Foreclosure Trends

Dave Dinkel asked:


On May 28, 2008, Governor Crist of Florida signed into law Statute 501.1377 (HB 643/SB 992) or so called Anti-Fraud Legislation. The real estate investing community has labeled the new legislation as anti-investor, despite the statute formally being called “Foreclosure-rescue Transactions”. The legislation targets certain types of foreclosure-related transactions including any action or method that postpones or stops a foreclosure transaction, the purchase of a foreclosure property, and the lease optioning of a foreclosure property back to the homeowner.

There are two types of individuals covered by the statute, the first of which are called Foreclosure-rescue Consultants. These individuals may or may not be investors and their efforts are focused on stopping or postponing a foreclosure for the homeowner whether or not they collect a fee. Before this legislation took effect, an individual could charge a homeowner an upfront fee for loan modification, short selling his home, or any service that would stop or postpone the homeowner’s foreclosure. As of October 1, 2008 any person deemed to be doing foreclosure-rescue consulting can no longer collect any fees before all services are complete as specified in a contract between the homeowner and the consultant. This means that if a consultant spends 10 to 30 hours on a case, and the end result is exactly as proposed in the contractual agreement with the homeowner, the consultant may not be able to collect his fee after all. It depends on whether the homeowner decides to abide by the terms of the contract or not.

There are literally thousands of legitimate foreclosure consultants who for many years have saved homeowners from foreclosure or eased the burden of their foreclosure and charged a reasonable upfront fee to do it. The well-meaning sponsor of this legislation was focused on a few scam artists who took foreclosure victims’ money and never made an effort to complete the services promised. Ironically, the true victim in this legislation will be the homeowner who now can only seek the very expensive help of an attorney to do the same work a non-attorney can easily do.

Originally included in the legislation were bankruptcy attorneys who have to charge a fee before the bankruptcy filing. However, attorneys were later exempt by the State’s Attorney General who explained he would not enforce it against attorneys. So every attorney in Florida is now exempt from charging upfront fees for loan mitigation, foreclosure postponement, short sales, and any other service that stops or postpones a foreclosure. This has created a new and vast market that was formerly unprofitable for attorneys in most cases. This legislation now gives attorneys a whole new client base to work on.

When real estate investors realized what the legislation meant to their careers and independent small businesses, they reacted in the only way they knew – to try and find “loopholes” by which they were exempt from the severe penalties of this statute. As with attorneys or wannabe attorneys, if you get five together, you will get five opinions. In this case many were trying to escrow the payment(s) for services rendered or charge in small increments as the work was completed, such as an application fee, submission fee, and other “step-by-step” fees. These are illegal under the statue and subject to fines of $15,000 per incident and possible jail time.

Also included in this legislation was specific wording about contract clauses and the requirements of the foreclosure consultant interacting with a homeowner including:

1.) The homeowner must have the contract for at least 24 hours before signing it and this right cannot be waived or modified, as are the waiver rights for the maximum fees that personal injury attorneys can charge. 2.) The homeowner must receive from the foreclosure consultant a copy of all documents that he signed within three hours of signing them. 3.) The homeowner has a three-day right of recession or cancellation of the contract without penalty and any funds collected by the foreclosure consultant must be returned to the homeowner within ten days. 4.) The date of the agreement must be shown as well as the name and address of the foreclosure consultant and it must be signed and dated by the homeowner and the foreclosure consultant after the date the homeowner received the original contract for review. 5.) The contract must be in 12 point or larger “Upper Case” print which we believed must have been a mistake but after speaking to the Attorney General’s Office, they confirmed the entire contract must be in upper case letters. 6.) The contract must explain the exact nature of the proposed services to be provided, the total charges for each. 7.) The contract contains very specific language that cannot be modified in any way and recommends that the homeowner contact his lender or loan servicer since they may do the same service as the foreclosure consultant for no charge. 8.) No upfront fee, money, property or other form of payment may be accepted by the foreclosure consultant until all services are completed.

This is a brief overview of the first part of Florida Statute 501.1377 and is not meant to be a legal opinion advice and is for educational purposes only.



HOUSTON

Pete Collins asked:


Foreclosure Laws of Individual States

We are providing information about state foreclosure laws. This information is designed to help you understand the process in each state. However, legal information is not legal advice. We are not giving legal advice. The laws of every state are different and frequently change. If necessary, seek legal or professional advice according to your situation.

We have elected to summarize each state’s laws. For a more in-depth analysis of Foreclosure Laws of Individual States, please visit this website or call 800-437-2185for a free consultation on your foreclosure prevention options.

CAUTION: Information on the Internet for the most part is incorrect! Many sites that are publicizing Foreclosure Laws have incorrect information. We went through lengthy and timely research to bring you the most up- to-date and correct information available.

MORTGAGE AND DEED OF TRUST STATES

Below you will find each state according to whether they are Mortgage, Deed of Trust or both.

Mortgage States

Alabama Louisiana North Dakota Arkansas Maine Ohio Connecticut Massachusetts Oregon Delaware Michigan Pennsylvania Florida Minnesota Rhode Island Hawaii New Hampshire South Carolina Indiana New Jersey Vermont Kansas New Mexico Wisconsin New York

Deed of Trust States

Alaska Mississippi North Carolina Arizona Missouri Virginia California Nevada Washington, DC

States that use both Deeds of Trust and Mortgages

Colorado Montana Texas Idaho Nebraska Utah Illinois Oklahoma Wyoming Iowa Oregon Washington Maryland Tennessee Georgia West Virginia Kentucky

FORECLOSURE SUMMARIES

The following summaries give some information on individual state foreclosure laws. Timelines will vary depending on specific circumstances and each situation. The timelines noted within are based on uncontested actions and assume no delays. They give the time for the sale, then the running totals for various procedures, until the end, when the longest time possible for the entire foreclosure process ends . Often, these times are longer than normal in that redemption doesn’t often occur. However, delays do – so keep this in mind – every foreclosure is a unique situation, timelines will vary from foreclosure to foreclosure, and from state-to-state. All foreclosures must be conducted under GSE guidelines.

Alabama Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (rare)

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 49-73 days – sale held; 30 - 60 days if NOD is not required.

• Right of Redemption: Yes (12 months)

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Alaska Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 105-108 days – sale held; 108-111 deed recorded

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Arizona Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 115 days (non- judicial)

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Arkansas Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes, most circumstances

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 90 days

• Right of Redemption: Ends at sale

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

California Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (rare)

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 120 days

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Colorado Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (usual)

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 91 days – sale held; 166 redemption expires; 173 deed recorded

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Connecticut Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instruments: Mortgage

• Timeline: 90 days – default entered;180 redemption expires

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

D.C. (Washington District of Columbia)

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust

• Timeline: 47 days – sale held; 48 deed sent for recording;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Delaware Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instruments: Mortgage

• Timeline: 170-210 days – sale held; 200-300 confirmation of sale;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: No

Florida Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instruments: Mortgage

• Timeline: 135 days – sale held; 150 certificate of title issued;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Georgia Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (usual)

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 37 days sale held; 48 deed sent for recording;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

 Hawaii Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline (JF): 220 days – auction; 260 confirmation; 320 conveyance;

• Timeline (NJ): 160 days – auction; 195 conveyance;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Idaho Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust

• Timeline: 150 days – sale held; deed recorded

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Illinois Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instrument: Mortgage

• Timeline: 300 days – sale held; 345 redemption period expires; deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Indiana Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instruments: Mortgage

• Timeline: 251 days – sale held; 266 redemption period expires; deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Iowa Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instrument: Mortgage

• Timeline: 160 days – sale held; 180 redemption period expires; deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: No

Kansas Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instruments: Mortgage

• Timeline: 130 days – sale held; 210 – 495 redemption period expires; 230 – 515 file closed;

• Right of Redemption: Yes (3 to 12 months)

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Kentucky Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instrument: Mortgage

• Timeline: 147 days – sale held; 177 sale confirmation; 198 deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Louisiana Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (Executory and Ordinary Process)

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instruments: Mortgage

• Timeline (EP): 180 days – sale held; 209 deed recorded;

• Timeline (OP): 240 days – sale held; 269 deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Maine Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instruments: Mortgage

• Timeline: 240 days – sale held; 270 deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Maryland Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 46 days – sale held;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Massachusetts Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 75 days – sale held;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Michigan Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (rare)

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of T rust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 60 days – sale held; 90 – 425 redemption expires, deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: Yes (6 months is common)

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Minnesota Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Mortgage

• Timeline: 90 – 100 days – sale held; 270-280 redemption expires;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Mississippi Foreclosure Laws

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 90 days – sale held;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Missouri Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 60 days – sale held; 61-65 deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: Yes (rare and difficult)

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Montana Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 150 days – sale held; 153 deed recorded; 163 possession transferred;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Nebraska Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Mortgage

• Timeline (JF): 142 days – sale held; 176 deed recorded;

• Timeline (NJ): 111 days – sale held; 121 deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: Judicial 30 days; Non-judicial – no;

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Nevada Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline (NJ): 116 days – sale held; 118 trustee’s deed upon sale recorded;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

New Hampshire Foreclosure

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (rare)

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 59 days – sale held; 75 deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

New Jersey Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instrument: Mortgage

• Timeline: 270 days – sale held; 280 deed recorded; 290

• Right of Redemption: Yes (10 days )

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

New Mexico Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instruments: Mortgage

• Timeline: 180 days – sale held; 195 deed recorded; 225 redemption expires;

• Right of Redemption: Yes (30 days )

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

New York Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline (New York City): 445 days – sale held;

• Timeline (Outside the City):335 days – sale held;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

 North Carolina Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (rare)

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 110 days – sale held; 120 deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

North Dakota Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (usually)

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instrument: Mortgage

• Timeline: 150 days – entry of judgment to sale;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Ohio Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instrument: Mortgage

• Timeline: 217 days – sale held; until redemption expires and deed is recorded depends on county;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Oklahoma Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (usually)

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 156 days – sale held; 186 sale confirmed; 201 deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Oregon Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (usually)

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 150 days – sale held; 160 trustee’s deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: Rare

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Pennsylvania Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instrument: Mortgage

• Timeline: 270 days – sale held; 300 redemption expires and deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Rhode Island Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (rare)

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 74 days – sale held;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

South Carolina Foreclosure

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instrument: Mortgage

• Timeline: 150 days – sale complete; 180 redemption expires and deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

South Dakota Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (Rare)

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 150 days – sale held; 340 redemption expires and deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Tennessee Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (very rare)

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 40-45 days – sale held; 50-55 deed recorded

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Texas Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Home Equity Loan

• Timeline: 97 days – sale held; 102 deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Utah Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instrument: Deed of T rust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 138 days – sale held; 139 deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Vermont Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 95 days – default judgment enters; 275 redemption expires and deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Virginia Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes (rare)

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of T rust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 45 days – sale held; 60 deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Washington Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of T rust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 135 days – sale held; 140-150 deed recorded

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Washington D.C. Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust

• Timeline: 47 days – sale held; 48 deed sent for recording;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

West Virginia Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 60-90 days – sale held; 120 deed recorded;

• Right of Redemption: No

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Wisconsin Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of T rust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 290 days – sale held; 300 confirmation of sale; 305 deed recorded; 315 final title;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

Wyoming Foreclosure Law

• Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

• Primary Security Instruments: Deed of T rust, Mortgage

• Timeline: 60 days – sale held;

• Right of Redemption: Yes

• Deficiency Judgments Allowed: No



ANDRE