when due, the name and the contact information,  
          including the address and telephone number, of the mortgagee,  
          trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent who has the authority  
          pursuant to state and federal law to modify the terms and  
          conditions of the borrower's loan.
          Status: In Assembly Banking & Finance Committee.

          AB 2678 (Fuentes), prohibits a notice of sale from being issued,  
          if the mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary or authorized agent is  
          currently in negotiations with a borrower on a loan  
          modification.  
          Status: In Assembly Banking & Finance Committee.

          SB 1275 (Leno, Steinberg), requires a mortgagee, trustee,  
          beneficiary, or authorized agent, prior to the filing of a  
          notice of default, to provide the borrower with an application  
          for a loan modification and other foreclosure avoidance options  
          and a specified notice regarding the borrower's rights during  
          the foreclosure process.  Prohibits the mortgagee, beneficiary,  
          or authorized agent from combining collections activity with  
          communication with the borrower about foreclosure avoidance  
          options. Deletes the requirement that the notices of default  








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          contain a specified declaration, and would instead require the  
          mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent to, concurrently  
          with the filing of a notice of default, record a declaration of  
          compliance that attests to specified facts, and mail the  
          borrower a notice stating that these requirements have been met.  
          Provides that failure to record a declaration of compliance, or  
          recordation of a declaration of compliance that fails to meet  
          the specified requirements, would constitute grounds for the  
          borrower to bring an action to void the foreclosure, or to  
          recover either treble damages or statutory damages in the amount  
          of $10,000, whichever is greater, from the mortgagee, trustee,  
          beneficiary, or authorized agent.
          Status: In Senate Judiciary

          SB 1427 (Price), requires a notice of default to include a  
          statement that identifies the name, address, telephone, and  
          e-mail address of any person or entity that is designated to be  
          responsible for the maintenance of the property for which the  
          deed of trust is recorded.  Existing law requires a legal owner  
          to maintain vacant residential property purchased at a  
          foreclosure sale, or acquired by that owner through foreclosure  
          under a mortgage or deed of trust; authorizes a governmental  
          entity to impose civil fines and penalties for failure to  
          maintain that property of up to $1,000 per day for a violation;  
          and provides that these statutory provisions do not preempt any  
          local ordinances and prohibits a governmental entity from  
          imposing fines on a legal owner under both these provisions and  
          a local ordinance. This bill would provide that these statutory  
          provisions preempt any local ordinance and provides that any  
          fines or penalties imposed for failure to maintain a property  
          are the obligation of the legal owner and that these fines would  
          be treated as a lien against the property in a foreclosure sale.
          Status: In Senate Judiciary Committee


          AB 69 (Lieu), Debt management and settlement: credit counselors:  
           This requires mortgage lenders to report to their respective  
          regulatory agency information regarding loan loss mitigation  
          efforts.  Status: Chaptered by Secretary of State, Chapter 277,  
          Statutes of 2008.


          AB 529 (Torrico), Mortgages: adjustable interest rates:  
          notification:  This bill requires a borrower to receive notice  
          if their loan is scheduled to switch from an initial fixed rate  








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          to an adjustable rate, or set to reset to a fully amortizing  
          loan.  This notification must occur between 90 and 120 days  
          before the loan is scheduled to switch or reset.   The notice  
          must include the current payment, the month and year the loan  
          will change, an example of the potentially monthly payment after  
          reset, and a number the borrower may contact for more  
          information about the terms of the loan.

          Status: Vetoed by the Governor.



          AB 2187 (Caballero), Mortgages: foreclosure:  This bill imposes  
          certain requirements on mortgage lenders that are foreclosing on  
          property.  AB 2187 requires a lender foreclosing on real estate  
          property to include with the notice of default a foreclosure  
          statement of rights, which specifies the process of foreclosure  
          and sets forth the rights of the borrower regarding contracts  
          with mortgage foreclosure consultants.  Also, requires that the  
          foreclosure notice be provided in the language of the borrower.   
          Provides, until January 1, 2013, a mortgage lender or other  
          person acquiring a property through the foreclosure process  
          maintain the exterior of vacant residential property.  This bill  
          authorizes governmental entities to levy fines of up to $1,000  
          per day for violations. However, it requires the governmental  
          entity to provide the owner with notice of the claimed violation  
          and an opportunity to correct the violation within 30 days prior  
          to levying the fine.  Status: Died in Assembly Appropriation  
          Committee.


          SB 1137 (Perata), Residential mortgage loans: foreclosure  
          procedures:  This bill enacts changes related the foreclosure  
          process in response to the subprime lending/foreclosure crisis.   
          Requires face-to-face contact with a borrower at least 30 days  
          before the filing of a notice of default.  Gives tenants of  
          foreclosure property additional time to vacate the property  
          after it has been sold at a foreclosure auction.  Status:  
          Chaptered by Secretary of State, Chapter 69, Statues of 2008.


          SB 1448 (Scott), Real estate brokers and salespersons: fines:   
          This bill increases the maximum fine for an unlicensed person  
          acting or advertising themselves as a real estate broker or a  
          real estate salesperson from $10,000 to $20,000 and for an  








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          unlicensed corporation from $50,000 to $60,000, and requires any  
          fine collected in excess of $10,000 from an individual or in  
          excess of $50,000 from a corporation be deposited into the Real  
          Estate Fraud Prosecution Trust fund if one exists in the county  
          where the conviction occurs.

          Status: Chaptered by Secretary of State, Chapter 156, Statues of  
          2008.


          ABXX 7 (Lieu) & SB 7XX (Corbett), Residential mortgage loans:  
          foreclosure.  Required loan servicers to provide evidence of a  
          comprehensive loan modification plan that meets specific  
          criteria.  A servicer that does not have a comprehensive loan  
          modification plan would have to delay foreclosure on specified  
          properties for 90 days.
          Status: Chaptered by Secretary of State, Chapter 5, Statues of  
          2009 - 2010 Extraordinary Session

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :   

           Support 
           
          CALPIRG

           Opposition 
           
          California Bankers Association
          California Chamber of Commerce
          California Financial Services Association
          California Mortgage Bankers Association
           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Mark Farouk / B. & F. / (916) 319-3081