BILL NUMBER: SB 983 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 28, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Senator Morrell
FEBRUARY 10, 2016
An act to amend Sections 2923.3 and 2924f
2923.3, 2924, 2924c, 2924d, 2924f, and 2934a of, and to amend
and repeal Section 2924.11 of, the Civil Code, relating to mortgages.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 983, as amended, Morrell. Mortgages and deeds of trust.
Existing law imposes various requirements to be satisfied prior to
exercising a power of sale under a mortgage or deed of trust.
Existing law, with respect to residential real property containing up
to 4 dwelling units, requires a mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or
authorized agent to provide to the mortgagor or trustor a copy of the
recorded notice of default and a copy of the recorded notice of
sale.
This bill would instead require the mortgagee, trustee,
beneficiary, or authorized agent to provide the mortgagor or trustor
with a copy of the notice of default indicating the recording date
and a copy of the notice of sale indicating the recording date.
Existing law, before any sale of property can be made under the
power of sale contained in any deed of trust or mortgage, requires
notice of the sale to be given. Existing law requires the notice of
sale to contain specified information regarding the property and the
sale, and to be recorded with the county recorder, as specified.
Existing law, on and after April 1, 2012, also requires the notice of
sale to contain language notifying potential bidders of specified
risks involved in bidding on property at a trustee's sale.
This bill would revise the language notifying potential bidders of
specified risks involved in bidding at a trustee's sale.
Existing law requires a legal owner to maintain vacant residential
property purchased at a foreclosure sale or acquired by the owner
through foreclosure under a mortgage or deed of trust and authorizes
a governmental entity to impose a civil fine, as specified, for a
violation. Existing law requires a governmental entity, prior to
imposing a fine or penalty for failure to maintain a vacant property,
as specified, to provide the owner of that property with a notice of
the violation and an opportunity to correct that violation.
This bill would provide that a trustee under a deed of trust or a
trustee named in a recorded substitution of trustee is not a legal
owner or owner, as applicable, for purposes of the provisions
described above. This bill would also provide that a trustee under a
deed of trust is not responsible for any obligation or failure to
maintain or register a property subject to foreclosure.
Existing law requires a mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized
agent to record a rescission of a notice of default or cancel a
pending trustee sale, if applicable, upon the borrower executing a
permanent foreclosure prevention alternative. Existing law, in the
case of a short sale, requires the rescission or cancellation of the
pending trustee's sale to occur when the short sale has been approved
and proof of funds or financing has been provided, as specified.
This bill would make a clarifying change by eliminating the
reference to rescission in the case of a pending trustee's sale.
Existing law limits the amount of trustee's or attorney's fees
that may be charged in connection with the enforcement of certain
terms of obligation upon default in payment under a mortgage or deed
of trust prior to reinstatement of a monetary default, or until the
notice of sale is deposited in the mail, or otherwise at any time
prior to the decree of foreclosure, to a base amount not to exceed
$300 for an unpaid principal balance sum of $150,000 or less, or $250
plus specified additional percentages of unpaid principal sums, if
the unpaid principal balance exceeds $150,000. Existing law, in lieu
of an authorized charge, limits the amount of trustee's or attorney's
fees after the notice of sale is deposited in the mail and until the
property is sold by power of sale, to a base amount not to exceed
$425 for an unpaid principal balance sum of $150,000 or less, or $360
plus specified additional percentages of unpaid principal sums, if
the unpaid principal balance exceeds $150,000.
This bill would increase the base limitations on the amount of
those trustee's or attorney's fees by $50.
Existing law, before any sale of property can be made under the
power of sale contained in any deed of trust or mortgage, requires
notice of the sale to be given. Existing law requires the notice of
sale to contain specified information regarding the property and the
sale, and to be recorded with the county recorder, as specified.
Existing law, on and after April 1, 2012, also requires the notice of
sale to contain language notifying potential bidders of specified
risks involved in bidding on property at a trustee's sale.
This bill would revise the language notifying potential bidders of
specified risks involved in bidding at a trustee's sale.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 2923.3 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
2923.3. (a) With respect to residential real property containing
no more than four dwelling units, a mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary,
or authorized agent shall provide to the mortgagor or trustor a copy
of the notice of default indicating the recording date with an
attached separate summary document of the notice of default in
English and the languages described in Section 1632, as set forth in
subdivision (c), and a copy of the notice of sale indicating the
recording date with an attached separate summary document of the
information required to be contained in the notice of sale in English
and the languages described in Section 1632, as set forth in
subdivision (d). These summaries are not required to be recorded or
published. This subdivision shall become operative on April 1, 2013,
or 90 days following the issuance of the translations by the
Department of Business Oversight pursuant to subdivision (b),
whichever is later.
(b) (1) The Department of Business Oversight shall provide a
standard translation of the statement in paragraph (1) of subdivision
(c), and of the summary of the notice of default, as set forth in
paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) in the languages described in
Section 1632.
(2) The Department of Business Oversight shall provide a standard
translation of the statement in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), and
of the summary of the notice of sale, as set forth in paragraph (2)
of subdivision (d).
(3) The department shall make the translations described in
paragraphs (1) and (2) available without charge on its Internet Web
site. Any mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent who
provides the department's translations in the manner prescribed by
this section shall be in compliance with this section.
(c) (1) The following statement shall appear in the languages
described in Section 1632 at the beginning of the notice of default:
NOTE: THERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT
ATTACHED.
(2) The following summary of key information shall be attached to
the copy of the notice of default provided to the mortgagor or
trustor:
SUMMARY OF KEY INFORMATION
The attached notice of default was sent to name of the
trustor], in relation to description of the property that secures the
mortgage or deed of trust in default]. This property may be sold to
satisfy your obligation and any other obligation secured by the deed
of trust or mortgage that is in default. Trustor] has, as described
in the notice of default, breached the mortgage or deed of trust on
the property described above.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: IF YOUR PROPERTY IS IN FORECLOSURE BECAUSE YOU
ARE BEHIND IN YOUR PAYMENTS, IT MAY BE SOLD WITHOUT ANY COURT ACTION,
and you may have the legal right to bring your account in good
standing by paying all of your past due payments plus permitted costs
and expenses within the time permitted by law for reinstatement of
your account, which is normally five business days prior to the date
set for the sale of your property. No sale date may be set until
approximately 90 days from the date the attached notice of default
may be recorded (which date of recordation appears on the notice).
This amount is ____________ as of ___(date)____________and will
increase until your account becomes current.
While your property is in foreclosure, you still must pay other
obligations (such as insurance and taxes) required by your note and
deed of trust or mortgage. If you fail to make future payments on the
loan, pay taxes on the property, provide insurance on the property,
or pay other obligations as required in the note and deed of trust or
mortgage, the beneficiary or mortgagee may insist that you do so in
order to reinstate your account in good standing. In addition, the
beneficiary or mortgagee may require as a condition to reinstatement
that you provide reliable written evidence that you paid all senior
liens, property taxes, and hazard insurance premiums.
Upon your written request, the beneficiary or mortgagee will give
you a written itemization of the entire amount you must pay. You may
not have to pay the entire unpaid portion of your account, even
though full payment was demanded, but you must pay all amounts in
default at the time payment is made. However, you and your
beneficiary or mortgagee may mutually agree in writing prior to the
time the notice of sale is posted (which may not be earlier than
three months after this notice of default is recorded) to, among
other things, (1) provide additional time in which to cure the
default by transfer of the property or otherwise; or (2) establish a
schedule of payments in order to cure your default; or both (1) and
(2).
Following the expiration of the time period referred to in the
first paragraph of this notice, unless the obligation being
foreclosed upon or a separate written agreement between you and your
creditor permits a longer period, you have only the legal right to
stop the sale of your property by paying the entire amount demanded
by your creditor.
To find out the amount you must pay, or to arrange for payment to
stop the foreclosure, or if your property is in foreclosure for any
other reason, contact:
____________________________________
(Name of beneficiary or mortgagee)
____________________________________
(Mailing address)
____________________________________
(Telephone)
If you have any questions, you should contact a lawyer or the
governmental agency which that may have
insured your loan.
Notwithstanding the fact that your property is in foreclosure, you
may offer your property for sale, provided the sale is concluded
prior to the conclusion of the foreclosure.
Remember, YOU MAY LOSE LEGAL RIGHTS IF YOU DO NOT TAKE PROMPT
ACTION.
If you would like additional copies of this summary, you may
obtain them by calling insert telephone number].
(d) (1) The following statement shall appear in the languages
described in Section 1632 at the beginning of the notice of sale:
NOTE: THERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT
ATTACHED.
(2) The following summary of key information shall be attached to
the copy of the notice of sale provided to the mortgagor or trustor:
SUMMARY OF KEY INFORMATION
The attached notice of sale was sent to trustor], in relation to
description of the property that secures the mortgage or deed of
trust in default].
YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A (Deed of trust or mortgage) DATED ____.
UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A
PUBLIC SALE.
IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST
YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER.
The total amount due in the notice of sale is ____.
Your property is scheduled to be sold on insert date and time of
sale] at insert location of sale].
However, the sale date shown on the attached notice of sale may be
postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee,
or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code.
The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be
made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not
present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has
been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for
the sale of this property, you may call telephone number for
information regarding the trustee's sale] or visit this Internet Web
site Internet Web site address for information regarding the sale of
this property], using the file number assigned to this case case file
number]. Information about postponements that are very short in
duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not
immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the
Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is
to attend the scheduled sale.
If you would like additional copies of this summary, you may
obtain them by calling insert telephone number].
(e) Failure to provide these summaries to the mortgagor or trustor
shall have the same effect as if the notice of default or notice of
sale were incomplete or not provided.
(f) This section sets forth a requirement for translation in
languages other than English, and a document complying with the
provisions of this section may be recorded pursuant to subdivision
(b) of Section 27293 of the Government Code. A document that complies
with this section shall not be rejected for recordation on the
ground that some part of the document is in a language other than
English.
SEC. 2. Section 2924f of the Civil Code is
amended to read:
2924f. (a) As used in this section and Sections 2924g and 2924h,
"property" means real property or a leasehold estate therein, and
"calendar week" means Monday through Saturday, inclusive.
(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (c), before any sale of
property can be made under the power of sale contained in any deed of
trust or mortgage, or any resale resulting from a rescission for a
failure of consideration pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section
2924h, notice of the sale thereof shall be given by posting a written
notice of the time of sale and of the street address and the
specific place at the street address where the sale will be held, and
describing the property to be sold, at least 20 days before the date
of sale in one public place in the city where the property is to be
sold, if the property is to be sold in a city, or, if not, then in
one public place in the judicial district in which the property is to
be sold, and publishing a copy once a week for three consecutive
calendar weeks.
(2) The first publication to be at least 20 days before the date
of sale, in a newspaper of general circulation published in the city
in which the property or some part thereof is situated, if any part
thereof is situated in a city, if not, then in a newspaper of general
circulation published in the judicial district in which the property
or some part thereof is situated, or in case no newspaper of general
circulation is published in the city or judicial district, as the
case may be, in a newspaper of general circulation published in the
county in which the property or some part thereof is situated, or in
case no newspaper of general circulation is published in the city or
judicial district or county, as the case may be, in a newspaper of
general circulation published in the county in this state that is
contiguous to the county in which the property or some part thereof
is situated and has, by comparison with all similarly contiguous
counties, the highest population based upon total county population
as determined by the most recent federal decennial census published
by the Bureau of the Census.
(3) A copy of the notice of sale shall also be posted in a
conspicuous place on the property to be sold at least 20 days before
the date of sale, where possible and where not restricted for any
reason. If the property is a single-family residence the posting
shall be on a door of the residence, but, if not possible or
restricted, then the notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place on
the property; however, if access is denied because a common entrance
to the property is restricted by a guard gate or similar impediment,
the property may be posted at that guard gate or similar impediment
to any development community.
(4) The notice of sale shall conform to the minimum requirements
of Section 6043 of the Government Code and be recorded with the
county recorder of the county in which the property or some part
thereof is situated at least 20 days prior to the date of sale.
(5) The notice of sale shall contain the name, street address in
this state, which may reflect an agent of the trustee, and either a
toll-free telephone number or telephone number in this state of the
trustee, and the name of the original trustor, and also shall contain
the statement required by paragraph (3) of subdivision (c). In
addition to any other description of the property, the notice shall
describe the property by giving its street address, if any, or other
common designation, if any, and a county assessor's parcel number;
but if the property has no street address or other common
designation, the notice shall contain a legal description of the
property, the name and address of the beneficiary at whose request
the sale is to be conducted, and a statement that directions may be
obtained pursuant to a written request submitted to the beneficiary
within 10 days from the first publication of the notice. Directions
shall be deemed reasonably sufficient to locate the property if
information as to the location of the property is given by reference
to the direction and approximate distance from the nearest
crossroads, frontage road, or access road. If a legal description or
a county assessor's parcel number and either a street address or
another common designation of the property is given, the validity of
the notice and the validity of the sale shall not be affected by the
fact that the street address, other common designation, name and
address of the beneficiary, or the directions obtained therefrom are
erroneous or that the street address, other common designation, name
and address of the beneficiary, or directions obtained therefrom are
omitted.
(6) The term "newspaper of general circulation," as used in this
section, has the same meaning as defined in Article 1 (commencing
with Section 6000) of Chapter 1 of Division 7 of Title 1 of the
Government Code.
(7) The notice of sale shall contain a statement of the total
amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the
property to be sold and reasonably estimated costs, expenses,
advances at the time of the initial publication of the notice of
sale, and, if republished pursuant to a cancellation of a cash
equivalent pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 2924h, a reference
of that fact; provided, that the trustee shall incur no liability for
any good faith error in stating the proper amount, including any
amount provided in good faith by or on behalf of the beneficiary. An
inaccurate statement of this amount shall not affect the validity of
any sale to a bona fide purchaser for value, nor shall the failure to
post the notice of sale on a door as provided by this subdivision
affect the validity of any sale to a bona fide purchaser for value.
(8) (A) On and after April 1, 2012, if the deed of trust or
mortgage containing a power of sale is secured by real property
containing from one to four single-family residences, the notice of
sale shall contain substantially the following language, in addition
to the language required pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (7),
inclusive:
NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on
this property, you should understand that there are risks involved in
bidding at a trustee auction. Placing the highest bid at a trustee
auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear
ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien
being foreclosed by this auction may be a junior lien. If you are the
highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for
paying off all liens senior to the lien being foreclosed, before you
can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to
investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens
that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder's
office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a
fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources,
you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one
mortgage or deed of trust on the property.
NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of
sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee,
beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the
California Civil Code. The law requires that information about
trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the
public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish
to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if
applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this
property, you may call telephone number for information regarding the
trustee's sale] or visit this Internet Web site Internet Web site
address for information regarding the sale of this property], using
the file number assigned to this case case file number]. Information
about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur
close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected
in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best
way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled
sale.
(B) A mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or authorized agent shall
make a good faith effort to provide up-to-date information regarding
sale dates and postponements to persons who wish this information.
This information shall be made available free of charge. It may be
made available via an Internet Web site, a telephone recording that
is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or through any other
means that allows 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no-cost access
to updated information. A disruption of any of these methods of
providing sale date and postponement information to allow for
reasonable maintenance or due to a service outage shall not be deemed
to be a violation of the good faith standard.
(C) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), nothing in the wording
of the notices required by subparagraph (A) is intended to modify or
create any substantive rights or obligations for any person
providing, or specified in, either of the required notices. Failure
to comply with subparagraph (A) or (B) shall not invalidate any sale
that would otherwise be valid under this section.
(D) Information provided pursuant to subparagraph (A) does not
constitute the public declaration required by subdivision (d) of
Section 2924g.
(9) If the sale of the property is to be a unified sale as
provided in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of
Section 9604 of the Commercial Code, the notice of sale shall also
contain a description of the personal property or fixtures to be
sold. In the case where it is contemplated that all of the personal
property or fixtures are to be sold, the description in the notice of
the personal property or fixtures shall be sufficient if it is the
same as the description of the personal property or fixtures
contained in the agreement creating the security interest in or
encumbrance on the personal property or fixtures or the filed
financing statement relating to the personal property or fixtures. In
all other cases, the description in the notice shall be sufficient
if it would be a sufficient description of the personal property or
fixtures under Section 9108 of the Commercial Code. Inclusion of a
reference to or a description of personal property or fixtures in a
notice of sale hereunder shall not constitute an election by the
secured party to conduct a unified sale pursuant to subparagraph (B)
of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 9604 of the Commercial
Code, shall not obligate the secured party to conduct a unified sale
pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of
Section 9604 of the Commercial Code, and in no way shall render
defective or noncomplying either that notice or a sale pursuant to
that notice by reason of the fact that the sale includes none or less
than all of the personal property or fixtures referred to or
described in the notice. This paragraph shall not otherwise affect
the obligations or duties of a secured party under the Commercial
Code.
(c) (1) This subdivision applies only to deeds of trust or
mortgages which contain a power of sale and which are secured by real
property containing a single-family, owner-occupied residence, where
the obligation secured by the deed of trust or mortgage is contained
in a contract for goods or services subject to the provisions of the
Unruh Act (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1801) of Title 2 of
Part 4 of Division 3).
(2) Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this subdivision,
all other provisions of law relating to the exercise of a power of
sale shall govern the exercise of a power of sale contained in a deed
of trust or mortgage described in paragraph (1).
(3) If any default of the obligation secured by a deed of trust or
mortgage described in paragraph (1) has not been cured within 30
days after the recordation of the notice of default, the trustee or
mortgagee shall mail to the trustor or mortgagor, at his or her last
known address, a copy of the following statement:
YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A
_______________________________________________,
(Deed of trust or mortgage)
DATED ____. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT
YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE.
IF
YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE
PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A
LAWYER.
(4) All sales of real property pursuant to a power of sale
contained in any deed of trust or mortgage described in paragraph (1)
shall be held in the county where the residence is located and shall
be made to the person making the highest offer. The trustee may
receive offers during the 10-day period immediately prior to the date
of sale and if any offer is accepted in writing by both the trustor
or mortgagor and the beneficiary or mortgagee prior to the time set
for sale, the sale shall be postponed to a date certain and prior to
which the property may be conveyed by the trustor to the person
making the offer according to its terms. The offer is revocable until
accepted. The performance of the offer, following acceptance,
according to its terms, by a conveyance of the property to the
offeror, shall operate to terminate any further proceeding under the
notice of sale and it shall be deemed revoked.
(5) In addition to the trustee fee pursuant to Section 2924c, the
trustee or mortgagee pursuant to a deed of trust or mortgage subject
to this subdivision shall be entitled to charge an additional fee of
fifty dollars ($50).
(6) This subdivision applies only to property on which notices of
default were filed on or after the effective date of this
subdivision.
(d) With respect to residential real property containing no more
than four dwelling units, a separate document containing a summary of
the notice of sale information in English and the languages
described in Section 1632 shall be attached to the notice of sale
provided to the mortgagor or trustor pursuant to Section 2923.3.
SEC. 2. Section 2924 of the Civil Code
is amended to read:
2924. (a) Every transfer of an interest in property, other than
in trust, made only as a security for the performance of another act,
is to be deemed a mortgage, except when in the case of personal
property it is accompanied by actual change of possession, in which
case it is to be deemed a pledge. Where, by a mortgage created after
July 27, 1917, of any estate in real property, other than an estate
at will or for years, less than two, or in any transfer in trust made
after July 27, 1917, of a like estate to secure the performance of
an obligation, a power of sale is conferred upon the mortgagee,
trustee, or any other person, to be exercised after a breach of the
obligation for which that mortgage or transfer is a security, the
power shall not be exercised except where the mortgage or transfer is
made pursuant to an order, judgment, or decree of a court of record,
or to secure the payment of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness
authorized or permitted to be issued by the Commissioner of
Corporations, Department of Business Oversight,
or is made by a public utility subject to the provisions of the
Public Utilities Act, until all of the following apply:
(1) The trustee, mortgagee, or beneficiary, or any of their
authorized agents shall first file for record, in the office of the
recorder of each county wherein the mortgaged or trust property or
some part or parcel thereof is situated, a notice of default. That
notice of default shall include all of the following:
(A) A
statement identifying the mortgage or deed of trust by stating the
name or names of the trustor or trustors and giving the book and
page, or instrument number, if applicable, where the mortgage or deed
of trust is recorded or a description of the mortgaged or trust
property.
(B) A statement that a breach of the obligation for which the
mortgage or transfer in trust is security has occurred.
(C) A statement setting forth the nature of each breach actually
known to the beneficiary and of his or her election to sell or cause
to be sold the property to satisfy that obligation and any other
obligation secured by the deed of trust or mortgage that is in
default.
(D) If the default is curable pursuant to Section 2924c, the
statement specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section
2924c.
(2) Not less than three months shall elapse from the filing of the
notice of default.
(3) Except as provided in paragraph (4), after the lapse of the
three months described in paragraph (2), the mortgagee, trustee, or
other person authorized to take the sale shall give notice of sale,
stating the time and place thereof, in the manner and for a time not
less than that set forth in Section 2924f.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), the mortgagee, trustee, or
other person authorized to take sale may record a notice of sale
pursuant to Section 2924f up to five days before the lapse of the
three-month period described in paragraph (2), provided that the date
of sale is no earlier than three months and 20 days after the
recording of the notice of default.
(5) Until January 1, 2018, whenever a sale is postponed for a
period of at least 10 business days pursuant to Section 2924g, a
mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall provide written
notice to a borrower regarding the new sale date and time, within
five business days following the postponement. Information provided
pursuant to this paragraph shall not constitute the public
declaration required by subdivision (d) of Section 2924g. Failure to
comply with this paragraph shall not invalidate any sale that would
otherwise be valid under Section 2924f. This paragraph shall be
inoperative on January 1, 2018.
(6) No entity shall record or cause a notice of default to be
recorded or otherwise initiate the foreclosure process unless it is
the holder of the beneficial interest under the mortgage or deed of
trust, the original trustee or the substituted trustee under the deed
of trust, or the designated agent of the holder of the beneficial
interest. No agent of the holder of the beneficial interest under the
mortgage or deed of trust, original trustee or substituted trustee
under the deed of trust may record a notice of default or otherwise
commence the foreclosure process except when acting within the scope
of authority designated by the holder of the beneficial interest.
(b) (1) In performing acts required by this
article, the both of the following shall
apply:
(A) The trustee shall incur no
liability for any good faith error resulting from reliance on
information provided in good faith by the beneficiary regarding the
nature and the amount of the default under the secured obligation,
deed of trust, or mortgage. In performing the acts required
by this article, a
(B) A trustee shall not be
subject to Title 1.6c (commencing with Section 1788) of Part 4.
(2) A trustee under a deed of trust shall not be a legal owner or
owner, as applicable, for purposes of Section 2929.3 or 2929.4.
(3) A trustee under a deed of trust shall not be responsible for
any obligation or failure to maintain or register a property subject
to foreclosure.
(c) A recital in the deed executed pursuant to the power of sale
of compliance with all requirements of law regarding the mailing of
copies of notices or the publication of a copy of the notice of
default or the personal delivery of the copy of the notice of default
or the posting of copies of the notice of sale or the publication of
a copy thereof shall constitute prima facie evidence of compliance
with these requirements and conclusive evidence thereof in favor of
bona fide purchasers and encumbrancers for value and without notice.
(d) All of the following shall constitute privileged
communications pursuant to Section 47:
(1) The mailing, publication, and delivery of notices as required
by this section.
(2) Performance of the procedures set forth in this article.
(3) Performance of the functions and procedures set forth in this
article if those functions and procedures are necessary to carry out
the duties described in Sections 729.040, 729.050, and 729.080 of the
Code of Civil Procedure.
(e) There is a rebuttable presumption that the beneficiary
actually knew of all unpaid loan payments on the obligation owed to
the beneficiary and secured by the deed of trust or mortgage subject
to the notice of default. However, the failure to include an actually
known default shall not invalidate the notice of sale and the
beneficiary shall not be precluded from asserting a claim to this
omitted default or defaults in a separate notice of default.
(f) With respect to residential real property containing no more
than four dwelling units, a separate document containing a summary of
the notice of default information in English and the languages
described in Section 1632 shall be attached to the notice of default
provided to the mortgagor or trustor pursuant to Section 2923.3.
SEC. 3. Section 2924.11 of the Civil Code, as added by Section 14
of Chapter 86 of the Statutes of 2012, is amended to read:
2924.11. (a) If a foreclosure prevention alternative is approved
in writing prior to the recordation of a notice of default, a
mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized
agent shall not record a notice of default under either of the
following circumstances:
(1) The borrower is in compliance with the terms of a written
trial or permanent loan modification, forbearance, or repayment plan.
(2) A foreclosure prevention alternative has been approved in
writing by all parties, including, for example, the first lien
investor, junior lienholder, and mortgage insurer, as applicable, and
proof of funds or financing has been provided to the servicer.
(b) If a foreclosure prevention alternative is approved in writing
after the recordation of a notice of default, a mortgage servicer,
mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall not record
a notice of sale or conduct a trustee's sale under either of the
following circumstances:
(1) The borrower is in compliance with the terms of a written
trial or permanent loan modification, forbearance, or repayment plan.
(2) A foreclosure prevention alternative has been approved in
writing by all parties, including, for example, the first lien
investor, junior lienholder, and mortgage insurer, as applicable, and
proof of funds or financing has been provided to the servicer.
(c) When a borrower accepts an offered first lien loan
modification or other foreclosure prevention alternative, the
mortgage servicer shall provide the borrower with a copy of the fully
executed loan modification agreement or agreement evidencing the
foreclosure prevention alternative following receipt of the executed
copy from the borrower.
(d) A mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall record a
rescission of a notice of default or cancel a pending trustee's sale,
if applicable, upon the borrower executing a permanent foreclosure
prevention alternative. In the case of a short sale, the cancellation
of the pending trustee's sale shall occur when the short sale has
been approved by all parties and proof of funds or financing has been
provided to the mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent.
(e) The mortgage servicer shall not charge any application,
processing, or other fee for a first lien loan modification or other
foreclosure prevention alternative.
(f) The mortgage servicer shall not collect any late fees for
periods during which a complete first lien loan modification
application is under consideration or a denial is being appealed, the
borrower is making timely modification payments, or a foreclosure
prevention alternative is being evaluated or exercised.
(g) If a borrower has been approved in writing for a first lien
loan modification or other foreclosure prevention alternative, and
the servicing of that borrower's loan is transferred or sold to
another mortgage servicer, the subsequent mortgage servicer shall
continue to honor any previously approved first lien loan
modification or other foreclosure prevention alternative, in
accordance with the provisions of the act that added this section.
(h) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
described in Section 2924.15.
(i) This section shall not apply to entities described in
subdivision (b) of Section 2924.18.
(j) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2018, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends
that date.
SEC. 4. Section 2924.11 of the Civil Code, as added by Section 14
of Chapter 87 of the Statutes of 2012, is repealed.
SEC. 5. Section 2924c of the Civil Code
is amended to read:
2924c. (a) (1) Whenever all or a portion of the principal sum of
any obligation secured by deed of trust or mortgage on real property
or an estate for years therein hereafter executed has, prior to the
maturity date fixed in that obligation, become due or been declared
due by reason of default in payment of interest or of any installment
of principal, or by reason of failure of trustor or mortgagor to
pay, in accordance with the terms of that obligation or of the deed
of trust or mortgage, taxes, assessments, premiums for insurance, or
advances made by beneficiary or mortgagee in accordance with the
terms of that obligation or of the deed of trust or mortgage, the
trustor or mortgagor or his or her successor in interest in the
mortgaged or trust property or any part thereof, or any beneficiary
under a subordinate deed of trust or any other person having a
subordinate lien or encumbrance of record thereon, at any time within
the period specified in subdivision (e), if the power of sale
therein is to be exercised, or, otherwise at any time prior to entry
of the decree of foreclosure, may pay to the beneficiary or the
mortgagee or their successors in interest, respectively, the entire
amount due, at the time payment is tendered, with respect to (A) all
amounts of principal, interest, taxes, assessments, insurance
premiums, or advances actually known by the beneficiary to be, and
that are, in default and shown in the notice of default, under the
terms of the deed of trust or mortgage and the obligation secured
thereby, (B) all amounts in default on recurring obligations not
shown in the notice of default, and (C) all reasonable costs and
expenses, subject to subdivision (c), which
that are actually incurred in enforcing the terms of the
obligation, deed of trust, or mortgage, and trustee's or attorney's
fees, subject to subdivision (d), other than the portion of principal
as would not then be due had no default occurred, and thereby cure
the default theretofore existing, and thereupon, all proceedings
theretofore had or instituted shall be dismissed or discontinued and
the obligation and deed of trust or mortgage shall be reinstated and
shall be and remain in force and effect, the same as if the
acceleration had not occurred. This section does not apply to bonds
or other evidences of indebtedness authorized or permitted to be
issued by the Commissioner of Corporations
Department of Business Oversight or made by a public utility
subject to the Public Utilities Code. For the purposes of this
subdivision, the term "recurring obligation" means all amounts of
principal and interest on the loan, or rents, subject to the deed of
trust or mortgage in default due after the notice of default is
recorded; all amounts of principal and interest or rents advanced on
senior liens or leaseholds which that
are advanced after the recordation of the notice of default; and
payments of taxes, assessments, and hazard insurance advanced after
recordation of the notice of default. If the beneficiary or mortgagee
has made no advances on defaults which that
would constitute recurring obligations, the beneficiary or
mortgagee may require the trustor or mortgagor to provide reliable
written evidence that the amounts have been paid prior to
reinstatement.
(2) If the trustor, mortgagor, or other person authorized to cure
the default pursuant to this subdivision does cure the default, the
beneficiary or mortgagee or the agent for the beneficiary or
mortgagee shall, within 21 days following the reinstatement, execute
and deliver to the trustee a notice of rescission which
that rescinds the declaration of default and
demand for sale and advises the trustee of the date of reinstatement.
The trustee shall cause the notice of rescission to be recorded
within 30 days of receipt of the notice of rescission and of all
allowable fees and costs.
No charge, except for the recording fee, shall be made against the
trustor or mortgagor for the execution and recordation of the notice
which rescinds the declaration of default and demand for sale.
(b) (1) The notice, of any default described in this section,
recorded pursuant to Section 2924, and mailed to any person pursuant
to Section 2924b, shall begin with the following statement, printed
or typed thereon:
"IMPORTANT NOTICE 14-point boldface type if printed or in
capital letters if typed]
IF YOUR PROPERTY IS IN FORECLOSURE BECAUSE YOU ARE BEHIND IN YOUR
PAYMENTS, IT MAY BE SOLD WITHOUT ANY COURT ACTION, 14-point boldface
type if printed or in capital letters if typed] and you may have the
legal right to bring your account in good standing by paying all of
your past due payments plus permitted costs and expenses within the
time permitted by law for reinstatement of your account, which is
normally five business days prior to the date set for the sale of
your property. No sale date may be set until approximately 90 days
from the date this notice of default may be recorded (which date of
recordation appears on this notice).
This amount is ____________ as of _______________
(Date)
and will increase until your account becomes current.
While your property is in foreclosure, you still must pay other
obligations (such as insurance and taxes) required by your note and
deed of trust or mortgage. If you fail to make future payments on the
loan, pay taxes on the property, provide insurance on the property,
or pay other obligations as required in the note and deed of trust or
mortgage, the beneficiary or mortgagee may insist that you do so in
order to reinstate your account in good standing. In addition, the
beneficiary or mortgagee may require as a condition to reinstatement
that you provide reliable written evidence that you paid all senior
liens, property taxes, and hazard insurance premiums.
Upon your written request, the beneficiary or mortgagee will give
you a written itemization of the entire amount you must pay. You may
not have to pay the entire unpaid portion of your account, even
though full payment was demanded, but you must pay all amounts in
default at the time payment is made. However, you and your
beneficiary or mortgagee may mutually agree in writing prior to the
time the notice of sale is posted (which may not be earlier than
three months after this notice of default is recorded) to, among
other things, (1) provide additional time in which to cure the
default by transfer of the property or otherwise; or (2) establish a
schedule of payments in order to cure your default; or both (1) and
(2).
Following the expiration of the time period referred to in the
first paragraph of this notice, unless the obligation being
foreclosed upon or a separate written agreement between you and your
creditor permits a longer period, you have only the legal right to
stop the sale of your property by paying the entire amount demanded
by your creditor.
To find out the amount you must pay, or to arrange for payment to
stop the foreclosure, or if your property is in foreclosure for any
other reason, contact:
____________________________________
(Name of beneficiary or mortgagee)
____________________________________
(Mailing address)
____________________________________
(Telephone)
If you have any questions, you should contact a lawyer or the
governmental agency which that may have
insured your loan.
Notwithstanding the fact that your property is in foreclosure, you
may offer your property for sale, provided the sale is concluded
prior to the conclusion of the foreclosure.
Remember, YOU MAY LOSE LEGAL RIGHTS IF YOU DO NOT TAKE PROMPT
ACTION. 14-point boldface type if printed or in capital letters if
typed]"
Unless otherwise specified, the notice, if printed, shall appear
in at least 12-point boldface type.
If the obligation secured by the deed of trust or mortgage is a
contract or agreement described in paragraph (1) or (4) of
subdivision (a) of Section 1632, the notice required herein shall be
in Spanish if the trustor requested a Spanish language translation of
the contract or agreement pursuant to Section 1632. If the
obligation secured by the deed of trust or mortgage is contained in a
home improvement contract, as defined in Sections 7151.2 and 7159 of
the Business and Professions Code, which is subject to Title 2
(commencing with Section 1801), the seller shall specify on the
contract whether or not the contract was principally negotiated in
Spanish and if the contract was principally negotiated in Spanish,
the notice required herein shall be in Spanish. No assignee of the
contract or person authorized to record the notice of default shall
incur any obligation or liability for failing to mail a notice in
Spanish unless Spanish is specified in the contract or the assignee
or person has actual knowledge that the secured obligation was
principally negotiated in Spanish. Unless specified in writing to the
contrary, a copy of the notice required by subdivision (c) of
Section 2924b shall be in English.
(2) Any failure to comply with the provisions of this subdivision
shall not affect the validity of a sale in favor of a bona fide
purchaser or the rights of an encumbrancer for value and without
notice.
(c) Costs and expenses which that
may be charged pursuant to Sections 2924 to 2924i, inclusive, shall
be limited to the costs incurred for recording, mailing, including
certified and express mail charges, publishing, and posting notices
required by Sections 2924 to 2924i, inclusive, postponement pursuant
to Section 2924g not to exceed fifty dollars ($50) per postponement
and a fee for a trustee's sale guarantee or, in the event of judicial
foreclosure, a litigation guarantee. For purposes of this
subdivision, a trustee or beneficiary may purchase a trustee's sale
guarantee at a rate meeting the standards contained in Sections
12401.1 and 12401.3 of the Insurance Code.
(d) Trustee's or attorney's fees which
that may be charged pursuant to subdivision (a), or until the
notice of sale is deposited in the mail to the trustor as provided in
Section 2924b, if the sale is by power of sale contained in the deed
of trust or mortgage, or, otherwise at any time prior to the decree
of foreclosure, are hereby authorized to be in a base amount that
does not exceed three hundred fifty dollars
($300) ($350) if the unpaid principal sum
secured is one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or less, or
two three hundred fifty
dollars ($250) ($300) if the
unpaid principal sum secured exceeds one hundred fifty thousand
dollars ($150,000), plus one-half of 1 percent of the unpaid
principal sum secured exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) up
to and including one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000), plus
one-quarter of 1 percent of any portion of the unpaid principal sum
secured exceeding one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) up to
and including five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), plus
one-eighth of 1 percent of any portion of the unpaid principal sum
secured exceeding five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). Any
charge for trustee's or attorney's fees authorized by this
subdivision shall be conclusively presumed to be lawful and valid
where the charge does not exceed the amounts authorized herein. For
purposes of this subdivision, the unpaid principal sum secured shall
be determined as of the date the notice of default is recorded.
(e) Reinstatement of a monetary default under the terms of an
obligation secured by a deed of trust, or mortgage may be made at any
time within the period commencing with the date of recordation of
the notice of default until five business days prior to the date of
sale set forth in the initial recorded notice of sale.
In the event the sale does not take place on the date set forth in
the initial recorded notice of sale or a subsequent recorded notice
of sale is required to be given, the right of reinstatement shall be
revived as of the date of recordation of the subsequent notice of
sale, and shall continue from that date until five business days
prior to the date of sale set forth in the subsequently recorded
notice of sale.
In the event the date of sale is postponed on the date of sale set
forth in either an initial or any subsequent notice of sale, or is
postponed on the date declared for sale at an immediately preceding
postponement of sale, and, the postponement is for a period
which that exceeds five business days from the
date set forth in the notice of sale, or declared at the time of
postponement, then the right of reinstatement is revived as of the
date of postponement and shall continue from that date until five
business days prior to the date of sale declared at the time of the
postponement.
Nothing contained herein shall give rise to a right of
reinstatement during the period of five business days prior to the
date of sale, whether the date of sale is noticed in a notice of sale
or declared at a postponement of sale.
Pursuant to the terms of this subdivision, no beneficiary,
trustee, mortgagee, or their agents or successors shall be liable in
any manner to a trustor, mortgagor, their agents or successors or any
beneficiary under a subordinate deed of trust or mortgage or any
other person having a subordinate lien or encumbrance of record
thereon for the failure to allow a reinstatement of the obligation
secured by a deed of trust or mortgage during the period of five
business days prior to the sale of the security property, and no such
right of reinstatement during this period is created by this
section. Any right of reinstatement created by this section is
terminated five business days prior to the date of sale set forth in
the initial date of sale, and is revived only as prescribed herein
and only as of the date set forth herein.
As used in this subdivision, the term "business day" has the same
meaning as specified in Section 9.
SEC. 6. Section 2924d of the Civil Code
is amended to read:
2924d. (a) Commencing with the date that the notice of sale is
deposited in the mail, as provided in Section 2924b, and until the
property is sold pursuant to the power of sale contained in the
mortgage or deed of trust, a beneficiary, trustee, mortgagee, or his
or her agent or successor in interest, may demand and receive from a
trustor, mortgagor, or his or her agent or successor in interest, or
any beneficiary under a subordinate deed of trust, or any other
person having a subordinate lien or encumbrance of record those
reasonable costs and expenses, to the extent allowed by subdivision
(c) of Section 2924c, which that are
actually incurred in enforcing the terms of the obligation and
trustee's or attorney's fees which that
are hereby authorized to be in a base amount which
that does not exceed four hundred twenty-five
seventy-five dollars ($425)
($475) if the unpaid principal sum secured is one hundred
fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or less, or three
four hundred sixty ten
dollars ($360) ($410) if the
unpaid principal sum secured exceeds one hundred fifty thousand
dollars ($150,000), plus 1 percent of any portion of the unpaid
principal sum secured exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) up
to and including one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000), plus
one-half of 1 percent of any portion of the unpaid principal sum
secured exceeding one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) up to
and including five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), plus
one-quarter of 1 percent of any portion of the unpaid principal sum
secured exceeding five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). For
purposes of this subdivision, the unpaid principal sum secured shall
be determined as of the date the notice of default is recorded. Any
charge for trustee's or attorney's fees authorized by this
subdivision shall be conclusively presumed to be lawful and valid
where that charge does not exceed the amounts authorized herein. Any
charge for trustee's or attorney's fees made pursuant to this
subdivision shall be in lieu of and not in addition to those charges
authorized by subdivision (d) of Section 2924c.
(b) Upon the sale of property pursuant to a power of sale, a
trustee, or his or her agent or successor in interest, may demand and
receive from a beneficiary, or his or her agent or successor in
interest, or may deduct from the proceeds of the sale, those
reasonable costs and expenses, to the extent allowed by subdivision
(c) of Section 2924c, which that are
actually incurred in enforcing the terms of the obligation and
trustee's or attorney's fees which that
are hereby authorized to be in an amount which does not exceed four
hundred twenty-five dollars ($425) or one percent of the unpaid
principal sum secured, whichever is greater. For purposes of this
subdivision, the unpaid principal sum secured shall be determined as
of the date the notice of default is recorded. Any charge for trustee'
s or attorney's fees authorized by this subdivision shall be
conclusively presumed to be lawful and valid where that charge does
not exceed the amount authorized herein. Any charges for trustee's or
attorney's fees made pursuant to this subdivision shall be in lieu
of and not in addition to
those charges authorized by subdivision (a) of this section and
subdivision (d) of Section 2924c.
(c) (1) No person shall pay or offer to pay or collect any rebate
or kickback for the referral of business involving the performance of
any act required by this article.
(2) Any person who violates this subdivision shall be liable to
the trustor for three times the amount of any rebate or kickback,
plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs, in addition to any other
remedies provided by law.
(3) No violation of this subdivision shall affect the validity of
a sale in favor of a bona fide purchaser or the rights of an
encumbrancer for value without notice.
(d) It shall not be unlawful for a trustee to pay or offer to pay
a fee to an agent or subagent of the trustee for work performed by
the agent or subagent in discharging the trustee's obligations under
the terms of the deed of trust. Any payment of a fee by a trustee to
an agent or subagent of the trustee for work performed by the agent
or subagent in discharging the trustee's obligations under the terms
of the deed of trust shall be conclusively presumed to be lawful and
valid if the fee, when combined with other fees of the trustee, does
not exceed in the aggregate the trustee's fee authorized by
subdivision (d) of Section 2924c or subdivision (a) or (b) of this
section.
(e) When a court issues a decree of foreclosure, it shall have
discretion to award attorney's fees, costs, and expenses as are
reasonable, if provided for in the note, deed of trust, or mortgage,
pursuant to Section 580c of the Code of Civil Procedure.
SEC. 7. Section 2924f of the Civil Code
is amended to read:
2924f. (a) As used in this section and Sections 2924g and 2924h,
"property" means real property or a leasehold estate therein, and
"calendar week" means Monday through Saturday, inclusive.
(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (c), before any sale of
property can be made under the power of sale contained in any deed of
trust or mortgage, or any resale resulting from a rescission for a
failure of consideration pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section
2924h, notice of the sale thereof shall be given by posting a written
notice of the time of sale and of the street address and the
specific place at the street address where the sale will be held, and
describing the property to be sold, at least 20 days before the date
of sale in one public place in the city where the property is to be
sold, if the property is to be sold in a city, or, if not, then in
one public place in the judicial district in which the property is to
be sold, and publishing a copy once a week for three consecutive
calendar weeks.
(2) The first publication to be at least 20 days before the date
of sale, in a newspaper of general circulation published in the city
in which the property or some part thereof is situated, if any part
thereof is situated in a city, if not, then in a newspaper of general
circulation published in the judicial district in which the property
or some part thereof is situated, or in case no newspaper of general
circulation is published in the city or judicial district, as the
case may be, in a newspaper of general circulation published in the
county in which the property or some part thereof is situated, or in
case no newspaper of general circulation is published in the city or
judicial district or county, as the case may be, in a newspaper of
general circulation published in the county in this state that is
contiguous to the county in which the property or some part thereof
is situated and has, by comparison with all similarly contiguous
counties, the highest population based upon total county population
as determined by the most recent federal decennial census published
by the Bureau of the Census.
(3) A copy of the notice of sale shall also be posted in a
conspicuous place on the property to be sold at least 20 days before
the date of sale, where possible and where not restricted for any
reason. If the property is a single-family residence the posting
shall be on a door of the residence, but, if not possible or
restricted, then the notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place on
the property; however, if access is denied because a common entrance
to the property is restricted by a guard gate or similar impediment,
the property may be posted at that guard gate or similar impediment
to any development community.
(4) The notice of sale shall conform to the minimum requirements
of Section 6043 of the Government Code and be recorded with the
county recorder of the county in which the property or some part
thereof is situated at least 20 days prior to the date of sale.
(5) The notice of sale shall contain the name, street address in
this state, which may reflect an agent of the trustee, and either a
toll-free telephone number or telephone number in this state of the
trustee, and the name of the original trustor, and also shall contain
the statement required by paragraph (3) of subdivision (c). In
addition to any other description of the property, the notice shall
describe the property by giving its street address, if any, or other
common designation, if any, and a county assessor's parcel number;
but if the property has no street address or other common
designation, the notice shall contain a legal description of the
property, the name and address of the beneficiary at whose request
the sale is to be conducted, and a statement that directions may be
obtained pursuant to a written request submitted to the beneficiary
within 10 days from the first publication of the notice. Directions
shall be deemed reasonably sufficient to locate the property if
information as to the location of the property is given by reference
to the direction and approximate distance from the nearest
crossroads, frontage road, or access road. If a legal description or
a county assessor's parcel number and either a street address or
another common designation of the property is given, the validity of
the notice and the validity of the sale shall not be affected by the
fact that the street address, other common designation, name and
address of the beneficiary, or the directions obtained therefrom are
erroneous or that the street address, other common designation, name
and address of the beneficiary, or directions obtained therefrom are
omitted.
(6) The term "newspaper of general circulation," as used in this
section, has the same meaning as defined in Article 1 (commencing
with Section 6000) of Chapter 1 of Division 7 of Title 1 of the
Government Code.
(7) The notice of sale shall contain a statement of the total
amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the
property to be sold and reasonably estimated costs, expenses,
advances at the time of the initial publication of the notice of
sale, and, if republished pursuant to a cancellation of a cash
equivalent pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 2924h, a reference
of that fact; provided, that the trustee shall incur no liability for
any good faith error in stating the proper amount, including any
amount provided in good faith by or on behalf of the beneficiary. An
inaccurate statement of this amount shall not affect the validity of
any sale to a bona fide purchaser for value, nor shall the failure to
post the notice of sale on a door as provided by this subdivision
affect the validity of any sale to a bona fide purchaser for value.
(8) (A) On and after April 1, 2012, if the deed of trust or
mortgage containing a power of sale is secured by real property
containing from one to four single-family residences, the notice of
sale shall contain substantially the following language, in addition
to the language required pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (7),
inclusive:
NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on
this property lien, property, you should
understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee
auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property
itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does
not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the
property. You should also be aware that the lien being
auctioned off foreclosed by this auction may be
a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are
or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien
being auctioned off, foreclosed, before
you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to
investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens
that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder's
office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a
fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources,
you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one
mortgage or deed of trust on the property.
NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of
sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee,
beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the
California Civil Code. The law requires that information about
trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the
public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish
to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if
applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this
property, you may call telephone number for information regarding the
trustee's sale] or visit this Internet Web site Internet Web site
address for information regarding the sale of this property], using
the file number assigned to this case case file number]. Information
about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur
close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected
in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best
way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled
sale.
(B) A mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or authorized agent shall
make a good faith effort to provide up-to-date information regarding
sale dates and postponements to persons who wish this information.
This information shall be made available free of charge. It may be
made available via an Internet Web site, a telephone recording that
is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or through any other
means that allows 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no-cost access
to updated information. A disruption of any of these methods of
providing sale date and postponement information to allow for
reasonable maintenance or due to a service outage shall not be deemed
to be a violation of the good faith standard.
(C) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), nothing in the wording
of the notices required by subparagraph (A) is intended to modify or
create any substantive rights or obligations for any person
providing, or specified in, either of the required notices. Failure
to comply with subparagraph (A) or (B) shall not invalidate any sale
that would otherwise be valid under Section 2924f.
this section.
(D) Information provided pursuant to subparagraph (A) does not
constitute the public declaration required by subdivision (d) of
Section 2924g.
(9) If the sale of the property is to be a unified sale as
provided in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of
Section 9604 of the Commercial Code, the notice of sale shall also
contain a description of the personal property or fixtures to be
sold. In the case where it is contemplated that all of the personal
property or fixtures are to be sold, the description in the notice of
the personal property or fixtures shall be sufficient if it is the
same as the description of the personal property or fixtures
contained in the agreement creating the security interest in or
encumbrance on the personal property or fixtures or the filed
financing statement relating to the personal property or fixtures. In
all other cases, the description in the notice shall be sufficient
if it would be a sufficient description of the personal property or
fixtures under Section 9108 of the Commercial Code. Inclusion of a
reference to or a description of personal property or fixtures in a
notice of sale hereunder shall not constitute an election by the
secured party to conduct a unified sale pursuant to subparagraph (B)
of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 9604 of the Commercial
Code, shall not obligate the secured party to conduct a unified sale
pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of
Section 9604 of the Commercial Code, and in no way shall render
defective or noncomplying either that notice or a sale pursuant to
that notice by reason of the fact that the sale includes none or less
than all of the personal property or fixtures referred to or
described in the notice. This paragraph shall not otherwise affect
the obligations or duties of a secured party under the Commercial
Code.
(c) (1) This subdivision applies only to deeds of trust or
mortgages which that contain a power of
sale and which that are secured by
real property containing a single-family, owner-occupied residence,
where the obligation secured by the deed of trust or mortgage is
contained in a contract for goods or services subject to the
provisions of the Unruh Act (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1801)
of Title 2 of Part 4 of Division 3).
(2) Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this subdivision,
all other provisions of law relating to the exercise of a power of
sale shall govern the exercise of a power of sale contained in a deed
of trust or mortgage described in paragraph (1).
(3) If any default of the obligation secured by a deed of trust or
mortgage described in paragraph (1) has not been cured within 30
days after the recordation of the notice of default, the trustee or
mortgagee shall mail to the trustor or mortgagor, at his or her last
known address, a copy of the following statement:
YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A
_______________________________________________,
(Deed of trust or mortgage)
DATED ____. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT
YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE.
IF
YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE
PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A
LAWYER.
(4) All sales of real property pursuant to a power of sale
contained in any deed of trust or mortgage described in paragraph (1)
shall be held in the county where the residence is located and shall
be made to the person making the highest offer. The trustee may
receive offers during the 10-day period immediately prior to the date
of sale and if any offer is accepted in writing by both the trustor
or mortgagor and the beneficiary or mortgagee prior to the time set
for sale, the sale shall be postponed to a date certain and prior to
which the property may be conveyed by the trustor to the person
making the offer according to its terms. The offer is revocable until
accepted. The performance of the offer, following acceptance,
according to its terms, by a conveyance of the property to the
offeror, shall operate to terminate any further proceeding under the
notice of sale and it shall be deemed revoked.
(5) In addition to the trustee fee pursuant to Section 2924c, the
trustee or mortgagee pursuant to a deed of trust or mortgage subject
to this subdivision shall be entitled to charge an additional fee of
fifty dollars ($50).
(6) This subdivision applies only to property on which notices of
default were filed on or after the effective date of this
subdivision.
(d) With respect to residential real property containing no more
than four dwelling units, a separate document containing a summary of
the notice of sale information in English and the languages
described in Section 1632 shall be attached to the notice of sale
provided to the mortgagor or trustor pursuant to Section 2923.3.
SEC. 8. Section 2934a of the Civil Code
is amended to read:
2934a. (a) (1) The trustee under a trust deed upon real property
or an estate for years therein given to secure an obligation to pay
money and conferring no other duties upon the trustee than those
which are incidental to the exercise of the power of sale therein
conferred, may be substituted by the recording in the county in which
the property is located of a substitution executed and acknowledged
by: (A) all of the beneficiaries under the trust deed, or their
successors in interest, and the substitution shall be effective
notwithstanding any contrary provision in any trust deed executed on
or after January 1, 1968; or (B) the holders of more than 50 percent
of the record beneficial interest of a series of notes secured by the
same real property or of undivided interests in a note secured by
real property equivalent to a series transaction, exclusive of any
notes or interests of a licensed real estate broker that is the
issuer or servicer of the notes or interests or of any affiliate of
that licensed real estate broker.
(2) A substitution executed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of
paragraph (1) is not effective unless all the parties signing the
substitution sign, under penalty of perjury, a separate written
document stating the following:
(A) The substitution has been signed pursuant to subparagraph (B)
of paragraph (1).
(B) None of the undersigned is a licensed real estate broker or an
affiliate of the broker that is the issuer or servicer of the
obligation secured by the deed of trust.
(C) The undersigned together hold more than 50 percent of the
record beneficial interest of a series of notes secured by the same
real property or of undivided interests in a note secured by real
property equivalent to a series transaction.
(D) Notice of the substitution was sent by certified mail, postage
prepaid, with return receipt requested to each holder of an interest
in the obligation secured by the deed of trust who has not joined in
the execution of the substitution or the separate document.
The separate document shall be attached to the substitution and be
recorded in the office of the county recorder of each county in
which the real property described in the deed of trust is located.
Once the document required by this paragraph is recorded, it shall
constitute conclusive evidence of compliance with the requirements of
this paragraph in favor of substituted trustees acting pursuant to
this section, subsequent assignees of the obligation secured by the
deed of trust and subsequent bona fide purchasers or encumbrancers
for value of the real property described therein.
(3) For purposes of this section, "affiliate of the licensed real
estate broker" includes any person as defined in Section 25013 of the
Corporations Code that is controlled by, or is under common control
with, or who controls, a licensed real estate broker. "Control" means
the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause
the direction of management and policies.
(4) The substitution shall contain the date of recordation of the
trust deed, the name of the trustor, the book and page or instrument
number where the trust deed is recorded, and the name of the new
trustee. From the time the substitution is filed for record, the new
trustee shall succeed to all the powers, duties, authority, and title
granted and delegated to the trustee named in the deed of trust. A
substitution may be accomplished, with respect to multiple deeds of
trust which are recorded in the same county in which the substitution
is being recorded and which all have the same trustee and
beneficiary or beneficiaries, by recording a single document,
complying with the requirements of this section, substituting
trustees for all those deeds of trust.
(b) If the substitution is executed, but not recorded, prior to or
concurrently with the recording of the notice of default, the
beneficiary or beneficiaries or their authorized agents shall cause
notice of the substitution to be mailed prior to or concurrently with
the recording thereof, in the manner provided in Section 2924b, to
all persons to whom a copy of the notice of default would be required
to be mailed by the provisions of Section 2924b. An affidavit shall
be attached to the substitution that notice has been given to those
persons and in the manner required by this subdivision.
(c) If the substitution is effected after a notice of default has
been recorded but prior to the recording of the notice of sale, the
beneficiary or beneficiaries or their authorized agents shall cause a
copy of the substitution to be mailed, prior to, or concurrently
with, the recording thereof, in the manner provided in Section 2924b,
to the trustee then of record and to all persons to whom a copy of
the notice of default would be required to be mailed by the
provisions of Section 2924b. An affidavit shall be attached to the
substitution that notice has been given to those persons and in the
manner required by this subdivision.
(d) (1) A trustee named in a recorded
substitution of trustee shall be deemed to be authorized to act as
the trustee under the mortgage or deed of trust for all purposes from
the date the substitution is executed by the mortgagee,
beneficiaries, or by their authorized agents. Nothing herein requires
that a trustee under a recorded substitution accept the
substitution. Once recorded, the substitution shall constitute
conclusive evidence of the authority of the substituted trustee or
his or her agents to act pursuant to this section.
(2) A trustee named in a recorded substitution of trustee shall
not be a legal owner or owner, as applicable, for purposes of Section
2929.3 or 2929.4.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this section or any
provision in any deed of trust, unless a new notice of sale
containing the name, street address, and telephone number of the
substituted trustee is given pursuant to Section 2924f after
execution of the substitution, any sale conducted by the substituted
trustee shall be void.
(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1998.