Mortgage relief codes and the Home Owners Bill of Rights vs a Fast and inexpensive way to protect the Banks security

CIVIL CODE
SECTION 2920-2944.10

2920. (a) A mortgage is a contract by which specific property,
including an estate for years in real property, is hypothecated for
the performance of an act, without the necessity of a change of
possession.
(b) For purposes of Sections 2924 to 2924h, inclusive, “mortgage”
also means any security device or instrument, other than a deed of
trust, that confers a power of sale affecting real property or an
estate for years therein, to be exercised after breach of the
obligation so secured, including a real property sales contract, as
defined in Section 2985, which contains such a provision.

2920.5. For purposes of this article, the following definitions
apply:
(a) “Mortgage servicer” means a person or entity who directly
services a loan, or who is responsible for interacting with the
borrower, managing the loan account on a daily basis including
collecting and crediting periodic loan payments, managing any escrow
account, or enforcing the note and security instrument, either as the
current owner of the promissory note or as the current owner’s
authorized agent. “Mortgage servicer” also means a subservicing agent
to a master servicer by contract. “Mortgage servicer” shall not
include a trustee, or a trustee’s authorized agent, acting under a
power of sale pursuant to a deed of trust.
(b) “Foreclosure prevention alternative” means a first lien loan
modification or another available loss mitigation option.
(c) (1) Unless otherwise provided and for purposes of Sections
2923.4, 2923.5, 2923.55, 2923.6, 2923.7, 2924.9, 2924.10, 2924.11,
2924.18, and 2924.19, “borrower” means any natural person who is a
mortgagor or trustor and who is potentially eligible for any federal,
state, or proprietary foreclosure prevention alternative program
offered by, or through, his or her mortgage servicer.
(2) For purposes of the sections listed in paragraph (1),
“borrower” shall not include any of the following:
(A) An individual who has surrendered the secured property as
evidenced by either a letter confirming the surrender or delivery of
the keys to the property to the mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or
authorized agent.
(B) An individual who has contracted with an organization, person,
or entity whose primary business is advising people who have decided
to leave their homes on how to extend the foreclosure process and
avoid their contractual obligations to mortgagees or beneficiaries.
(C) An individual who has filed a case under Chapter 7, 11, 12, or
13 of Title 11 of the United States Code and the bankruptcy court
has not entered an order closing or dismissing the bankruptcy case,
or granting relief from a stay of foreclosure.
(d) “First lien” means the most senior mortgage or deed of trust
on the property that is the subject of the notice of default or
notice of sale.

 

2921. A mortgage may be created upon property held adversely to the
mortgagor.

2922. A mortgage can be created, renewed, or extended, only by
writing, executed with the formalities required in the case of a
grant of real property.

2923. The lien of a mortgage is special, unless otherwise expressly
agreed, and is independent of possession.

2923.1. (a) A mortgage broker providing mortgage brokerage services
to a borrower is the fiduciary of the borrower, and any violation of
the broker’s fiduciary duties shall be a violation of the mortgage
broker’s license law. This fiduciary duty includes a requirement that
the mortgage broker place the economic interest of the borrower
ahead of his or her own economic interest. A mortgage broker who
provides mortgage brokerage services to the borrower owes this
fiduciary duty to the borrower regardless of whether the mortgage
broker is acting as an agent for any other party in connection with
the residential mortgage loan transaction.
(b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Licensed person” means a real estate broker licensed under
the Real Estate Law (Part 1 (commencing with Section 10000) of
Division 4 of the Business and Professions Code), a finance lender or
broker licensed under the California Finance Lenders Law (Division 9
(commencing with Section 22000) of the Financial Code), a
residential mortgage lender licensed under the California Residential
Mortgage Lending Act (Division 20 (commencing with Section 50000) of
the Financial Code), a commercial or industrial bank organized under
the Banking Law (Division 1 (commencing with Section 99) of the
Financial Code), a savings association organized under the Savings
Association Law (Division 2 (commencing with Section 5000) of the
Financial Code), and a credit union organized under the California
Credit Union Law (Division 5 (commencing with Section 14000) of the
Financial Code).
(2) “Mortgage broker” means a licensed person who provides
mortgage brokerage services. For purposes of this section, a licensed
person who makes a residential mortgage loan is a “mortgage broker,”
and subject to the requirements of this section applicable to
mortgage brokers, only with respect to transactions in which the
licensed person provides mortgage brokerage services.
(3) “Mortgage brokerage services” means arranging or attempting to
arrange, as exclusive agent for the borrower or as dual agent for
the borrower and lender, for compensation or in expectation of
compensation, paid directly or indirectly, a residential mortgage
loan made by an unaffiliated third party.
(4) “Residential mortgage loan” means a consumer credit
transaction that is secured by residential real property that is
improved by four or fewer residential units.
(c) The duties set forth in this section shall not be construed to
limit or narrow any other fiduciary duty of a mortgage broker.

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 recorded notice of default 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 recorded notice of sale 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 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.

2923.4. (a) The purpose of the act that added this section is to
ensure that, as part of the nonjudicial foreclosure process,
borrowers are considered for, and have a meaningful opportunity to
obtain, available loss mitigation options, if any, offered by or
through the borrower’s mortgage servicer, such as loan modifications
or other alternatives to foreclosure. Nothing in the act that added
this section, however, shall be interpreted to require a particular
result of that process.
(b) Nothing in this article obviates or supersedes the obligations
of the signatories to the consent judgment entered in the case
entitled United States of America et al. v. Bank of America
Corporation et al., filed in the United States District Court for the
District of Columbia, case number 1:12-cv-00361 RMC.

2923.4. (a) The purpose of the act that added this section is to
ensure that, as part of the nonjudicial foreclosure process,
borrowers are considered for, and have a meaningful opportunity to
obtain, available loss mitigation options, if any, offered by or
through the borrower’s mortgage servicer, such as loan modifications
or other alternatives to foreclosure. Nothing in the act that added
this section, however, shall be interpreted to require a particular
result of that process.
(b) Nothing in this article obviates or supersedes the obligations
of the signatories to the consent judgment entered in the case
entitled United States of America et al. v. Bank of America
Corporation et al., filed in the United States District Court for the
District of Columbia, case number 1:12-cv-00361 RMC.

2923.5. (a) (1) A mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee,
beneficiary, or authorized agent may not record a notice of default
pursuant to Section 2924 until both of the following:
(A) Either 30 days after initial contact is made as required by
paragraph (2) or 30 days after satisfying the due diligence
requirements as described in subdivision (e).
(B) The mortgage servicer complies with paragraph (1) of
subdivision (a) of Section 2924.18, if the borrower has provided a
complete application as defined in subdivision (d) of Section
2924.18.
(2) A mortgage servicer shall contact the borrower in person or by
telephone in order to assess the borrower’s financial situation and
explore options for the borrower to avoid foreclosure. During the
initial contact, the mortgage servicer shall advise the borrower that
he or she has the right to request a subsequent meeting and, if
requested, the mortgage servicer shall schedule the meeting to occur
within 14 days. The assessment of the borrower’s financial situation
and discussion of options may occur during the first contact, or at
the subsequent meeting scheduled for that purpose. In either case,
the borrower shall be provided the toll-free telephone number made
available by the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) to find a HUD-certified housing counseling agency.
Any meeting may occur telephonically.
(b) A notice of default recorded pursuant to Section 2924 shall
include a declaration that the mortgage servicer has contacted the
borrower, has tried with due diligence to contact the borrower as
required by this section, or that no contact was required because the
individual did not meet the definition of “borrower” pursuant to
subdivision (c) of Section 2920.5.
(c) A mortgage servicer’s loss mitigation personnel may
participate by telephone during any contact required by this section.
(d) A borrower may designate, with consent given in writing, a
HUD-certified housing counseling agency, attorney, or other advisor
to discuss with the mortgage servicer, on the borrower’s behalf, the
borrower’s financial situation and options for the borrower to avoid
foreclosure. That contact made at the direction of the borrower shall
satisfy the contact requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision
(a). Any loan modification or workout plan offered at the meeting by
the mortgage servicer is subject to approval by the borrower.
(e) A notice of default may be recorded pursuant to Section 2924
when a mortgage servicer has not contacted a borrower as required by
paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) provided that the failure to contact
the borrower occurred despite the due diligence of the mortgage
servicer. For purposes of this section, “due diligence” shall require
and mean all of the following:
(1) A mortgage servicer shall first attempt to contact a borrower
by sending a first-class letter that includes the toll-free telephone
number made available by HUD to find a HUD-certified housing
counseling agency.
(2) (A) After the letter has been sent, the mortgage servicer
shall attempt to contact the borrower by telephone at least three
times at different hours and on different days. Telephone calls shall
be made to the primary telephone number on file.
(B) A mortgage servicer may attempt to contact a borrower using an
automated system to dial borrowers, provided that, if the telephone
call is answered, the call is connected to a live representative of
the mortgage servicer.
(C) A mortgage servicer satisfies the telephone contact
requirements of this paragraph if it determines, after attempting
contact pursuant to this paragraph, that the borrower’s primary
telephone number and secondary telephone number or numbers on file,
if any, have been disconnected.
(3) If the borrower does not respond within two weeks after the
telephone call requirements of paragraph (2) have been satisfied, the
mortgage servicer shall then send a certified letter, with return
receipt requested.
(4) The mortgage servicer shall provide a means for the borrower
to contact it in a timely manner, including a toll-free telephone
number that will provide access to a live representative during
business hours.
(5) The mortgage servicer has posted a prominent link on the
homepage of its Internet Web site, if any, to the following
information:
(A) Options that may be available to borrowers who are unable to
afford their mortgage payments and who wish to avoid foreclosure, and
instructions to borrowers advising them on steps to take to explore
those options.
(B) A list of financial documents borrowers should collect and be
prepared to present to the mortgage servicer when discussing options
for avoiding foreclosure.
(C) A toll-free telephone number for borrowers who wish to discuss
options for avoiding foreclosure with their mortgage servicer.
(D) The toll-free telephone number made available by HUD to find a
HUD-certified housing counseling agency.
(f) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
described in Section 2924.15.
(g) This section shall apply only to entities described in
subdivision (b) of Section 2924.18.
(h) 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.

2923.5. (a) (1) A mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee,
beneficiary, or authorized agent may not record a notice of default
pursuant to Section 2924 until both of the following:
(A) Either 30 days after initial contact is made as required by
paragraph (2) or 30 days after satisfying the due diligence
requirements as described in subdivision (e).
(B) The mortgage servicer complies with subdivision (a) of Section
2924.11, if the borrower has provided a complete application as
defined in subdivision (f) of Section 2924.11.
(2) A mortgage servicer shall contact the borrower in person or by
telephone in order to assess the borrower’s financial situation and
explore options for the borrower to avoid foreclosure. During the
initial contact, the mortgage servicer shall advise the borrower that
he or she has the right to request a subsequent meeting and, if
requested, the mortgage servicer shall schedule the meeting to occur
within 14 days. The assessment of the borrower’s financial situation
and discussion of options may occur during the first contact, or at
the subsequent meeting scheduled for that purpose. In either case,
the borrower shall be provided the toll-free telephone number made
available by the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) to find a HUD-certified housing counseling agency.
Any meeting may occur telephonically.
(b) A notice of default recorded pursuant to Section 2924 shall
include a declaration that the mortgage servicer has contacted the
borrower, has tried with due diligence to contact the borrower as
required by this section, or that no contact was required because the
individual did not meet the definition of “borrower” pursuant to
subdivision (c) of Section 2920.5.
(c) A mortgage servicer’s loss mitigation personnel may
participate by telephone during any contact required by this section.
(d) A borrower may designate, with consent given in writing, a
HUD-certified housing counseling agency, attorney, or other adviser
to discuss with the mortgage servicer, on the borrower’s behalf, the
borrower’s financial situation and options for the borrower to avoid
foreclosure. That contact made at the direction of the borrower shall
satisfy the contact requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision
(a). Any loan modification or workout plan offered at the meeting by
the mortgage servicer is subject to approval by the borrower.
(e) A notice of default may be recorded pursuant to Section 2924
when a mortgage servicer has not contacted a borrower as required by
paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) provided that the failure to contact
the borrower occurred despite the due diligence of the mortgage
servicer. For purposes of this section, “due diligence” shall require
and mean all of the following:
(1) A mortgage servicer shall first attempt to contact a borrower
by sending a first-class letter that includes the toll-free telephone
number made available by HUD to find a HUD-certified housing
counseling agency.
(2) (A) After the letter has been sent, the mortgage servicer
shall attempt to contact the borrower by telephone at least three
times at different hours and on different days. Telephone calls shall
be made to the primary telephone number on file.
(B) A mortgage servicer may attempt to contact a borrower using an
automated system to dial borrowers, provided that, if the telephone
call is answered, the call is connected to a live representative of
the mortgage servicer.
(C) A mortgage servicer satisfies the telephone contact
requirements of this paragraph if it determines, after attempting
contact pursuant to this paragraph, that the borrower’s primary
telephone number and secondary telephone number or numbers on file,
if any, have been disconnected.
(3) If the borrower does not respond within two weeks after the
telephone call requirements of paragraph (2) have been satisfied, the
mortgage servicer shall then send a certified letter, with return
receipt requested.
(4) The mortgage servicer shall provide a means for the borrower
to contact it in a timely manner, including a toll-free telephone
number that will provide access to a live representative during
business hours.
(5) The mortgage servicer has posted a prominent link on the
homepage of its Internet Web site, if any, to the following
information:
(A) Options that may be available to borrowers who are unable to
afford their mortgage payments and who wish to avoid foreclosure, and
instructions to borrowers advising them on steps to take to explore
those options.
(B) A list of financial documents borrowers should collect and be
prepared to present to the mortgage servicer when discussing options
for avoiding foreclosure.
(C) A toll-free telephone number for borrowers who wish to discuss
options for avoiding foreclosure with their mortgage servicer.
(D) The toll-free telephone number made available by HUD to find a
HUD-certified housing counseling agency.
(f) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
described in Section 2924.15.
(g) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.

2923.5. (a) (1) A mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee,
beneficiary, or authorized agent may not record a notice of default
pursuant to Section 2924 until both of the following:
(A) Either 30 days after initial contact is made as required by
paragraph (2) or 30 days after satisfying the due diligence
requirements as described in subdivision (e).
(B) The mortgage servicer complies with subdivision (a) of Section
2924.11, if the borrower has provided a complete application as
defined in subdivision (f) of Section 2924.11.
(2) A mortgage servicer shall contact the borrower in person or by
telephone in order to assess the borrower’s financial situation and
explore options for the borrower to avoid foreclosure. During the
initial contact, the mortgage servicer shall advise the borrower that
he or she has the right to request a subsequent meeting and, if
requested, the mortgage servicer shall schedule the meeting to occur
within 14 days. The assessment of the borrower’s financial situation
and discussion of options may occur during the first contact, or at
the subsequent meeting scheduled for that purpose. In either case,
the borrower shall be provided the toll-free telephone number made
available by the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) to find a HUD-certified housing counseling agency.
Any meeting may occur telephonically.
(b) A notice of default recorded pursuant to Section 2924 shall
include a declaration that the mortgage servicer has contacted the
borrower, has tried with due diligence to contact the borrower as
required by this section, or that no contact was required because the
individual did not meet the definition of “borrower” pursuant to
subdivision (c) of Section 2920.5.
(c) A mortgage servicer’s loss mitigation personnel may
participate by telephone during any contact required by this section.
(d) A borrower may designate, with consent given in writing, a
HUD-certified housing counseling agency, attorney, or other advisor
to discuss with the mortgage servicer, on the borrower’s behalf, the
borrower’s financial situation and options for the borrower to avoid
foreclosure. That contact made at the direction of the borrower shall
satisfy the contact requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision
(a). Any loan modification or workout plan offered at the meeting by
the mortgage servicer is subject to approval by the borrower.
(e) A notice of default may be recorded pursuant to Section 2924
when a mortgage servicer has not contacted a borrower as required by
paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) provided that the failure to contact
the borrower occurred despite the due diligence of the mortgage
servicer. For purposes of this section, “due diligence” shall require
and mean all of the following:
(1) A mortgage servicer shall first attempt to contact a borrower
by sending a first-class letter that includes the toll-free telephone
number made available by HUD to find a HUD-certified housing
counseling agency.
(2) (A) After the letter has been sent, the mortgage servicer
shall attempt to contact the borrower by telephone at least three
times at different hours and on different days. Telephone calls shall
be made to the primary telephone number on file.
(B) A mortgage servicer may attempt to contact a borrower using an
automated system to dial borrowers, provided that, if the telephone
call is answered, the call is connected to a live representative of
the mortgage servicer.
(C) A mortgage servicer satisfies the telephone contact
requirements of this paragraph if it determines, after attempting
contact pursuant to this paragraph, that the borrower’s primary
telephone number and secondary telephone number or numbers on file,
if any, have been disconnected.
(3) If the borrower does not respond within two weeks after the
telephone call requirements of paragraph (2) have been satisfied, the
mortgage servicer shall then send a certified letter, with return
receipt requested.
(4) The mortgage servicer shall provide a means for the borrower
to contact it in a timely manner, including a toll-free telephone
number that will provide access to a live representative during
business hours.
(5) The mortgage servicer has posted a prominent link on the
homepage of its Internet Web site, if any, to the following
information:
(A) Options that may be available to borrowers who are unable to
afford their mortgage payments and who wish to avoid foreclosure, and
instructions to borrowers advising them on steps to take to explore
those options.
(B) A list of financial documents borrowers should collect and be
prepared to present to the mortgage servicer when discussing options
for avoiding foreclosure.
(C) A toll-free telephone number for borrowers who wish to discuss
options for avoiding foreclosure with their mortgage servicer.
(D) The toll-free telephone number made available by HUD to find a
HUD-certified housing counseling agency.
(f) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
described in Section 2924.15.
(g) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.

2923.55. (a) A mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary,
or authorized agent may not record a notice of default pursuant to
Section 2924 until all of the following:
(1) The mortgage servicer has satisfied the requirements of
paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).
(2) Either 30 days after initial contact is made as required by
paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) or 30 days after satisfying the due
diligence requirements as described in subdivision (f).
(3) The mortgage servicer complies with subdivision (c) of Section
2923.6, if the borrower has provided a complete application as
defined in subdivision (h) of Section 2923.6.
(b) (1) As specified in subdivision (a), a mortgage servicer shall
send the following information in writing to the borrower:
(A) A statement that if the borrower is a servicemember or a
dependent of a servicemember, he or she may be entitled to certain
protections under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50
U.S.C. Appen. Sec. 501 et seq.) regarding the servicemember’s
interest rate and the risk of foreclosure, and counseling for covered
servicemembers that is available at agencies such as Military
OneSource and Armed Forces Legal Assistance.
(B) A statement that the borrower may request the following:
(i) A copy of the borrower’s promissory note or other evidence of
indebtedness.
(ii) A copy of the borrower’s deed of trust or mortgage.
(iii) A copy of any assignment, if applicable, of the borrower’s
mortgage or deed of trust required to demonstrate the right of the
mortgage servicer to foreclose.
(iv) A copy of the borrower’s payment history since the borrower
was last less than 60 days past due.
(2) A mortgage servicer shall contact the borrower in person or by
telephone in order to assess the borrower’s financial situation and
explore options for the borrower to avoid foreclosure. During the
initial contact, the mortgage servicer shall advise the borrower that
he or she has the right to request a subsequent meeting and, if
requested, the mortgage servicer shall schedule the meeting to occur
within 14 days. The assessment of the borrower’s financial situation
and discussion of options may occur during the first contact, or at
the subsequent meeting scheduled for that purpose. In either case,
the borrower shall be provided the toll-free telephone number made
available by the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) to find a HUD-certified housing counseling agency.
Any meeting may occur telephonically.
(c) A notice of default recorded pursuant to Section 2924 shall
include a declaration that the mortgage servicer has contacted the
borrower, has tried with due diligence to contact the borrower as
required by this section, or that no contact was required because the
individual did not meet the definition of “borrower” pursuant to
subdivision (c) of Section 2920.5.
(d) A mortgage servicer’s loss mitigation personnel may
participate by telephone during any contact required by this section.
(e) A borrower may designate, with consent given in writing, a
HUD-certified housing counseling agency, attorney, or other adviser
to discuss with the mortgage servicer, on the borrower’s behalf, the
borrower’s financial situation and options for the borrower to avoid
foreclosure. That contact made at the direction of the borrower shall
satisfy the contact requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision
(b). Any foreclosure prevention alternative offered at the meeting by
the mortgage servicer is subject to approval by the borrower.
(f) A notice of default may be recorded pursuant to Section 2924
when a mortgage servicer has not contacted a borrower as required by
paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), provided that the failure to
contact the borrower occurred despite the due diligence of the
mortgage servicer. For purposes of this section, “due diligence”
shall require and mean all of the following:
(1) A mortgage servicer shall first attempt to contact a borrower
by sending a first-class letter that includes the toll-free telephone
number made available by HUD to find a HUD-certified housing
counseling agency.
(2) (A) After the letter has been sent, the mortgage servicer
shall attempt to contact the borrower by telephone at least three
times at different hours and on different days. Telephone calls shall
be made to the primary telephone number on file.
(B) A mortgage servicer may attempt to contact a borrower using an
automated system to dial borrowers, provided that, if the telephone
call is answered, the call is connected to a live representative of
the mortgage servicer.
(C) A mortgage servicer satisfies the telephone contact
requirements of this paragraph if it determines, after attempting
contact pursuant to this paragraph, that the borrower’s primary
telephone number and secondary telephone number or numbers on file,
if any, have been disconnected.
(3) If the borrower does not respond within two weeks after the
telephone call requirements of paragraph (2) have been satisfied, the
mortgage servicer shall then send a certified letter, with return
receipt requested, that includes the toll-free telephone number made
available by HUD to find a HUD-certified housing counseling agency.
(4) The mortgage servicer shall provide a means for the borrower
to contact it in a timely manner, including a toll-free telephone
number that will provide access to a live representative during
business hours.
(5) The mortgage servicer has posted a prominent link on the
homepage of its Internet Web site, if any, to the following
information:
(A) Options that may be available to borrowers who are unable to
afford their mortgage payments and who wish to avoid foreclosure, and
instructions to borrowers advising them on steps to take to explore
those options.
(B) A list of financial documents borrowers should collect and be
prepared to present to the mortgage servicer when discussing options
for avoiding foreclosure.
(C) A toll-free telephone number for borrowers who wish to discuss
options for avoiding foreclosure with their mortgage servicer.
(D) The toll-free telephone number made available by HUD to find a
HUD-certified housing counseling agency.
(g) This section shall not apply to entities described in
subdivision (b) of Section 2924.18.
(h) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
described in Section 2924.15.
(i) 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.

2923.6. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that any duty that
mortgage servicers may have to maximize net present value under their
pooling and servicing agreements is owed to all parties in a loan
pool, or to all investors under a pooling and servicing agreement,
not to any particular party in the loan pool or investor under a
pooling and servicing agreement, and that a mortgage servicer acts in
the best interests of all parties to the loan pool or investors in
the pooling and servicing agreement if it agrees to or implements a
loan modification or workout plan for which both of the following
apply:
(1) The loan is in payment default, or payment default is
reasonably foreseeable.
(2) Anticipated recovery under the loan modification or workout
plan exceeds the anticipated recovery through foreclosure on a net
present value basis.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the mortgage servicer
offer the borrower a loan modification or workout plan if such a
modification or plan is consistent with its contractual or other
authority.
(c) If a borrower submits a complete application for a first lien
loan modification offered by, or through, the borrower’s mortgage
servicer, a mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or
authorized agent shall not record a notice of default or notice of
sale, or conduct a trustee’s sale, while the complete first lien loan
modification application is pending. A mortgage servicer, mortgagee,
trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall not record a notice
of default or notice of sale or conduct a trustee’s sale until any of
the following occurs:
(1) The mortgage servicer makes a written determination that the
borrower is not eligible for a first lien loan modification, and any
appeal period pursuant to subdivision (d) has expired.
(2) The borrower does not accept an offered first lien loan
modification within 14 days of the offer.
(3) The borrower accepts a written first lien loan modification,
but defaults on, or otherwise breaches the borrower’s obligations
under, the first lien loan modification.
(d) If the borrower’s application for a first lien loan
modification is denied, the borrower shall have at least 30 days from
the date of the written denial to appeal the denial and to provide
evidence that the mortgage servicer’s determination was in error.
(e) If the borrower’s application for a first lien loan
modification is denied, the mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee,
beneficiary, or authorized agent shall not record a notice of default
or, if a notice of default has already been recorded, record a
notice of sale or conduct a trustee’s sale until the later of:
(1) Thirty-one days after the borrower is notified in writing of
the denial.
(2) If the borrower appeals the denial pursuant to subdivision
(d), the later of 15 days after the denial of the appeal or 14 days
after a first lien loan modification is offered after appeal but
declined by the borrower, or, if a first lien loan modification is
offered and accepted after appeal, the date on which the borrower
fails to timely submit the first payment or otherwise breaches the
terms of the offer.
(f) Following the denial of a first lien loan modification
application, the mortgage servicer shall send a written notice to the
borrower identifying the reasons for denial, including the
following:
(1) The amount of time from the date of the denial letter in which
the borrower may request an appeal of the denial of the first lien
loan modification and instructions regarding how to appeal the
denial.
(2) If the denial was based on investor disallowance, the specific
reasons for the investor disallowance.
(3) If the denial is the result of a net present value
calculation, the monthly gross income and property value used to
calculate the net present value and a statement that the borrower may
obtain all of the inputs used in the net present value calculation
upon written request to the mortgage servicer.
(4) If applicable, a finding that the borrower was previously
offered a first lien loan modification and failed to successfully
make payments under the terms of the modified loan.
(5) If applicable, a description of other foreclosure prevention
alternatives for which the borrower may be eligible, and a list of
the steps the borrower must take in order to be considered for those
options. If the mortgage servicer has already approved the borrower
for another foreclosure prevention alternative, information necessary
to complete the foreclosure prevention alternative.
(g) In order to minimize the risk of borrowers submitting multiple
applications for first lien loan modifications for the purpose of
delay, the mortgage servicer shall not be obligated to evaluate
applications from borrowers who have already been evaluated or
afforded a fair opportunity to be evaluated for a first lien loan
modification prior to January 1, 2013, or who have been evaluated or
afforded a fair opportunity to be evaluated consistent with the
requirements of this section, unless there has been a material change
in the borrower’s financial circumstances since the date of the
borrower’s previous application and that change is documented by the
borrower and submitted to the mortgage servicer.
(h) For purposes of this section, an application shall be deemed
“complete” when a borrower has supplied the mortgage servicer with
all documents required by the mortgage servicer within the reasonable
timeframes specified by the mortgage servicer.
(i) Subdivisions (c) to (h), inclusive, shall not apply to
entities described in subdivision (b) of Section 2924.18.
(j) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
described in Section 2924.15.
(k) 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.

2923.6. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that any duty
mortgage servicers may have to maximize net present value under their
pooling and servicing agreements is owed to all parties in a loan
pool, or to all investors under a pooling and servicing agreement,
not to any particular party in the loan pool or investor under a
pooling and servicing agreement, and that a mortgage servicer acts in
the best interests of all parties to the loan pool or investors in
the pooling and servicing agreement if it agrees to or implements a
loan modification or workout plan for which both of the following
apply:
(1) The loan is in payment default, or payment default is
reasonably foreseeable.
(2) Anticipated recovery under the loan modification or workout
plan exceeds the anticipated recovery through foreclosure on a net
present value basis.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the mortgage servicer
offer the borrower a loan modification or workout plan if such a
modification or plan is consistent with its contractual or other
authority.
(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.

2923.6. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that any duty
mortgage servicers may have to maximize net present value under their
pooling and servicing agreements is owed to all parties in a loan
pool, or to all investors under a pooling and servicing agreement,
not to any particular party in the loan pool or investor under a
pooling and servicing agreement, and that a mortgage servicer acts in
the best interests of all parties to the loan pool or investors in
the pooling and servicing agreement if it agrees to or implements a
loan modification or workout plan for which both of the following
apply:
(1) The loan is in payment default, or payment default is
reasonably foreseeable.
(2) Anticipated recovery under the loan modification or workout
plan exceeds the anticipated recovery through foreclosure on a net
present value basis.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the mortgage servicer
offer the borrower a loan modification or workout plan if such a
modification or plan is consistent with its contractual or other
authority.
(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.

2923.7. (a) Upon request from a borrower who requests a foreclosure
prevention alternative, the mortgage servicer shall promptly
establish a single point of contact and provide to the borrower one
or more direct means of communication with the single point of
contact.
(b) The single point of contact shall be responsible for doing all
of the following:
(1) Communicating the process by which a borrower may apply for an
available foreclosure prevention alternative and the deadline for
any required submissions to be considered for these options.
(2) Coordinating receipt of all documents associated with
available foreclosure prevention alternatives and notifying the
borrower of any missing documents necessary to complete the
application.
(3) Having access to current information and personnel sufficient
to timely, accurately, and adequately inform the borrower of the
current status of the foreclosure prevention alternative.
(4) Ensuring that a borrower is considered for all foreclosure
prevention alternatives offered by, or through, the mortgage
servicer, if any.
(5) Having access to individuals with the ability and authority to
stop foreclosure proceedings when necessary.
(c) The single point of contact shall remain assigned to the
borrower’s account until the mortgage servicer determines that all
loss mitigation options offered by, or through, the mortgage servicer
have been exhausted or the borrower’s account becomes current.
(d) The mortgage servicer shall ensure that a single point of
contact refers and transfers a borrower to an appropriate supervisor
upon request of the borrower, if the single point of contact has a
supervisor.
(e) For purposes of this section, “single point of contact” means
an individual or team of personnel each of whom has the ability and
authority to perform the responsibilities described in subdivisions
(b) to (d), inclusive. The mortgage servicer shall ensure that each
member of the team is knowledgeable about the borrower’s situation
and current status in the alternatives to foreclosure process.
(f) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
described in Section 2924.15.
(g) (1) This section shall not apply to a depository institution
chartered under state or federal law, a person licensed pursuant to
Division 9 (commencing with Section 22000) or Division 20 (commencing
with Section 50000) of the Financial Code, or a person licensed
pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 10000) of Division 4 of
the Business and Professions Code, that, during its immediately
preceding annual reporting period, as established with its primary
regulator, foreclosed on 175 or fewer residential real properties,
containing no more than four dwelling units, that are located in
California.
(2) Within three months after the close of any calendar year or
annual reporting period as established with its primary regulator
during which an entity or person described in paragraph (1) exceeds
the threshold of 175 specified in paragraph (1), that entity shall
notify its primary regulator, in a manner acceptable to its primary
regulator, and any mortgagor or trustor who is delinquent on a
residential mortgage loan serviced by that entity of the date on
which that entity will be subject to this section, which date shall
be the first day of the first month that is six months after the
close of the calendar year or annual reporting period during which
that entity exceeded the threshold.

2923.7. (a) Upon request from a borrower who requests a foreclosure
prevention alternative, the mortgage servicer shall promptly
establish a single point of contact and provide to the borrower one
or more direct means of communication with the single point of
contact.
(b) The single point of contact shall be responsible for doing all
of the following:
(1) Communicating the process by which a borrower may apply for an
available foreclosure prevention alternative and the deadline for
any required submissions to be considered for these options.
(2) Coordinating receipt of all documents associated with
available foreclosure prevention alternatives and notifying the
borrower of any missing documents necessary to complete the
application.
(3) Having access to current information and personnel sufficient
to timely, accurately, and adequately inform the borrower of the
current status of the foreclosure prevention alternative.
(4) Ensuring that a borrower is considered for all foreclosure
prevention alternatives offered by, or through, the mortgage
servicer, if any.
(5) Having access to individuals with the ability and authority to
stop foreclosure proceedings when necessary.
(c) The single point of contact shall remain assigned to the
borrower’s account until the mortgage servicer determines that all
loss mitigation options offered by, or through, the mortgage servicer
have been exhausted or the borrower’s account becomes current.
(d) The mortgage servicer shall ensure that a single point of
contact refers and transfers a borrower to an appropriate supervisor
upon request of the borrower, if the single point of contact has a
supervisor.
(e) For purposes of this section, “single point of contact” means
an individual or team of personnel each of whom has the ability and
authority to perform the responsibilities described in subdivisions
(b) to (d), inclusive. The mortgage servicer shall ensure that each
member of the team is knowledgeable about the borrower’s situation
and current status in the alternatives to foreclosure process.
(f) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
described in Section 2924.15.
(g) (1) This section shall not apply to a depository institution
chartered under state or federal law, a person licensed pursuant to
Division 9 (commencing with Section 22000) or Division 20 (commencing
with Section 50000) of the Financial Code, or a person licensed
pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 10000) of Division 4 of
the Business and Professions Code, that, during its immediately
preceding annual reporting period, as established with its primary
regulator, foreclosed on 175 or fewer residential real properties,
containing no more than four dwelling units, that are located in
California.
(2) Within three months after the close of any calendar year or
annual reporting period as established with its primary regulator
during which an entity or person described in paragraph (1) exceeds
the threshold of 175 specified in paragraph (1), that entity shall
notify its primary regulator, in a manner acceptable to its primary
regulator, and any mortgagor or trustor who is delinquent on a
residential mortgage loan serviced by that entity of the date on
which that entity will be subject to this section, which date shall
be the first day of the first month that is six months after the
close of the calendar year or annual reporting period during which
that entity exceeded the threshold.

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, 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) In performing acts required by this article, 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 trustee shall not be subject to Title
1.6c (commencing with Section 1788) of Part 4.
(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.

2924.1. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the transfer, following
the sale, of property in a common interest development, as defined by
Section 1351, executed under the power of sale contained in any deed
of trust or mortgage, shall be recorded within 30 days after the
date of sale in the office of the county recorder where the property
or a portion of the property is located.
(b) Any failure to comply with the provisions of this section
shall not affect the validity of a trustee’s sale or a sale in favor
of a bona fide purchaser.

2924.3. (a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), a
person who has undertaken as an agent of a mortgagee, beneficiary, or
owner of a promissory note secured directly or collaterally by a
mortgage or deed of trust on real property or an estate for years
therein, to make collections of payments from an obligor under the
note, shall mail the following notices, postage prepaid, to each
mortgagee, beneficiary or owner for whom the agent has agreed to make
collections from the obligor under the note:
(1) A copy of the notice of default filed in the office of the
county recorder pursuant to Section 2924 on account of a breach of
obligation under the promissory note on which the agent has agreed to
make collections of payments, within 15 days after recordation.
(2) Notice that a notice of default has been recorded pursuant to
Section 2924 on account of a breach of an obligation secured by a
mortgage or deed of trust against the same property or estate for
years therein having priority over the mortgage or deed of trust
securing the obligation described in paragraph (1), within 15 days
after recordation or within three business days after the agent
receives the information, whichever is later.
(3) Notice of the time and place scheduled for the sale of the
real property or estate for years therein pursuant to Section 2924f
under a power of sale in a mortgage or deed of trust securing an
obligation described in paragraphs (1) or (2), not less than 15 days
before the scheduled date of the sale or not later than the next
business day after the agent receives the information, whichever is
later.
(b) An agent who has undertaken to make collections on behalf of
mortgagees, beneficiaries or owners of promissory notes secured by
mortgages or deeds of trust on real property or an estate for years
therein shall not be required to comply with the provisions of
subdivision (a) with respect to a mortgagee, beneficiary or owner who
is entitled to receive notice pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section
2924b or for whom a request for notice has been recorded pursuant to
subdivision (b) of Section 2924b if the agent reasonably believes
that the address of the mortgagee, beneficiary, or owner described in
Section 2924b is the current business or residence address of that
person.
(c) An agent who has undertaken to make collections on behalf of
mortgagees, beneficiaries or owners of promissory notes secured by
mortgages or deeds of trust on real property or an estate for years
therein shall not be required to comply with the provisions of
paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a) if the agent knows or
reasonably believes that the default has already been cured by or on
behalf of the obligor.
(d) Any failure to comply with the provisions of this section
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.

2924.5. No clause in any deed of trust or mortgage on property
containing four or fewer residential units or on which four or fewer
residential units are to be constructed or in any obligation secured
by any deed of trust or mortgage on property containing four or fewer
residential units or on which four or fewer residential units are to
be constructed that provides for the acceleration of the due date of
the obligation upon the sale, conveyance, alienation, lease,
succession, assignment or other transfer of the property subject to
the deed of trust or mortgage shall be valid unless the clause is set
forth, in its entirety in both the body of the deed of trust or
mortgage and the promissory note or other document evidencing the
secured obligation. This section shall apply to all such deeds of
trust, mortgages, and obligations secured thereby executed on or
after July 1, 1972.

2924.6. (a) An obligee may not accelerate the maturity date of the
principal and accrued interest on any loan secured by a mortgage or
deed of trust on residential real property solely by reason of any
one or more of the following transfers in the title to the real
property:
(1) A transfer resulting from the death of an obligor where the
transfer is to the spouse who is also an obligor.
(2) A transfer by an obligor where the spouse becomes a coowner of
the property.
(3) A transfer resulting from a decree of dissolution of the
marriage or legal separation or from a property settlement agreement
incidental to such a decree which requires the obligor to continue to
make the loan payments by which a spouse who is an obligor becomes
the sole owner of the property.
(4) A transfer by an obligor or obligors into an inter vivos trust
in which the obligor or obligors are beneficiaries.
(5) Such real property or any portion thereof is made subject to a
junior encumbrance or lien.
(b) Any waiver of the provisions of this section by an obligor is
void and unenforceable and is contrary to public policy.
(c) For the purposes of this section, “residential real property”
means any real property which contains at least one but not more than
four housing units.
(d) This act applies only to loans executed or refinanced on or
after January 1, 1976.

2924.7. (a) The provisions of any deed of trust or mortgage on real
property which authorize any beneficiary, trustee, mortgagee, or his
or her agent or successor in interest, to accelerate the maturity
date of the principal and interest on any loan secured thereby or to
exercise any power of sale or other remedy contained therein upon the
failure of the trustor or mortgagor to pay, at the times provided
for under the terms of the deed of trust or mortgage, any taxes,
rents, assessments, or insurance premiums with respect to the
property or the loan, or any advances made by the beneficiary,
mortgagee, or his or her agent or successor in interest shall be
enforceable whether or not impairment of the security interest in the
property has resulted from the failure of the trustor or mortgagor
to pay the taxes, rents, assessments, insurance premiums, or
advances.
(b) The provisions of any deed of trust or mortgage on real
property which authorize any beneficiary, trustee, mortgagee, or his
or her agent or successor in interest, to receive and control the
disbursement of the proceeds of any policy of fire, flood, or other
hazard insurance respecting the property shall be enforceable whether
or not impairment of the security interest in the property has
resulted from the event that caused the proceeds of the insurance
policy to become payable.

2924.8. (a) (1) Upon posting a notice of sale pursuant to Section
2924f, a trustee or authorized agent shall also post the following
notice, in the manner required for posting the notice of sale on the
property to be sold, and a mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or
authorized agent, concurrently with the mailing of the notice of sale
pursuant to Section 2924b, shall send by first-class mail in an
envelope addressed to the “Resident of property subject to
foreclosure sale” the following notice in English and the languages
described in Section 1632:

Foreclosure process has begun on this property, which may affect
your right to continue to live in this property. Twenty days or more
after the date of this notice, this property may be sold at
foreclosure. If you are renting this property, the new property owner
may either give you a new lease or rental agreement or provide you
with a 90-day eviction notice. You may have a right to stay in your
home for longer than 90 days. If you have a fixed-term lease, the new
owner must honor the lease unless the new owner will occupy the
property as a primary residence or in other limited circumstances.
Also, in some cases and in some cities with a “just cause for
eviction” law, you may not have to move at all. All rights and
obligations under your lease or tenancy, including your obligation to
pay rent, will continue after the foreclosure sale. You may wish to
contact a lawyer or your local legal aid office or housing counseling
agency to discuss any rights you may have.

(2) The amendments to the notice in this subdivision made by the
act that added this paragraph shall become operative on March 1,
2013, or 60 days following posting of a dated notice incorporating
those amendments on the Department of Consumer Affairs Internet Web
site, whichever date is later.
(b) It is an infraction to tear down the notice described in
subdivision (a) within 72 hours of posting. Violators shall be
subject to a fine of one hundred dollars ($100).
(c) The Department of Consumer Affairs shall make available
translations of the notice described in subdivision (a) which may be
used by a mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent to
satisfy the requirements of this section.
(d) This section shall only apply to loans secured by residential
real property, and if the billing address for the mortgage note is
different than the property address.
(e) This section shall remain in effect only until December 31,
2019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before December 31, 2019, deletes or extends
that date.

2924.85. (a) Every landlord who offers for rent a single-family
dwelling, or a multifamily dwelling not exceeding four units, and who
has received a notice of default that has not been rescinded with
respect to a mortgage or deed of trust secured by that property shall
disclose the notice of default in writing to any prospective tenant
prior to executing a lease agreement for the property subject to the
notice.
(b) A violation of subdivision (a) shall void the lease at the
election of the tenant and shall entitle the tenant to recovery of
one month’s rent or twice the actual damages, whichever is greater,
and all prepaid rent from the landlord who received the notice of
default, in addition to any other remedy that the law may provide.
(c) In lieu of the remedies in subdivision (b), if the tenant
elects not to terminate the lease and the foreclosure sale has not
occurred, the tenant may elect to deduct a total amount equal to one
month’s rent from future rent obligations owed the landlord who
received the notice of default.
(d) The written disclosure notice required by subdivision (a)
shall be provided in English and the languages described in Section
1632 substantially in the following form:

The foreclosure process has begun on this property, and this
property may be sold at foreclosure. If you rent this property, and a
foreclosure sale occurs, the sale may affect your right to continue
to live in this property in the future. Your tenancy may continue
after the sale. The new owner must honor the lease unless the new
owner will occupy the property as a primary residence, or in other
limited circumstances. Also, in some cases and in some cities with a
“just cause for eviction” law, you may not have to move at all. In
order for the new owner to evict you, the new owner must provide you
with at least 90 days’ written eviction notice in most cases.

(e) A property manager shall not be liable under this section for
failure to provide the written disclosure notice in subdivision (d)
unless the landlord has notified the property manager of the notice
of default and directed him or her in writing to deliver the written
disclosure, in which case the property manager shall be liable to the
extent specified in subdivision (b). This subdivision shall not
preclude a landlord from being held liable when a tenant does not
receive the written disclosure notice in subdivision (d).
(f) The rights and remedies provided by this section are in
addition to and independent of any other rights and remedies under
any other law. Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter,
limit, or negate any other rights and remedies.
(g) 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.

2924.9. (a) Unless a borrower has previously exhausted the first
lien loan modification process offered by, or through, his or her
mortgage servicer described in Section 2923.6, within five business
days after recording a notice of default pursuant to Section 2924, a
mortgage servicer that offers one or more foreclosure prevention
alternatives shall send a written communication to the borrower that
includes all of the following information:
(1) That the borrower may be evaluated for a foreclosure
prevention alternative or, if applicable, foreclosure prevention
alternatives.
(2) Whether an application is required to be submitted by the
borrower in order to be considered for a foreclosure prevention
alternative.
(3) The means and process by which a borrower may obtain an
application for a foreclosure prevention alternative.
(b) This section shall not apply to entities described in
subdivision (b) of Section 2924.18.
(c) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
described in Section 2924.15.
(d) 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.

2924.9. (a) Unless a borrower has previously exhausted the first
lien loan modification process offered by, or through, his or her
mortgage servicer described in Section 2923.6, within five business
days after recording a notice of default pursuant to Section 2924, a
mortgage servicer that offers one or more foreclosure prevention
alternatives shall send a written communication to the borrower that
includes all of the following information:
(1) That the borrower may be evaluated for a foreclosure
prevention alternative or, if applicable, foreclosure prevention
alternatives.
(2) Whether an application is required to be submitted by the
borrower in order to be considered for a foreclosure prevention
alternative.
(3) The means and process by which a borrower may obtain an
application for a foreclosure prevention alternative.
(b) This section shall not apply to entities described in
subdivision (b) of Section 2924.18.
(c) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
described in Section 2924.15.
(d) 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.

2924.10. (a) When a borrower submits a complete first lien
modification application or any document in connection with a first
lien modification application, the mortgage servicer shall provide
written acknowledgment of the receipt of the documentation within
five business days of receipt. In its initial acknowledgment of
receipt of the loan modification application, the mortgage servicer
shall include the following information:
(1) A description of the loan modification process, including an
estimate of when a decision on the loan modification will be made
after a complete application has been submitted by the borrower and
the length of time the borrower will have to consider an offer of a
loan modification or other foreclosure prevention alternative.
(2) Any deadlines, including deadlines to submit missing
documentation, that would affect the processing of a first lien loan
modification application.
(3) Any expiration dates for submitted documents.
(4) Any deficiency in the borrower’s first lien loan modification
application.
(b) For purposes of this section, a borrower’s first lien loan
modification application shall be deemed to be “complete” when a
borrower has supplied the mortgage servicer with all documents
required by the mortgage servicer within the reasonable timeframes
specified by the mortgage servicer.
(c) This section shall not apply to entities described in
subdivision (b) of Section 2924.18.
(d) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
described in Section 2924.15.
(e) 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.

2924.10. (a) When a borrower submits a complete first lien
modification application or any document in connection with a first
lien modification application, the mortgage servicer shall provide
written acknowledgment of the receipt of the documentation within
five business days of receipt. In its initial acknowledgment of
receipt of the loan modification application, the mortgage servicer
shall include the following information:
(1) A description of the loan modification process, including an
estimate of when a decision on the loan modification will be made
after a complete application has been submitted by the borrower and
the length of time the borrower will have to consider an offer of a
loan modification or other foreclosure prevention alternative.
(2) Any deadlines, including deadlines to submit missing
documentation, that would affect the processing of a first lien loan
modification application.
(3) Any expiration dates for submitted documents.
(4) Any deficiency in the borrower’s first lien loan modification
application.
(b) For purposes of this section, a borrower’s first lien loan
modification application shall be deemed to be “complete” when a
borrower has supplied the mortgage servicer with all documents
required by the mortgage servicer within the reasonable timeframes
specified by the mortgage servicer.
(c) This section shall not apply to entities described in
subdivision (b) of Section 2924.18.
(d) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
described in Section 2924.15.
(e) 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.

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 rescission
or 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.

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 rescission
or 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.

2924.11. (a) If a borrower submits a complete application for a
foreclosure prevention alternative offered by, or through, the
borrower’s mortgage servicer, a mortgage servicer, trustee,
mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall not record a notice
of sale or conduct a trustee’s sale while the complete foreclosure
prevention alternative application is pending, and until the borrower
has been provided with a written determination by the mortgage
servicer regarding that borrower’s eligibility for the requested
foreclosure prevention alternative.
(b) Following the denial of a first lien loan modification
application, the mortgage servicer shall send a written notice to the
borrower identifying with specificity the reasons for the denial and
shall include a statement that the borrower may obtain additional
documentation supporting the denial decision upon written request to
the mortgage servicer.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) This section applies only to mortgages or deeds of trust as
described in Section 2924.15.
(f) For purposes of this section, an application shall be deemed
“complete” when a borrower has supplied the mortgage servicer with
all documents required by the mortgage servicer within the reasonable
timeframes specified by the mortgage servicer.
(g) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.

2924.11. (a) If a borrower submits a complete application for a
foreclosure prevention alternative offered by, or through, the
borrower’s mortgage servicer, a mortgage servicer, trustee,
mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall not record a notice
of sale or conduct a trustee’s sale while the complete foreclosure
prevention alternative application is pending, and until the borrower
has been provided with a written determination by the mortgage
servicer regarding that borrower’s eligibility for the requested
foreclosure prevention alternative.
(b) Following the denial of a first lien loan modification
application, the mortgage servicer shall send a written notice to the
borrower identifying with specificity the reasons for the denial and
shall include a statement that the borrower may obtain additional
documentation supporting the denial decision upon written request to
the mortgage servicer.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) This section applies only to mortgages or deeds of trust as
described in Section 2924.15.
(f) For purposes of this section, an application shall be deemed
“complete” when a borrower has supplied the mortgage servicer with
all documents required by the mortgage servicer within the reasonable
timeframes specified by the mortgage servicer.
(g) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.

2924.12. (a) (1) If a trustee’s deed upon sale has not been
recorded, a borrower may bring an action for injunctive relief to
enjoin a material violation of Section 2923.55, 2923.6, 2923.7,
2924.9, 2924.10, 2924.11, or 2924.17.
(2) Any injunction shall remain in place and any trustee’s sale
shall be enjoined until the court determines that the mortgage
servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent has
corrected and remedied the violation or violations giving rise to the
action for injunctive relief. An enjoined entity may move to
dissolve an injunction based on a showing that the material violation
has been corrected and remedied.
(b) After a trustee’s deed upon sale has been recorded, a mortgage
servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall
be liable to a borrower for actual economic damages pursuant to
Section 3281, resulting from a material violation of Section 2923.55,
2923.6, 2923.7, 2924.9, 2924.10, 2924.11, or 2924.17 by that
mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized
agent where the violation was not corrected and remedied prior to the
recordation of the trustee’s deed upon sale. If the court finds that
the material violation was intentional or reckless, or resulted from
willful misconduct by a mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee,
beneficiary, or authorized agent, the court may award the borrower
the greater of treble actual damages or statutory damages of fifty
thousand dollars ($50,000).
(c) A mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or
authorized agent shall not be liable for any violation that it has
corrected and remedied prior to the recordation of a trustee’s deed
upon sale, or that has been corrected and remedied by third parties
working on its behalf prior to the recordation of a trustee’s deed
upon sale.
(d) A violation of Section 2923.55, 2923.6, 2923.7, 2924.9,
2924.10, 2924.11, or 2924.17 by a person licensed by the Department
of Business Oversight or the Bureau of Real Estate shall be deemed to
be a violation of that person’s licensing law.
(e) No violation of this article shall affect the validity of a
sale in favor of a bona fide purchaser and any of its encumbrancers
for value without notice.
(f) A third-party encumbrancer shall not be relieved of liability
resulting from violations of Section 2923.55, 2923.6, 2923.7, 2924.9,
2924.10, 2924.11, or 2924.17 committed by that third-party
encumbrancer, that occurred prior to the sale of the subject property
to the bona fide purchaser.
(g) A signatory to a consent judgment entered in the case entitled
United States of America et al. v. Bank of America Corporation et
al., filed in the United States District Court for the District of
Columbia, case number 1:12-cv-00361 RMC, that is in compliance with
the relevant terms of the Settlement Term Sheet of that consent
judgment with respect to the borrower who brought an action pursuant
to this section while the consent judgment is in effect shall have no
liability for a violation of Section 2923.55, 2923.6, 2923.7,
2924.9, 2924.10, 2924.11, or 2924.17.
(h) The rights, remedies, and procedures provided by this section
are in addition to and independent of any other rights, remedies, or
procedures under any other law. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to alter, limit, or negate any other rights, remedies, or
procedures provided by law.
(i) A court may award a prevailing borrower reasonable attorney’s
fees and costs in an action brought pursuant to this section. A
borrower shall be deemed to have prevailed for purposes of this
subdivision if the borrower obtained injunctive relief or was awarded
damages pursuant to this section.
(j) This section shall not apply to entities described in
subdivision (b) of Section 2924.18.
(k) 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.

2924.12. (a) (1) If a trustee’s deed upon sale has not been
recorded, a borrower may bring an action for injunctive relief to
enjoin a material violation of Section 2923.55, 2923.6, 2923.7,
2924.9, 2924.10, 2924.11, or 2924.17.
(2) Any injunction shall remain in place and any trustee’s sale
shall be enjoined until the court determines that the mortgage
servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent has
corrected and remedied the violation or violations giving rise to the
action for injunctive relief. An enjoined entity may move to
dissolve an injunction based on a showing that the material violation
has been corrected and remedied.
(b) After a trustee’s deed upon sale has been recorded, a mortgage
servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall
be liable to a borrower for actual economic damages pursuant to
Section 3281, resulting from a material violation of Section 2923.55,
2923.6, 2923.7, 2924.9, 2924.10, 2924.11, or 2924.17 by that
mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized
agent where the violation was not corrected and remedied prior to the
recordation of the trustee’s deed upon sale. If the court finds that
the material violation was intentional or reckless, or resulted from
willful misconduct by a mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee,
beneficiary, or authorized agent, the court may award the borrower
the greater of treble actual damages or statutory damages of fifty
thousand dollars ($50,000).
(c) A mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or
authorized agent shall not be liable for any violation that it has
corrected and remedied prior to the recordation of a trustee’s deed
upon sale, or that has been corrected and remedied by third parties
working on its behalf prior to the recordation of a trustee’s deed
upon sale.
(d) A violation of Section 2923.55, 2923.6, 2923.7, 2924.9,
2924.10, 2924.11, or 2924.17 by a person licensed by the Department
of Business Oversight or the Bureau of Real Estate shall be deemed to
be a violation of that person’s licensing law.
(e) No violation of this article shall affect the validity of a
sale in favor of a bona fide purchaser and any of its encumbrancers
for value without notice.
(f) A third-party encumbrancer shall not be relieved of liability
resulting from violations of Section 2923.55, 2923.6, 2923.7, 2924.9,
2924.10, 2924.11, or 2924.17 committed by that third-party
encumbrancer, that occurred prior to the sale of the subject property
to the bona fide purchaser.
(g) A signatory to a consent judgment entered in the case entitled
United States of America et al. v. Bank of America Corporation et
al., filed in the United States District Court for the District of
Columbia, case number 1:12-cv-00361 RMC, that is in compliance with
the relevant terms of the Settlement Term Sheet of that consent
judgment with respect to the borrower who brought an action pursuant
to this section while the consent judgment is in effect shall have no
liability for a violation of Section 2923.55, 2923.6, 2923.7,
2924.9, 2924.10, 2924.11, or 2924.17.
(h) The rights, remedies, and procedures provided by this section
are in addition to and independent of any other rights, remedies, or
procedures under any other law. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to alter, limit, or negate any other rights, remedies, or
procedures provided by law.
(i) A court may award a prevailing borrower reasonable attorney’s
fees and costs in an action brought pursuant to this section. A
borrower shall be deemed to have prevailed for purposes of this
subdivision if the borrower obtained injunctive relief or was awarded
damages pursuant to this section.
(j) This section shall not apply to entities described in
subdivision (b) of Section 2924.18.
(k) 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.

2924.12. (a) (1) If a trustee’s deed upon sale has not been
recorded, a borrower may bring an action for injunctive relief to
enjoin a material violation of Section 2923.5, 2923.7, 2924.11, or
2924.17.
(2) Any injunction shall remain in place and any trustee’s sale
shall be enjoined until the court determines that the mortgage
servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent has
corrected and remedied the violation or violations giving rise to the
action for injunctive relief. An enjoined entity may move to
dissolve an injunction based on a showing that the material violation
has been corrected and remedied.
(b) After a trustee’s deed upon sale has been recorded, a mortgage
servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall
be liable to a borrower for actual economic damages pursuant to
Section 3281, resulting from a material violation of Section 2923.5,
2923.7, 2924.11, or 2924.17 by that mortgage servicer, mortgagee,
trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent where the violation was not
corrected and remedied prior to the recordation of the trustee’s
deed upon sale. If the court finds that the material violation was
intentional or reckless, or resulted from willful misconduct by a
mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized
agent, the court may award the borrower the greater of treble actual
damages or statutory damages of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
(c) A mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or
authorized agent shall not be liable for any violation that it has
corrected and remedied prior to the recordation of the trustee’s deed
upon sale, or that has been corrected and remedied by third parties
working on its behalf prior to the recordation of the trustee’s deed
upon sale.
(d) A violation of Section 2923.5, 2923.7, 2924.11, or 2924.17 by
a person licensed by the Department of Business Oversight or the
Bureau of Real Estate shall be deemed to be a violation of that
person’s licensing law.
(e) No violation of this article shall affect the validity of a
sale in favor of a bona fide purchaser and any of its encumbrancers
for value without notice.
(f) A third-party encumbrancer shall not be relieved of liability
resulting from violations of Section 2923.5, 2923.7, 2924.11, or
2924.17 committed by that third-party encumbrancer, that occurred
prior to the sale of the subject property to the bona fide purchaser.
(g) The rights, remedies, and procedures provided by this section
are in addition to and independent of any other rights, remedies, or
procedures under any other law. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to alter, limit, or negate any other rights, remedies, or
procedures provided by law.
(h) A court may award a prevailing borrower reasonable attorney’s
fees and costs in an action brought pursuant to this section. A
borrower shall be deemed to have prevailed for purposes of this
subdivision if the borrower obtained injunctive relief or was awarded
damages pursuant to this section.
(i) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.

2924.12. (a) (1) If a trustee’s deed upon sale has not been
recorded, a borrower may bring an action for injunctive relief to
enjoin a material violation of Section 2923.5, 2923.7, 2924.11, or
2924.17.
(2) Any injunction shall remain in place and any trustee’s sale
shall be enjoined until the court determines that the mortgage
servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent has
corrected and remedied the violation or violations giving rise to the
action for injunctive relief. An enjoined entity may move to
dissolve an injunction based on a showing that the material violation
has been corrected and remedied.
(b) After a trustee’s deed upon sale has been recorded, a mortgage
servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall
be liable to a borrower for actual economic damages pursuant to
Section 3281, resulting from a material violation of Section 2923.5,
2923.7, 2924.11, or 2924.17 by that mortgage servicer, mortgagee,
trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent where the violation was not
corrected and remedied prior to the recordation of the trustee’s
deed upon sale. If the court finds that the material violation was
intentional or reckless, or resulted from willful misconduct by a
mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized
agent, the court may award the borrower the greater of treble actual
damages or statutory damages of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
(c) A mortgage servicer, mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or
authorized agent shall not be liable for any violation that it has
corrected and remedied prior to the recordation of the trustee’s deed
upon sale, or that has been corrected and remedied by third parties
working on its behalf prior to the recordation of the trustee’s deed
upon sale.
(d) A violation of Section 2923.5, 2923.7, 2924.11, or 2924.17 by
a person licensed by the Department of Business Oversight or the
Bureau of Real Estate shall be deemed to be a violation of that
person’s licensing law.
(e) No violation of this article shall affect the validity of a
sale in favor of a bona fide purchaser and any of its encumbrancers
for value without notice.
(f) A third-party encumbrancer shall not be relieved of liability
resulting from violations of Section 2923.5, 2923.7, 2924.11, or
2924.17 committed by that third-party encumbrancer, that occurred
prior to the sale of the subject property to the bona fide purchaser.
(g) The rights, remedies, and procedures provided by this section
are in addition to and independent of any other rights, remedies, or
procedures under any other law. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to alter, limit, or negate any other rights, remedies, or
procedures provided by law.
(h) A court may award a prevailing borrower reasonable attorney’s
fees and costs in an action brought pursuant to this section. A
borrower shall be deemed to have prevailed for purposes of this
subdivision if the borrower obtained injunctive relief or was awarded
damages pursuant to this section.
(i) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.

2924.15. (a) Unless otherwise provided, paragraph (5) of
subdivision (a) of Section 2924, and Sections 2923.5, 2923.55,
2923.6, 2923.7, 2924.9, 2924.10, 2924.11, and 2924.18 shall apply
only to first lien mortgages or deeds of trust that are secured by
owner-occupied residential real property containing no more than four
dwelling units. For these purposes, “owner-occupied” means that the
property is the principal residence of the borrower and is security
for a loan made for personal, family, or household purposes.
(b) 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.

2924.15. (a) Unless otherwise provided, paragraph (5) of
subdivision (a) of Section 2924, and Sections 2923.5, 2923.55,
2923.6, 2923.7, 2924.9, 2924.10, 2924.11, and 2924.18 shall apply
only to first lien mortgages or deeds of trust that are secured by
owner-occupied residential real property containing no more than four
dwelling units. For these purposes, “owner-occupied” means that the
property is the principal residence of the borrower and is security
for a loan made for personal, family, or household purposes.
(b) 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.

2924.15. (a) Unless otherwise provided, Sections 2923.5, 2923.7,
and 2924.11 shall apply only to first lien mortgages or deeds of
trust that are secured by owner-occupied residential real property
containing no more than four dwelling units. For these purposes,
“owner-occupied” means that the property is the principal residence
of the borrower and is security for a loan made for personal, family,
or household purposes.
(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.

2924.15. (a) Unless otherwise provided, Sections 2923.5, 2923.7,
and 2924.11 shall apply only to first lien mortgages or deeds of
trust that are secured by owner-occupied residential real property
containing no more than four dwelling units. For these purposes,
“owner-occupied” means that the property is the principal residence
of the borrower and is security for a loan made for personal, family,
or household purposes.
(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.

2924.17. (a) A declaration recorded pursuant to Section 2923.5 or,
until January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 2923.55, a notice of
default, notice of sale, assignment of a deed of trust, or
substitution of trustee recorded by or on behalf of a mortgage
servicer in connection with a foreclosure subject to the requirements
of Section 2924, or a declaration or affidavit filed in any court
relative to a foreclosure proceeding shall be accurate and complete
and supported by competent and reliable evidence.
(b) Before recording or filing any of the documents described in
subdivision (a), a mortgage servicer shall ensure that it has
reviewed competent and reliable evidence to substantiate the borrower’
s default and the right to foreclose, including the borrower’s loan
status and loan information.
(c) Until January 1, 2018, any mortgage servicer that engages in
multiple and repeated uncorrected violations of subdivision (b) in
recording documents or filing documents in any court relative to a
foreclosure proceeding shall be liable for a civil penalty of up to
seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) per mortgage or deed of
trust in an action brought by a government entity identified in
Section 17204 of the Business and Professions Code, or in an
administrative proceeding brought by the Department of Business
Oversight or the Bureau of Real Estate against a respective licensee,
in addition to any other remedies available to these entities. This
subdivision shall be inoperative on January 1, 2018.

2924.17. (a) A declaration recorded pursuant to Section 2923.5 or,
until January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 2923.55, a notice of
default, notice of sale, assignment of a deed of trust, or
substitution of trustee recorded by or on behalf of a mortgage
servicer in connection with a foreclosure subject to the requirements
of Section 2924, or a declaration or affidavit filed in any court
relative to a foreclosure proceeding shall be accurate and complete
and supported by competent and reliable evidence.
(b) Before recording or filing any of the documents described in
subdivision (a), a mortgage servicer shall ensure that it has
reviewed competent and reliable evidence to substantiate the borrower’
s default and the right to foreclose, including the borrower’s loan
status and loan information.
(c) Until January 1, 2018, any mortgage servicer that engages in
multiple and repeated uncorrected violations of subdivision (b) in
recording documents or filing documents in any court relative to a
foreclosure proceeding shall be liable for a civil penalty of up to
seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) per mortgage or deed of
trust in an action brought by a government entity identified in
Section 17204 of the Business and Professions Code, or in an
administrative proceeding brought by the Department of Business
Oversight or the Bureau of Real Estate against a respective licensee,
in addition to any other remedies available to these entities. This
subdivision shall be inoperative on January 1, 2018.

2924.18. (a) (1) If a borrower submits a complete application for a
first lien loan modification offered by, or through, the borrower’s
mortgage servicer, a mortgage servicer, trustee, mortgagee,
beneficiary, or authorized agent shall not record a notice of
default, notice of sale, or conduct a trustee’s sale while the
complete first lien loan modification application is pending, and
until the borrower has been provided with a written determination by
the mortgage servicer regarding that borrower’s eligibility for the
requested loan modification.
(2) If a foreclosure prevention alternative has been 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:
(A) The borrower is in compliance with the terms of a written
trial or permanent loan modification, forbearance, or repayment plan.
(B) 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.
(3) 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:
(A) The borrower is in compliance with the terms of a written
trial or permanent loan modification, forbearance, or repayment plan.
(B) 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) This section shall apply only to a depository institution
chartered under state or federal law, a person licensed pursuant to
Division 9 (commencing with Section 22000) or Division 20 (commencing
with Section 50000) of the Financial Code, or a person licensed
pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 10000) of Division 4 of
the Business and Professions Code, that, during its immediately
preceding annual reporting period, as established with its primary
regulator, foreclosed on 175 or fewer residential real properties,
containing no more than four dwelling units, that are located in
California.
(c) Within three months after the close of any calendar year or
annual reporting period as established with its primary regulator
during which an entity or person described in subdivision (b) exceeds
the threshold of 175 specified in subdivision (b), that entity shall
notify its primary regulator, in a manner acceptable to its primary
regulator, and any mortgagor or trustor who is delinquent on a
residential mortgage loan serviced by that entity of the date on
which that entity will be subject to Sections 2923.55, 2923.6,
2923.7, 2924.9, 2924.10, 2924.11, and 2924.12, which date shall be
the first day of the first month that is six months after the close
of the calendar year or annual reporting period during which that
entity exceeded the threshold.
(d) For purposes of this section, an application shall be deemed
“complete” when a borrower has supplied the mortgage servicer with
all documents required by the mortgage servicer within the reasonable
timeframes specified by the mortgage servicer.
(e) If a borrower has been approved in writing for a first lien
loan modification or other foreclosure prevention alternative, and
the servicing of the 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.
(f) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
described in Section 2924.15.
(g) 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.

2924.18. (a) (1) If a borrower submits a complete application for a
first lien loan modification offered by, or through, the borrower’s
mortgage servicer, a mortgage servicer, trustee, mortgagee,
beneficiary, or authorized agent shall not record a notice of
default, notice of sale, or conduct a trustee’s sale while the
complete first lien loan modification application is pending, and
until the borrower has been provided with a written determination by
the mortgage servicer regarding that borrower’s eligibility for the
requested loan modification.
(2) If a foreclosure prevention alternative has been 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:
(A) The borrower is in compliance with the terms of a written
trial or permanent loan modification, forbearance, or repayment plan.
(B) 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.
(3) 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:
(A) The borrower is in compliance with the terms of a written
trial or permanent loan modification, forbearance, or repayment plan.
(B) 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) This section shall apply only to a depository institution
chartered under state or federal law, a person licensed pursuant to
Division 9 (commencing with Section 22000) or Division 20 (commencing
with Section 50000) of the Financial Code, or a person licensed
pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 10000) of Division 4 of
the Business and Professions Code, that, during its immediately
preceding annual reporting period, as established with its primary
regulator, foreclosed on 175 or fewer residential real properties,
containing no more than four dwelling units, that are located in
California.
(c) Within three months after the close of any calendar year or
annual reporting period as established with its primary regulator
during which an entity or person described in subdivision (b) exceeds
the threshold of 175 specified in subdivision (b), that entity shall
notify its primary regulator, in a manner acceptable to its primary
regulator, and any mortgagor or trustor who is delinquent on a
residential mortgage loan serviced by that entity of the date on
which that entity will be subject to Sections 2923.55, 2923.6,
2923.7, 2924.9, 2924.10, 2924.11, and 2924.12, which date shall be
the first day of the first month that is six months after the close
of the calendar year or annual reporting period during which that
entity exceeded the threshold.
(d) For purposes of this section, an application shall be deemed
“complete” when a borrower has supplied the mortgage servicer with
all documents required by the mortgage servicer within the reasonable
timeframes specified by the mortgage servicer.
(e) If a borrower has been approved in writing for a first lien
loan modification or other foreclosure prevention alternative, and
the servicing of the 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.
(f) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
described in Section 2924.15.
(g) 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.

2924.19. (a) (1) If a trustee’s deed upon sale has not been
recorded, a borrower may bring an action for injunctive relief to
enjoin a material violation of Section 2923.5, 2924.17, or 2924.18.
(2) An injunction shall remain in place and any trustee’s sale
shall be enjoined until the court determines that the mortgage
servicer, mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent has corrected
and remedied the violation or violations giving rise to the action
for injunctive relief. An enjoined entity may move to dissolve an
injunction based on a showing that the material violation has been
corrected and remedied.
(b) After a trustee’s deed upon sale has been recorded, a mortgage
servicer, mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall be
liable to a borrower for actual economic damages pursuant to Section
3281, resulting from a material violation of Section 2923.5, 2924.17,
or 2924.18 by that mortgage servicer, mortgagee, beneficiary, or
authorized agent where the violation was not corrected and remedied
prior to the recordation of the trustee’s deed upon sale. If the
court finds that the material violation was intentional or reckless,
or resulted from willful misconduct by a mortgage servicer,
mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent, the court may award the
borrower the greater of treble actual damages or statutory damages of
fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
(c) A mortgage servicer, mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized
agent shall not be liable for any violation that it has corrected and
remedied prior to the recordation of the trustee’s deed upon sale,
or that has been corrected and remedied by third parties working on
its behalf prior to the recordation of the trustee’s deed upon sale.
(d) A violation of Section 2923.5, 2924.17, or 2924.18 by a person
licensed by the Department of Business Oversight or the Bureau of
Real Estate shall be deemed to be a violation of that person’s
licensing law.
(e) A violation of this article shall not affect the validity of a
sale in favor of a bona fide purchaser and any of its encumbrancers
for value without notice.
(f) A third-party encumbrancer shall not be relieved of liability
resulting from violations of Section 2923.5, 2924.17, or 2924.18,
committed by that third-party encumbrancer, that occurred prior to
the sale of the subject property to the bona fide purchaser.
(g) The rights, remedies, and procedures provided by this section
are in addition to and independent of any other rights, remedies, or
procedures under any other law. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to alter, limit, or negate any other rights, remedies, or
procedures provided by law.
(h) A court may award a prevailing borrower reasonable attorney’s
fees and costs in an action brought pursuant to this section. A
borrower shall be deemed to have prevailed for purposes of this
subdivision if the borrower obtained injunctive relief or damages
pursuant to this section.
(i) This section shall apply only 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.

2924.20. Consistent with their general regulatory authority, and
notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 2924.18, the
Department of Business Oversight and the Bureau of Real Estate may
adopt regulations applicable to any entity or person under their
respective jurisdictions that are necessary to carry out the purposes
of the act that added this section. A violation of the regulations
adopted pursuant to this section shall only be enforceable by the
regulatory agency.

2924.25. (a) Unless acting in the capacity of a trustee, a licensed
title company or underwritten title company shall not be liable for
a violation of Section 2923.5, 2923.55, 2923.6, 2924.11, 2924.18, or
2924.19 if it records or causes to record a notice of default or
notice of sale at the request of a trustee, substitute trustee, or
beneficiary, in good faith and in the normal course of its business
activities.
(b) 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.

2924.26. (a) Unless acting in the capacity of a trustee, a licensed
title company or underwritten title company shall not be liable for
a violation of Section 2923.5 or 2924.11 if it records or causes to
record a notice of default or notice of sale at the request of a
trustee, substitute trustee, or beneficiary, in good faith and in the
normal course of its business activities.
(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.

2924a. If, by the terms of any trust or deed of trust a power of
sale is conferred upon the trustee, the attorney for the trustee, or
any duly authorized agent, may conduct the sale and act in the sale
as the auctioneer for the trustee.

2924b. (a) Any person desiring a copy of any notice of default and
of any notice of sale under any deed of trust or mortgage with power
of sale upon real property or an estate for years therein, as to
which deed of trust or mortgage the power of sale cannot be exercised
until these notices are given for the time and in the manner
provided in Section 2924 may, at any time subsequent to recordation
of the deed of trust or mortgage and prior to recordation of notice
of default thereunder, cause to be filed for record in the office of
the recorder of any county in which any part or parcel of the real
property is situated, a duly acknowledged request for a copy of the
notice of default and of sale. This request shall be signed and
acknowledged by the person making the request, specifying the name
and address of the person to whom the notice is to be mailed, shall
identify the deed of trust or mortgage by stating the names of the
parties thereto, the date of recordation thereof, and the book and
page where the deed of trust or mortgage is recorded or the recorder’
s number, and shall be in substantially the following form:

“In accordance with Section 2924b, Civil Code,
request is hereby
made that a copy of any notice of default and a
copy of any notice of sale
under the deed of trust (or mortgage) recorded
______, ____, in Book
_____ page ____ records of ____ County, (or filed
for record with
recorder’s serial number ____, _______ County)
California, executed
by ____ as trustor (or mortgagor) in which
________ is named as
beneficiary (or mortgagee) and ______________ as
trustee be mailed to
___________________ at __________________________.
Name Address
NOTICE: A copy of any notice of default and of
any notice of sale will be
sent only to the address contained in this
recorded request. If your address changes, a new
request must be
recorded.
Signature _______________”

Upon the filing for record of the request, the recorder shall
index in the general index of grantors the names of the trustors (or
mortgagors) recited therein and the names of persons requesting
copies.
(b) The mortgagee, trustee, or other person authorized to record
the notice of default or the notice of sale shall do each of the
following:
(1) Within 10 business days following recordation of the notice of
default, deposit or cause to be deposited in the United States mail
an envelope, sent by registered or certified mail with postage
prepaid, containing a copy of the notice with the recording date
shown thereon, addressed to each person whose name and address are
set forth in a duly recorded request therefor, directed to the
address designated in the request and to each trustor or mortgagor at
his or her last known address if different than the address
specified in the deed of trust or mortgage with power of sale.
(2) At least 20 days before the date of sale, deposit or cause to
be deposited in the United States mail an envelope, sent by
registered or certified mail with postage prepaid, containing a copy
of the notice of the time and place of sale, addressed to each person
whose name and address are set forth in a duly recorded request
therefor, directed to the address designated in the request and to
each trustor or mortgagor at his or her last known address if
different than the address specified in the deed of trust or mortgage
with power of sale.
(3) As used in paragraphs (1) and (2), the “last known address” of
each trustor or mortgagor means the last business or residence
physical address actually known by the mortgagee, beneficiary,
trustee, or other person authorized to record the notice of default.
For the purposes of this subdivision, an address is “actually known”
if it is contained in the original deed of trust or mortgage, or in
any subsequent written notification of a change of physical address
from the trustor or mortgagor pursuant to the deed of trust or
mortgage. For the purposes of this subdivision, “physical address”
does not include an email or any form of electronic address for a
trustor or mortgagor. The beneficiary shall inform the trustee of the
trustor’s last address actually known by the beneficiary. However,
the trustee shall incur no liability for failing to send any notice
to the last address unless the trustee has actual knowledge of it.
(4) A “person authorized to record the notice of default or the
notice of sale” shall include an agent for the mortgagee or
beneficiary, an agent of the named trustee, any person designated in
an executed substitution of trustee, or an agent of that substituted
trustee.
(c) The mortgagee, trustee, or other person authorized to record
the notice of default or the notice of sale shall do the following:
(1) Within one month following recordation of the notice of
default, deposit or cause to be deposited in the United States mail
an envelope, sent by registered or certified mail with postage
prepaid, containing a copy of the notice with the recording date
shown thereon, addressed to each person set forth in paragraph (2),
provided that the estate or interest of any person entitled to
receive notice under this subdivision is acquired by an instrument
sufficient to impart constructive notice of the estate or interest in
the land or portion thereof that is subject to the deed of trust or
mortgage being foreclosed, and provided the instrument is recorded in
the office of the county recorder so as to impart that constructive
notice prior to the recording date of the notice of default and
provided the instrument as so recorded sets forth a mailing address
that the county recorder shall use, as instructed within the
instrument, for the return of the instrument after recording, and
which address shall be the address used for the purposes of mailing
notices herein.
(2) The persons to whom notice shall be mailed under this
subdivision are:
(A) The successor in interest, as of the recording date of the
notice of default, of the estate or interest or any portion thereof
of the trustor or mortgagor of the deed of trust or mortgage being
foreclosed.
(B) The beneficiary or mortgagee of any deed of trust or mortgage
recorded subsequent to the deed of trust or mortgage being
foreclosed, or recorded prior to or concurrently with the deed of
trust or mortgage being foreclosed but subject to a recorded
agreement or a recorded statement of subordination to the deed of
trust or mortgage being foreclosed.
(C) The assignee of any interest of the beneficiary or mortgagee
described in subparagraph (B), as of the recording date of the notice
of default.
(D) The vendee of any contract of sale, or the lessee of any
lease, of the estate or interest being foreclosed that is recorded
subsequent to the deed of trust or mortgage being foreclosed, or
recorded prior to or concurrently with the deed of trust or mortgage
being foreclosed but subject to a recorded agreement or statement of
subordination to the deed of trust or mortgage being foreclosed.
(E) The successor in interest to the vendee or lessee described in
subparagraph (D), as of the recording date of the notice of default.
(F) The office of the Controller, Sacramento, California, where,
as of the recording date of the notice of default, a “Notice of Lien
for Postponed Property Taxes” has been recorded against the real
property to which the notice of default applies.
(3) At least 20 days before the date of sale, deposit or cause to
be deposited in the United States mail an envelope, sent by
registered or certified mail with postage prepaid, containing a copy
of the notice of the time and place of sale addressed to each person
to whom a copy of the notice of default is to be mailed as provided
in paragraphs (1) and (2), and addressed to the office of any state
taxing agency, Sacramento, California, that has recorded, subsequent
to the deed of trust or mortgage being foreclosed, a notice of tax
lien prior to the recording date of the notice of default against the
real property to which the notice of default applies.
(4) Provide a copy of the notice of sale to the Internal Revenue
Service, in accordance with Section 7425 of the Internal Revenue Code
and any applicable federal regulation, if a “Notice of Federal Tax
Lien under Internal Revenue Laws” has been recorded, subsequent to
the deed of trust or mortgage being foreclosed, against the real
property to which the notice of sale applies. The failure to provide
the Internal Revenue Service with a copy of the notice of sale
pursuant to this paragraph shall be sufficient cause to rescind the
trustee’s sale and invalidate the trustee’s deed, at the option of
either the successful bidder at the trustee’s sale or the trustee,
and in either case with the consent of the beneficiary. Any option to
rescind the trustee’s sale pursuant to this paragraph shall be
exercised prior to any transfer of the property by the successful
bidder to a bona fide purchaser for value. A rescission of the
trustee’s sale pursuant to this paragraph may be recorded in a notice
of rescission pursuant to Section 1058.5.
(5) The mailing of notices in the manner set forth in paragraph
(1) shall not impose upon any licensed attorney, agent, or employee
of any person entitled to receive notices as herein set forth any
duty to communicate the notice to the entitled person from the fact
that the mailing address used by the county recorder is the address
of the attorney, agent, or employee.
(d) Any deed of trust or mortgage with power of sale hereafter
executed upon real property or an estate for years therein may
contain a request that a copy of any notice of default and a copy of
any notice of sale thereunder shall be mailed to any person or party
thereto at the address of the person given therein, and a copy of any
notice of default and of any notice of sale shall be mailed to each
of these at the same time and in the same manner required as though a
separate request therefor had been filed by each of these persons as
herein authorized. If any deed of trust or mortgage with power of
sale executed after September 19, 1939, except a deed of trust or
mortgage of any of the classes excepted from the provisions of
Section 2924, does not contain a mailing address of the trustor or
mortgagor therein named, and if no request for special notice by the
trustor or mortgagor in substantially the form set forth in this
section has subsequently been recorded, a copy of the notice of
default shall be published once a week for at least four weeks in a
newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the property
is situated, the publication to commence within 10 business days
after the filing of the notice of default. In lieu of publication, a
copy of the notice of default may be delivered personally to the
trustor or mortgagor within the 10 business days or at any time
before publication is completed, or by posting the notice of default
in a conspicuous place on the property and mailing the notice to the
last known address of the trustor or mortgagor.
(e) Any person required to mail a copy of a notice of default or
notice of sale to each trustor or mortgagor pursuant to subdivision
(b) or (c) by registered or certified mail shall simultaneously cause
to be deposited in the United States mail, with postage prepaid and
mailed by first-class mail, an envelope containing an additional copy
of the required notice addressed to each trustor or mortgagor at the
same address to which the notice is sent by registered or certified
mail pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c). The person shall execute and
retain an affidavit identifying the notice mailed, showing the name
and residence or business address of that person, that he or she is
over 18 years of age, the date of deposit in the mail, the name and
address of the trustor or mortgagor to whom sent, and that the
envelope was sealed and deposited in the mail with postage fully
prepaid. In the absence of fraud, the affidavit required by this
subdivision shall establish a conclusive presumption of mailing.
(f) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), with respect to separate
interests governed by an association, as defined in Section 4080 or
6528, the association may cause to be filed in the office of the
recorder in the county in which the separate interests are situated a
request that a mortgagee, trustee, or other person authorized to
record a notice of default regarding any of those separate interests
mail to the association a copy of any trustee’s deed upon sale
concerning a separate interest. The request shall include a legal
description or the assessor’s parcel number of all the separate
interests. A request recorded pursuant to this subdivision shall
include the name and address of the association and a statement that
it is an association as defined in Section 4080 or 6528. Subsequent
requests of an association shall supersede prior requests. A request
pursuant to this subdivision shall be recorded before the filing of a
notice of default. The mortgagee, trustee, or other authorized
person shall mail the requested information to the association within
15 business days following the date of the trustee’s sale. Failure
to mail the request, pursuant to this subdivision, shall not affect
the title to real property.
(2) A request filed pursuant to paragraph (1) does not, for
purposes of Section 27288.1 of the Government Code, constitute a
document that either effects or evidences a transfer or encumbrance
of an interest in real property or that releases or terminates any
interest, right, or encumbrance of an interest in real property.
(g) No request for a copy of any notice filed for record pursuant
to this section, no statement or allegation in the request, and no
record thereof shall affect the title to real property or be deemed
notice to any person that any person requesting copies of notice has
or claims any right, title, or interest in, or lien or charge upon
the property described in the deed of trust or mortgage referred to
therein.
(h) “Business day,” as used in this section, has the meaning
specified in Section 9.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 dollars
($300) if the unpaid principal sum secured is one hundred fifty
thousand dollars ($150,000) or less, or two hundred fifty dollars
($250) 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
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.

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 are actually incurred in enforcing the
terms of the obligation and trustee’s or attorney’s fees which are
hereby authorized to be in a base amount which does not exceed four
hundred twenty-five dollars ($425) if the unpaid principal sum
secured is one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or less, or
three hundred sixty dollars ($360) 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 are actually incurred in enforcing the
terms of the obligation and trustee’s or attorney’s fees which 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.

2924e. (a) The beneficiary or mortgagee of any deed of trust or
mortgage on real property either containing one to four residential
units or given to secure an original obligation not to exceed three
hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) may, with the written consent of
the trustor or mortgagor that is either effected through a signed and
dated agreement which shall be separate from other loan and security
documents or disclosed to the trustor or mortgagor in at least
10-point type, submit a written request by certified mail to the
beneficiary or mortgagee of any lien which is senior to the lien of
the requester, for written notice of any or all delinquencies of four
months or more, in payments of principal or interest on any
obligation secured by that senior lien notwithstanding that the loan
secured by the lien of the requester is not then in default as to
payments of principal or interest.
The request shall be sent to the beneficiary or mortgagee, or
agent which it might designate for the purpose of receiving loan
payments, at the address specified for the receipt of these payments,
if known, or, if not known, at the address shown on the recorded
deed of trust or mortgage.
(b) The request for notice shall identify the ownership or
security interest of the requester, the date on which the interest of
the requester will terminate as evidenced by the maturity date of
the note of the trustor or mortgagor in favor of the requester, the
name of the trustor or mortgagor and the name of the current owner of
the security property if different from the trustor or mortgagor,
the street address or other description of the security property, the
loan number (if available to the requester) of the loan secured by
the senior lien, the name and address to which notice is to be sent,
and shall include or be accompanied by the signed written consent of
the trustor or mortgagor, and a fee of forty dollars ($40). For
obligations secured by residential properties, the request shall
remain valid until withdrawn in writing and shall be applicable to
all delinquencies as provided in this section, which occur prior to
the date on which the interest of the requester will terminate as
specified in the request or the expiration date, as appropriate. For
obligations secured by nonresidential properties, the request shall
remain valid until withdrawn in writing and shall be applicable to
all delinquencies as provided in this section, which occur prior to
the date on which the interest of the requester will terminate as
specified in the request or the expiration date, as appropriate. The
beneficiary or mortgagee of obligations secured by nonresidential
properties that have sent five or more notices prior to the
expiration of the effective period of the request may charge a fee up
to fifteen dollars ($15) for each subsequent notice. A request for
notice shall be effective for five years from the mailing of the
request or the recording of that request, whichever occurs later, and
may be renewed within six months prior to its expiration date by
sending the beneficiary or mortgagee, or agent, as the case may be,
at the address to which original requests for notice are to be sent,
a copy of the earlier request for notice together with a signed
statement that the request is renewed and a renewal fee of fifteen
dollars ($15). Upon timely submittal of a renewal request for notice,
the effectiveness of the original request is continued for five
years from the time when it would otherwise have lapsed. Succeeding
renewal requests may be submitted in the same manner. The request for
notice and renewals thereof shall be recorded in the office of the
county recorder of the county in which the security real property is
situated. The rights and obligations specified in this section shall
inure to the benefit of, or pass to, as the case may be, successors
in interest of parties specified in this section. Any successor in
interest of a party entitled to notice under this section shall file
a request for that notice with any beneficiary or mortgagee of the
senior lien and shall pay a processing fee of fifteen dollars ($15).
No new written consent shall be required from the trustor or
mortgagor.
(c) Unless the delinquency has been cured, within 15 days
following the end of four months from any delinquency in payments of
principal or interest on any obligation secured by the senior lien
which delinquency exists or occurs on or after 10 days from the
mailing of the request for notice or the recording of that request,
whichever occurs later, the beneficiary or mortgagee shall give
written notice to the requester of the fact of any delinquency and
the amount thereof.
The notice shall be given by personal service, or by deposit in
the mail, first-class postage paid. Following the recording of any
notice of default pursuant to Section 2924 with respect to the same
delinquency, no notice or further notice shall be required pursuant
to this section.
(d) If the beneficiary or mortgagee of any such senior lien fails
to give notice to the requester as required in subdivision (c), and a
subsequent foreclosure or trustee’s sale of the security property
occurs, the beneficiary or mortgagee shall be liable to the requester
for any monetary damage due to the failure to provide notice within
the time period specified in subdivision (c) which the requester has
sustained from the date on which notice should have been given to the
earlier of the date on which the notice is given or the date of the
recording of the notice of default under Section 2924, and shall also
forfeit to the requester the sum of three hundred dollars ($300). A
showing by the beneficiary or mortgagee by a preponderance of the
evidence that the failure to provide timely notice as required by
subdivision (c) resulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the
maintenance of procedures reasonably adapted to avoid any such error
shall be a defense to any liability for that failure.
(e) If any beneficiary or mortgagee, or agent which it had
designated for the purpose of receiving loan payments, has been
succeeded in interest by any other person, any request for notice
received pursuant to this section shall be transmitted promptly to
that person.
(f) Any failure to comply with the provisions of this section
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.
(g) Upon satisfaction of an obligation secured by a junior lien
with respect to which a notice request was made pursuant to this
section, the beneficiary or mortgagee that made the request shall
communicate that fact in writing to the senior lienholder to whom the
request was made. The communication shall specify that provision of
notice pursuant to the prior request under this section is no longer
required.

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, 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 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, 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.
(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.

2924g. (a) All sales of property under the power of sale contained
in any deed of trust or mortgage shall be held in the county where
the property or some part thereof is situated, and shall be made at
auction, to the highest bidder, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5
p.m. on any business day, Monday through Friday.
The sale shall commence at the time and location specified in the
notice of sale. Any postponement shall be announced at the time and
location specified in the notice of sale for commencement of the sale
or pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c).
If the sale of more than one parcel of real property has been
scheduled for the same time and location by the same trustee, (1) any
postponement of any of the sales shall be announced at the time
published in the notice of sale, (2) the first sale shall commence at
the time published in the notice of sale or immediately after the
announcement of any postponement, and (3) each subsequent sale shall
take place as soon as possible after the preceding sale has been
completed.
(b) When the property consists of several known lots or parcels,
they shall be sold separately unless the deed of trust or mortgage
provides otherwise. When a portion of the property is claimed by a
third person, who requires it to be sold separately, the portion
subject to the claim may be thus sold. The trustor, if present at the
sale, may also, unless the deed of trust or mortgage otherwise
provides, direct the order in which property shall be sold, when the
property consists of several known lots or parcels which may be sold
to advantage separately, and the trustee shall follow that direction.
After sufficient property has been sold to satisfy the indebtedness,
no more can be sold.
If the property under power of sale is in two or more counties,
the public auction sale of all of the property under the power of
sale may take place in any one of the counties where the property or
a portion thereof is located.
(c) (1) There may be a postponement or postponements of the sale
proceedings, including a postponement upon instruction by the
beneficiary to the trustee that the sale proceedings be postponed, at
any time prior to the completion of the sale for any period of time
not to exceed a total of 365 days from the date set forth in the
notice of sale. The trustee shall postpone the sale in accordance
with any of the following:
(A) Upon the order of any court of competent jurisdiction.
(B) If stayed by operation of law.
(C) By mutual agreement, whether oral or in writing, of any
trustor and any beneficiary or any mortgagor and any mortgagee.
(D) At the discretion of the trustee.
(2) In the event that the sale proceedings are postponed for a
period or periods totaling more than 365 days, the scheduling of any
further sale proceedings shall be preceded by giving a new notice of
sale in the manner prescribed in Section 2924f. New fees incurred for
the new notice of sale shall not exceed the amounts specified in
Sections 2924c and 2924d, and shall not exceed reasonable costs that
are necessary to comply with this paragraph.
(d) The notice of each postponement and the reason therefor shall
be given by public declaration by the trustee at the time and place
last appointed for sale. A public declaration of postponement shall
also set forth the new date, time, and place of sale and the place of
sale shall be the same place as originally fixed by the trustee for
the sale. No other notice of postponement need be given. However, the
sale shall be conducted no sooner than on the seventh day after the
earlier of (1) dismissal of the action or (2) expiration or
termination of the injunction, restraining order, or stay that
required postponement of the sale, whether by entry of an order by a
court of competent jurisdiction, operation of law, or otherwise,
unless the injunction, restraining order, or subsequent order
expressly directs the conduct of the sale within that seven-day
period. For purposes of this subdivision, the seven-day period shall
not include the day on which the action is dismissed, or the day on
which the injunction, restraining order, or stay expires or is
terminated. If the sale had been scheduled to occur, but this
subdivision precludes its conduct during that seven-day period, a new
notice of postponement shall be given if the sale had been scheduled
to occur during that seven-day period. The trustee shall maintain
records of each postponement and the reason therefor.
(e) Notwithstanding the time periods established under subdivision
(d), if postponement of a sale is based on a stay imposed by Title
11 of the United States Code (bankruptcy), the sale shall be
conducted no sooner than the expiration of the stay imposed by that
title and the seven-day provision of subdivision (d) shall not apply.

2924h. (a) Each and every bid made by a bidder at a trustee’s sale
under a power of sale contained in a deed of trust or mortgage shall
be deemed to be an irrevocable offer by that bidder to purchase the
property being sold by the trustee under the power of sale for the
amount of the bid. Any second or subsequent bid by the same bidder or
any other bidder for a higher amount shall be a cancellation of the
prior bid.
(b) At the trustee’s sale the trustee shall have the right (1) to
require every bidder to show evidence of the bidder’s ability to
deposit with the trustee the full amount of his or her final bid in
cash, a cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, a check
drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state
or federal savings and loan association, savings association, or
savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and
authorized to do business in this state, or a cash equivalent which
has been designated in the notice of sale as acceptable to the
trustee prior to, and as a condition to, the recognizing of the bid,
and to conditionally accept and hold these amounts for the duration
of the sale, and (2) to require the last and highest bidder to
deposit, if not deposited previously, the full amount of the bidder’s
final bid in cash, a cashier’s check drawn on a state or national
bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check
drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings
association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the
Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state, or a cash
equivalent which has been designated in the notice of sale as
acceptable to the trustee, immediately prior to the completion of the
sale, the completion of the sale being so announced by the fall of
the hammer or in another customary manner. The present beneficiary of
the deed of trust under foreclosure shall have the right to offset
his or her bid or bids only to the extent of the total amount due the
beneficiary including the trustee’s fees and expenses.
(c) In the event the trustee accepts a check drawn by a credit
union or a savings and loan association pursuant to this subdivision
or a cash equivalent designated in the notice of sale, the trustee
may withhold the issuance of the trustee’s deed to the successful
bidder submitting the check drawn by a state or federal credit union
or savings and loan association or the cash equivalent until funds
become available to the payee or endorsee as a matter of right.
For the purposes of this subdivision, the trustee’s sale shall be
deemed final upon the acceptance of the last and highest bid, and
shall be deemed perfected as of 8 a.m. on the actual date of sale if
the trustee’s deed is recorded within 15 calendar days after the
sale, or the next business day following the 15th day if the county
recorder in which the property is located is closed on the 15th day.
However, the sale is subject to an automatic rescission for a failure
of consideration in the event the funds are not “available for
withdrawal” as defined in Section 12413.1 of the Insurance Code. The
trustee shall send a notice of rescission for a failure of
consideration to the last and highest bidder submitting the check or
alternative instrument, if the address of the last and highest bidder
is known to the trustee.
If a sale results in an automatic right of rescission for failure
of consideration pursuant to this subdivision, the interest of any
lienholder shall be reinstated in the same priority as if the
previous sale had not occurred.
(d) If the trustee has not required the last and highest bidder to
deposit the cash, a cashier’s check drawn on a state or national
bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check
drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings
association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the
Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state, or a cash
equivalent which has been designated in the notice of sale as
acceptable to the trustee in the manner set forth in paragraph (2) of
subdivision (b), the trustee shall complete the sale. If the last
and highest bidder then fails to deliver to the trustee, when
demanded, the amount of his or her final bid in cash, a cashier’s
check drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or
federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings
and loan association, savings association, or savings bank specified
in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business
in this state, or a cash equivalent which has been designated in the
notice of sale as acceptable to the trustee, that bidder shall be
liable to the trustee for all damages which the trustee may sustain
by the refusal to deliver to the trustee the amount of the final bid,
including any court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.
If the last and highest bidder willfully fails to deliver to the
trustee the amount of his or her final bid in cash, a cashier’s check
drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or
federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings
and loan association, savings association, or savings bank specified
in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business
in this state, or a cash equivalent which has been designated in the
notice of sale as acceptable to the trustee, or if the last and
highest bidder cancels a cashiers check drawn on a state or national
bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check
drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings
association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the
Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state, or a cash
equivalent that has been designated in the notice of sale as
acceptable to the trustee, that bidder shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than two thousand five
hundred dollars ($2,500).
In the event the last and highest bidder cancels an instrument
submitted to the trustee as a cash equivalent, the trustee shall
provide a new notice of sale in the manner set forth in Section 2924f
and shall be entitled to recover the costs of the new notice of sale
as provided in Section 2924c.
(e) Any postponement or discontinuance of the sale proceedings
shall be a cancellation of the last bid.
(f) In the event that this section conflicts with any other
statute, then this section shall prevail.
(g) It shall be unlawful for any person, acting alone or in
concert with others, (1) to offer to accept or accept from another,
any consideration of any type not to bid, or (2) to fix or restrain
bidding in any manner, at a sale of property conducted pursuant to a
power of sale in a deed of trust or mortgage. However, it shall not
be unlawful for any person, including a trustee, to state that a
property subject to a recorded notice of default or subject to a sale
conducted pursuant to this chapter is being sold in an “as-is”
condition.
In addition to any other remedies, any person committing any act
declared unlawful by this subdivision or any act which would operate
as a fraud or deceit upon any beneficiary, trustor, or junior lienor
shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than ten thousand dollars
($10,000) or imprisoned in the county jail for not more than one
year, or be punished by both that fine and imprisonment.

2924i. (a) This section applies to loans secured by a deed of trust
or mortgage on real property containing one to four residential
units at least one of which at the time the loan is made is or is to
be occupied by the borrower if the loan is for a period in excess of
one year and is a balloon payment loan.
(b) This section shall not apply to (1) open end credit as defined
in Regulation Z, whether or not the transaction is otherwise subject
to Regulation Z, (2) transactions subject to Section 2956, or (3)
loans made for the principal purpose of financing the construction of
one or more residential units.
(c) At least 90 days but not more than 150 days prior to the due
date of the final payment on a loan that is subject to this section,
the holder of the loan shall deliver or mail by first-class mail,
with a certificate of mailing obtained from the United States Postal
Service, to the trustor, or his or her successor in interest, at the
last known address of that person, a written notice which shall
include all of the following:
(1) A statement of the name and address of the person to whom the
final payment is required to be paid.
(2) The date on or before which the final payment is required to
be paid.
(3) The amount of the final payment, or if the exact amount is
unknown, a good faith estimate of the amount thereof, including
unpaid principal, interest and any other charges, such amount to be
determined assuming timely payment in full of all scheduled
installments coming due between the date the notice is prepared and
the date when the final payment is due.
(4) If the borrower has a contractual right to refinance the final
payment, a statement to that effect.
If the due date of the final payment of a loan subject to this
section is extended prior to the time notice is otherwise required
under this subdivision, this notice requirement shall apply only to
the due date as extended (or as subsequently extended).
(d) For purposes of this section:
(1) A “balloon payment loan” is a loan which provides for a final
payment as originally scheduled which is more than twice the amount
of any of the immediately preceding six regularly scheduled payments
or which contains a call provision; provided, however, that if the
call provision is not exercised by the holder of the loan, the
existence of the unexercised call provision shall not cause the loan
to be deemed to be a balloon payment loan.
(2) “Call provision” means a loan contract term that provides the
holder of the loan with the right to call the loan due and payable
either after a specified period has elapsed following closing or
after a specified date.
(3) “Regulation Z” means any rule, regulation, or interpretation
promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
under the Federal Truth in Lending Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. Sec.
1601 et seq.), and any interpretation or approval thereof issued by
an official or employee of the Federal Reserve System duly authorized
by the board under the Truth in Lending Act, as amended, to issue
such interpretations or approvals.
(e) Failure to provide notice as required by subdivision (a) does
not extinguish any obligation of payment by the borrower, except that
the due date for any balloon payment shall be the date specified in
the balloon payment note, or 90 days from the date of delivery or
mailing of the notice required by subdivision (a), or the due date
specified in the notice required by subdivision (a), whichever date
is later. If the operation of this section acts to extend the term of
any note, interest shall continue to accrue for the extended term at
the contract rate and payments shall continue to be due at any
periodic interval and on any payment schedule specified in the note
and shall be credited to principal or interest under the terms of the
note. Default in any extended periodic payment shall be considered a
default under terms of the note or security instrument.
(f) (1) The validity of any credit document or of any security
document subject to the provisions of this section shall not be
invalidated solely because of the failure of any person to comply
with this section. However, any person who willfully violates any
provision of this section shall be liable in the amount of actual
damages suffered by the debtor as the proximate result of the
violation, and, if the debtor prevails in any suit to recover that
amount, for reasonable attorney’s fees.
(2) No person may be held liable in any action under this section
if it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the violation
was not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error
notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to
avoid any such error.
(g) The provisions of this section shall apply to any note
executed on or after January 1, 1984.

2924j. (a) Unless an interpleader action has been filed, within 30
days of the execution of the trustee’s deed resulting from a sale in
which there are proceeds remaining after payment of the amounts
required by paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section
2924k, the trustee shall send written notice to all persons with
recorded interests in the real property as of the date immediately
prior to the trustee’s sale who would be entitled to notice pursuant
to subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 2924b. The notice shall be
sent by first-class mail in the manner provided in paragraph (1) of
subdivision (c) of Section 2924b and inform each entitled person of
each of the following:
(1) That there has been a trustee’s sale of the described real
property.
(2) That the noticed person may have a claim to all or a portion
of the sale proceeds remaining after payment of the amounts required
by paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 2924k.
(3) The noticed person may contact the trustee at the address
provided in the notice to pursue any potential claim.
(4) That before the trustee can act, the noticed person may be
required to present proof that the person holds the beneficial
interest in the obligation and the security interest therefor. In the
case of a promissory note secured by a deed of trust, proof that the
person holds the beneficial interest may include the original
promissory note and assignment of beneficial interests related
thereto. The noticed person shall also submit a written claim to the
trustee, executed under penalty of perjury, stating the following:
(A) The amount of the claim to the date of trustee’s sale.
(B) An itemized statement of the principal, interest, and other
charges.
(C) That claims must be received by the trustee at the address
stated in the notice no later than 30 days after the date the trustee
sends notice to the potential claimant.
(b) The trustee shall exercise due diligence to determine the
priority of the written claims received by the trustee to the trustee’
s sale surplus proceeds from those persons to whom notice was sent
pursuant to subdivision (a). In the event there is no dispute as to
the priority of the written claims submitted to the trustee, proceeds
shall be paid within 30 days after the conclusion of the notice
period. If the trustee has failed to determine the priority of
written claims within 90 days following the 30-day notice period,
then within 10 days thereafter the trustee shall deposit the funds
with the clerk of the court pursuant to subdivision (c) or file an
interpleader action pursuant to subdivision (e). Nothing in this
section shall preclude any person from pursuing other remedies or
claims as to surplus proceeds.
(c) If, after due diligence, the trustee is unable to determine
the priority of the written claims received by the trustee to the
trustee’s sale surplus of multiple persons or if the trustee
determines there is a conflict between potential claimants, the
trustee may file a declaration of the unresolved claims and deposit
with the clerk of the superior court of the county in which the sale
occurred, that portion of the sales proceeds that cannot be
distributed, less any fees charged by the clerk pursuant to this
subdivision. The declaration shall specify the date of the trustee’s
sale, a description of the property, the names and addresses of all
persons sent notice pursuant to subdivision (a), a statement that the
trustee exercised due diligence pursuant to subdivision (b), that
the trustee provided written notice as required by subdivisions (a)
and (d) and the amount of the sales proceeds deposited by the trustee
with the court. Further, the trustee shall submit a copy of the
trustee’s sales guarantee and any information relevant to the
identity, location, and priority of the potential claimants with the
court and shall file proof of service of the notice required by
subdivision (d) on all persons described in subdivision (a).
The clerk shall deposit the amount with the county treasurer or,
if a bank account has been established for moneys held in trust under
paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 77009 of the Government
Code, in that account, subject to order of the court upon the
application of any interested party. The clerk may charge a
reasonable fee for the performance of activities pursuant to this
subdivision equal to the fee for filing an interpleader action
pursuant to Chapter 5.8 (commencing with Section 70600) of Title 8 of
the Government Code. Upon deposit of that portion of the sale
proceeds that cannot be distributed by due diligence, the trustee
shall be discharged of further responsibility for the disbursement of
sale proceeds. A deposit with the clerk of the court pursuant to
this subdivision may be either for the total proceeds of the trustee’
s sale, less any fees charged by the clerk, if a conflict or
conflicts exist with respect to the total proceeds, or that portion
that cannot be distributed after due diligence, less any fees charged
by the clerk.
(d) Before the trustee deposits the funds with the clerk of the
court pursuant to subdivision (c), the trustee shall send written
notice by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all persons described
in subdivision (a) informing them that the trustee intends to
deposit the funds with the clerk of the court and that a claim for
the funds must be filed with the court within 30 days from the date
of the notice, providing the address of the court in which the funds
were deposited, and a telephone number for obtaining further
information.
Within 90 days after deposit with the clerk, the court shall
consider all claims filed at least 15 days before the date on which
the hearing is scheduled by the court, the clerk shall serve written
notice of the hearing by first-class mail on all claimants identified
in the trustee’s declaration at the addresses specified therein.
Where the amount of the deposit is twenty-five thousand dollars
($25,000) or less, a proceeding pursuant to this section is a limited
civil case. The court shall distribute the deposited funds to any
and all claimants entitled thereto.
(e) Nothing in this section restricts the ability of a trustee to
file an interpleader action in order to resolve a dispute about the
proceeds of a trustee’s sale. Once an interpleader action has been
filed, thereafter the provisions of this section do not apply.
(f) “Due diligence,” for the purposes of this section means that
the trustee researched the written claims submitted or other evidence
of conflicts and determined that a conflict of priorities exists
between two or more claimants which the trustee is unable to resolve.
(g) To the extent required by the Unclaimed Property Law, a
trustee in possession of surplus proceeds not required to be
deposited with the court pursuant to subdivision (b) shall comply
with the Unclaimed Property Law (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section
1500) of Title 10 of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure).
(h) The trustee, beneficiary, or counsel to the trustee or
beneficiary, is not liable for providing to any person who is
entitled to notice pursuant to this section, information set forth
in, or a copy of, subdivision (h) of Section 2945.3.

2924k. (a) The trustee, or the clerk of the court upon order to the
clerk pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 2924j, shall distribute
the proceeds, or a portion of the proceeds, as the case may be, of
the trustee’s sale conducted pursuant to Section 2924h in the
following order of priority:
(1) To the costs and expenses of exercising the power of sale and
of sale, including the payment of the trustee’s fees and attorney’s
fees permitted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 2924d and
subdivision (b) of this section.
(2) To the payment of the obligations secured by the deed of trust
or mortgage which is the subject of the trustee’s sale.
(3) To satisfy the outstanding balance of obligations secured by
any junior liens or encumbrances in the order of their priority.
(4) To the trustor or the trustor’s successor in interest. In the
event the property is sold or transferred to another, to the vested
owner of record at the time of the trustee’s sale.
(b) A trustee may charge costs and expenses incurred for such
items as mailing and a reasonable fee for services rendered in
connection with the distribution of the proceeds from a trustee’s
sale, including, but not limited to, the investigation of priority
and validity of claims and the disbursement of funds. If the fee
charged for services rendered pursuant to this subdivision does not
exceed one hundred dollars ($100), or one hundred twenty-five dollars
($125) where there are obligations specified in paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a), the fee is conclusively presumed to be reasonable.

2924l. (a) In the event that a trustee under a deed of trust is
named in an action or proceeding in which that deed of trust is the
subject, and in the event that the trustee maintains a reasonable
belief that it has been named in the action or proceeding solely in
its capacity as trustee, and not arising out of any wrongful acts or
omissions on its part in the performance of its duties as trustee,
then, at any time, the trustee may file a declaration of nonmonetary
status. The declaration shall be served on the parties in the manner
set forth in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 1010) of Title 14 of
the Code of Civil Procedure.
(b) The declaration of nonmonetary status shall set forth the
status of the trustee as trustee under the deed of trust that is the
subject of the action or proceeding, that the trustee knows or
maintains a reasonable belief that it has been named as a defendant
in the proceeding solely in its capacity as a trustee under the deed
of trust, its reasonable belief that it has not been named as a
defendant due to any acts or omissions on its part in the performance
of its duties as trustee, the basis for that knowledge or reasonable
belief, and that it agrees to be bound by whatever order or judgment
is issued by the court regarding the subject deed of trust.
(c) The parties who have appeared in the action or proceeding
shall have 15 days from the service of the declaration by the trustee
in which to object to the nonmonetary judgment status of the
trustee. Any objection shall set forth the factual basis on which the
objection is based and shall be served on the trustee.
(d) In the event that no objection is served within the 15-day
objection period, the trustee shall not be required to participate
any further in the action or proceeding, shall not be subject to any
monetary awards as and for damages, attorneys’ fees or costs, shall
be required to respond to any discovery requests as a nonparty, and
shall be bound by any court order relating to the subject deed of
trust that is the subject of the action or proceeding.
(e) In the event of a timely objection to the declaration of
nonmonetary status, the trustee shall thereafter be required to
participate in the action or proceeding.
Additionally, in the event that the parties elect not to, or fail
to, timely object to the declaration of nonmonetary status, but later
through discovery, or otherwise, determine that the trustee should
participate in the action because of the performance of its duties as
a trustee, the parties may file and serve on all parties and the
trustee a motion pursuant to Section 473 of the Code of Civil
Procedure that specifies the factual basis for the demand. Upon the
court’s granting of the motion, the trustee shall thereafter be
required to participate in the action or proceeding, and the court
shall provide sufficient time prior to trial for the trustee to be
able to respond to the complaint, to conduct discovery, and to bring
other pretrial motions in accordance with the Code of Civil
Procedure.
(f) Upon the filing of the declaration of nonmonetary status, the
time within which the trustee is required to file an answer or other
responsive pleading shall be tolled for the period of time within
which the opposing parties may respond to the declaration. Upon the
timely service of an objection to the declaration on nonmonetary
status, the trustee shall have 30 days from the date of service
within which to file an answer or other responsive pleading to the
complaint or cross-complaint.
(g) For purposes of this section, “trustee” includes any agent or
employee of the trustee who performs some or all of the duties of a
trustee under this article, and includes substituted trustees and
agents of the beneficiary or trustee.

2925. The fact that a transfer was made subject to defeasance on a
condition, may, for the purpose of showing such transfer to be a
mortgage, be proved (except as against a subsequent purchaser or
incumbrancer for value and without notice), though the fact does not
appear by the terms of the instrument.

2926. A mortgage is a lien upon everything that would pass by a
grant of the property.

2927. A mortgage does not entitle the mortgagee to the possession
of the property, unless authorized by the express terms of the
mortgage; but after the execution of the mortgage the mortgagor may
agree to such change of possession without a new consideration.

2928. A mortgage does not bind the mortgagor personally to perform
the act for the performance of which it is a security, unless there
is an express covenant therein to that effect.

2929. No person whose interest is subject to the lien of a mortgage
may do any act which will substantially impair the mortgagee’s
security.

2929.3. (a) (1) A legal owner shall maintain vacant residential
property purchased by that owner at a foreclosure sale, or acquired
by that owner through foreclosure under a mortgage or deed of trust.
A governmental entity may impose a civil fine of up to one thousand
dollars ($1,000) per day for a violation. If the governmental entity
chooses to impose a fine pursuant to this section, it shall give
notice of the alleged violation, including a description of the
conditions that gave rise to the allegation, and notice of the entity’
s intent to assess a civil fine if action to correct the violation is
not commenced within a period of not less than 14 days and completed
within a period of not less than 30 days. The notice shall be mailed
to the address provided in the deed or other instrument as specified
in subdivision (a) of Section 27321.5 of the Government Code, or, if
none, to the return address provided on the deed or other
instrument.
(2) The governmental entity shall provide a period of not less
than 30 days for the legal owner to remedy the violation prior to
imposing a civil fine and shall allow for a hearing and opportunity
to contest any fine imposed. In determining the amount of the fine,
the governmental entity shall take into consideration any timely and
good faith efforts by the legal owner to remedy the violation. The
maximum civil fine authorized by this section is one thousand dollars
($1,000) for each day that the owner fails to maintain the property,
commencing on the day following the expiration of the period to
remedy the violation established by the governmental entity.
(3) Subject to the provisions of this section, a governmental
entity may establish different compliance periods for different
conditions on the same property in the notice of alleged violation
mailed to the legal owner.
(b) For purposes of this section, “failure to maintain” means
failure to care for the exterior of the property, including, but not
limited to, permitting excessive foliage growth that diminishes the
value of surrounding properties, failing to take action to prevent
trespassers or squatters from remaining on the property, or failing
to take action to prevent mosquito larvae from growing in standing
water or other conditions that create a public nuisance.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), a governmental
entity may provide less than 30 days’ notice to remedy a condition
before imposing a civil fine if the entity determines that a specific
condition of the property threatens public health or safety and
provided that notice of that determination and time for compliance is
given.
(d) Fines and penalties collected pursuant to this section shall
be directed to local nuisance abatement programs, including, but not
limited to, legal abatement proceedings.
(e) A governmental entity may not impose fines on a legal owner
under both this section and a local ordinance.
(f) These provisions shall not preempt any local ordinance.
(g) This section shall only apply to residential real property.
(h) The rights and remedies provided in this section are
cumulative and in addition to any other rights and remedies provided
by law.

2929.4. (a) Prior to imposing a fine or penalty for failure to
maintain a vacant property that is subject to a notice of default,
that is purchased at a foreclosure sale, or that is acquired through
foreclosure under a mortgage or deed of trust, a governmental entity
shall provide the owner of that property with a notice of the
violation and an opportunity to correct that violation.
(b) This section shall not apply if the governmental entity
determines that a specific condition of the property threatens public
health or safety.

2929.45. (a) An assessment or lien to recover the costs of nuisance
abatement measures taken by a governmental entity with regard to
property that is subject to a notice of default, that is purchased at
a foreclosure sale, or that is acquired through foreclosure under a
mortgage or deed of trust, shall not exceed the actual and reasonable
costs of nuisance abatement.
(b) A governmental entity shall not impose an assessment or lien
unless the costs that constitute the assessment or lien have been
adopted by the elected officials of that governmental entity at a
public hearing.

2929.5. (a) A secured lender may enter and inspect the real
property security for the purpose of determining the existence,
location, nature, and magnitude of any past or present release or
threatened release of any hazardous substance into, onto, beneath, or
from the real property security on either of the following:
(1) Upon reasonable belief of the existence of a past or present
release or threatened release of any hazardous substance into, onto,
beneath, or from the real property security not previously disclosed
in writing to the secured lender in conjunction with the making,
renewal, or modification of a loan, extension of credit, guaranty, or
other obligation involving the borrower.
(2) After the commencement of nonjudicial or judicial foreclosure
proceedings against the real property security.
(b) The secured lender shall not abuse the right of entry and
inspection or use it to harass the borrower or tenant of the
property. Except in case of an emergency, when the borrower or tenant
of the property has abandoned the premises, or if it is
impracticable to do so, the secured lender shall give the borrower or
tenant of the property reasonable notice of the secured lender’s
intent to enter, and enter only during the borrower’s or tenant’s
normal business hours. Twenty-four hours’ notice shall be presumed to
be reasonable notice in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
(c) The secured lender shall reimburse the borrower for the cost
of repair of any physical injury to the real property security caused
by the entry and inspection.
(d) If a secured lender is refused the right of entry and
inspection by the borrower or tenant of the property, or is otherwise
unable to enter and inspect the property without a breach of the
peace, the secured lender may, upon petition, obtain an order from a
court of competent jurisdiction to exercise the secured lender’s
rights under subdivision (a), and that action shall not constitute an
action within the meaning of subdivision (a) of Section 726 of the
Code of Civil Procedure.
(e) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Borrower” means the trustor under a deed of trust, or a
mortgagor under a mortgage, where the deed of trust or mortgage
encumbers real property security and secures the performance of the
trustor or mortgagor under a loan, extension of credit, guaranty, or
other obligation. The term includes any successor-in-interest of the
trustor or mortgagor to the real property security before the deed of
trust or mortgage has been discharged, reconveyed, or foreclosed
upon.
(2) “Hazardous substance” includes all of the following:
(A) Any “hazardous substance” as defined in subdivision (h) of
Section 25281 of the Health and Safety Code.
(B) Any “waste” as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 13050 of
the Water Code.
(C) Petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof,
natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic
gas usable for fuel, or any mixture thereof.
(3) “Real property security” means any real property and
improvements, other than a separate interest and any related interest
in the common area of a residential common interest development, as
the terms “separate interest,” “common area,” and “common interest
development” are defined in Sections 4095, 4100, and 4185, or real
property consisting of one acre or less which contains 1 to 15
dwelling units.
(4) “Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring,
emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching,
dumping, or disposing into the environment, including continuing
migration, of hazardous substances into, onto, or through soil,
surface water, or groundwater.
(5) “Secured lender” means the beneficiary under a deed of trust
against the real property security, or the mortgagee under a mortgage
against the real property security, and any successor-in-interest of
the beneficiary or mortgagee to the deed of trust or mortgage.

[2930.] Section Twenty-nine Hundred and Thirty. Title acquired by
the mortgagor subsequent to the execution of the mortgage, inures to
the mortgagee as security for the debt in like manner as if acquired
before the execution.

2931. A mortgagee may foreclose the right of redemption of the
mortgagor in the manner prescribed by the CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE.

2931a. In any action brought to determine conflicting claims to
real property, or for partition of real property or an estate for
years therein, or to foreclose a deed of trust, mortgage, or other
lien upon real property, or in all eminent domain proceedings under
Section 1250.110 et seq., of the Code of Civil Procedure against real
property upon which exists a lien to secure the payment of taxes or
other obligations to an agency of the State of California, other than
ad valorem taxes upon the real property, the state agency charged
with the collection of the tax obligation may be made a party. In
such an action, the court shall have jurisdiction to determine the
priority and effect of the liens described in the complaint in or
upon the real property or estate for years therein, but the
jurisdiction of the court in the action shall not include a
determination of the validity of the tax giving rise to the lien or
claim of lien. The complaint or petition in the action shall contain
a description of the lien sufficient to enable the tax or other
obligation, payment of which it secures, to be identified with
certainty, and shall include the name and address of the person owing
the tax or other obligation, the name of the state agency that
recorded the lien, and the date and place where the lien was
recorded. Services of process in the action shall be made upon the
agency, officer, board, commission, department, division, or other
body charged with the collection of the tax or obligation. It shall
be the duty of the Attorney General to represent the state agency in
the action.

2931b. In all actions in which the State of California is named a
party pursuant to the provisions of Section 2931a and in which real
property or an estate for years therein is sought to be sold, the
Attorney General may, with the consent of the Department of Finance,
bid upon and purchase that real property or estate for years.

2931c. The Attorney General may bring an action in the courts of
this or any other state or of the United States to enforce any lien
to secure the payment of taxes or other obligations to the State of
California under the Unemployment Insurance Code, the Revenue and
Taxation Code, or Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 16180) of Part 1
of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code or to subject to
payment of the liability giving rise to the lien any property in
which the debtor has any right, title, or interest. In any action
brought under this section the court shall have jurisdiction to
determine the priority and effect of the lien in or upon the
property, but the jurisdiction of the court in such action shall not
extend to a determination of the validity of the liability giving
rise to the lien.

2932. A power of sale may be conferred by a mortgage upon the
mortgagee or any other person, to be exercised after a breach of the
obligation for which the mortgage is a security.

2932.5. Where a power to sell real property is given to a
mortgagee, or other encumbrancer, in an instrument intended to secure
the payment of money, the power is part of the security and vests in
any person who by assignment becomes entitled to payment of the
money secured by the instrument. The power of sale may be exercised
by the assignee if the assignment is duly acknowledged and recorded.

2932.6. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a financial
institution may undertake to repair any property acquired through
foreclosure under a mortgage or deed of trust.
(b) As used in this section, the term “financial institution”
includes, but is not limited to, banks, savings associations, credit
unions, and industrial loan companies.
(c) The rights granted to a financial institution by this section
are in addition to, and not in derogation of, the rights of a
financial institution which otherwise exist.

2933. A power of attorney to execute a mortgage must be in writing,
subscribed, acknowledged, or proved, certified, and recorded in like
manner as powers of attorney for grants of real property.

2934. Any assignment of a mortgage and any assignment of the
beneficial interest under a deed of trust may be recorded, and from
the time the same is filed for record operates as constructive notice
of the contents thereof to all persons; and any instrument by which
any mortgage or deed of trust of, lien upon or interest in real
property, (or by which any mortgage of, lien upon or interest in
personal property a document evidencing or creating which is required
or permitted by law to be recorded), is subordinated or waived as to
priority may be recorded, and from the time the same is filed for
record operates as constructive notice of the contents thereof, to
all persons.

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) 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.
(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.

2934b. Sections 15643 and 18102 of the Probate Code apply to
trustees under deeds of trust given to secure obligations.

2935. When a mortgage or deed of trust is executed as security for
money due or to become due, on a promissory note, bond, or other
instrument, designated in the mortgage or deed of trust, the record
of the assignment of the mortgage or of the assignment of the
beneficial interest under the deed of trust, is not of itself notice
to the debtor, his heirs, or personal representatives, so as to
invalidate any payment made by them, or any of them, to the person
holding such note, bond, or other instrument.

2936. The assignment of a debt secured by mortgage carries with it
the security.

2937. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that borrowers
or subsequent obligors have the right to know when a person holding a
promissory note, bond, or other instrument transfers servicing of
the indebtedness secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on real
property containing one to four residential units located in this
state. The Legislature also finds that notification to the borrower
or subsequent obligor of the transfer may protect the borrower or
subsequent obligor from fraudulent business practices and may ensure
timely payments.
It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to
mandate that a borrower or subsequent obligor be given written notice
when a person transfers the servicing of the indebtedness on notes,
bonds, or other instruments secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on
real property containing one to four residential units and located
in this state.
(b) Any person transferring the servicing of indebtedness as
provided in subdivision (a) to a different servicing agent and any
person assuming from another responsibility for servicing the
instrument evidencing indebtedness, shall give written notice to the
borrower or subsequent obligor before the borrower or subsequent
obligor becomes obligated to make payments to a new servicing agent.
(c) In the event a notice of default has been recorded or a
judicial foreclosure proceeding has been commenced, the person
transferring the servicing of the indebtedness and the person
assuming from another the duty of servicing the indebtedness shall
give written notice to the trustee or attorney named in the notice of
default or judicial foreclosure of the transfer. A notice of
default, notice of sale, or judicial foreclosure shall not be
invalidated solely because the servicing agent is changed during the
foreclosure process.
(d) Any person transferring the servicing of indebtedness as
provided in subdivision (a) to a different servicing agent shall
provide to the new servicing agent all existing insurance policy
information that the person is responsible for maintaining,
including, but not limited to, flood and hazard insurance policy
information.
(e) The notices required by subdivision (b) shall be sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the borrower’s or subsequent
obligor’s address designated for loan payment billings, or if escrow
is pending, as provided in the escrow, and shall contain each of the
following:
(1) The name and address of the person to which the transfer of
the servicing of the indebtedness is made.
(2) The date the transfer was or will be completed.
(3) The address where all payments pursuant to the transfer are to
be made.
(f) Any person assuming from another responsibility for servicing
the instrument evidencing indebtedness shall include in the notice
required by subdivision (b) a statement of the due date of the next
payment.
(g) The borrower or subsequent obligor shall not be liable to the
holder of the note, bond, or other instrument or to any servicing
agent for payments made to the previous servicing agent or for late
charges if these payments were made prior to the borrower or
subsequent obligor receiving written notice of the transfer as
provided by subdivision (e) and the payments were otherwise on time.
(h) For purposes of this section, the term servicing agent shall
not include a trustee exercising a power of sale pursuant to a deed
of trust.

2937.7. In any action affecting the interest of any trustor or
beneficiary under a deed of trust or mortgage, service of process to
the trustee does not constitute service to the trustor or beneficiary
and does not impose any obligation on the trustee to notify the
trustor or beneficiary of the action.

2938. (a) A written assignment of an interest in leases, rents,
issues, or profits of real property made in connection with an
obligation secured by real property, irrespective of whether the
assignment is denoted as absolute, absolute conditioned upon default,
additional security for an obligation, or otherwise, shall, upon
execution and delivery by the assignor, be effective to create a
present security interest in existing and future leases, rents,
issues, or profits of that real property. As used in this section,
“leases, rents, issues, and profits of real property” includes the
cash proceeds thereof. “Cash proceeds” means cash, checks, deposit
accounts, and the like.
(b) An assignment of an interest in leases, rents, issues, or
profits of real property may be recorded in the records of the county
recorder in the county in which the underlying real property is
located in the same manner as any other conveyance of an interest in
real property, whether the assignment is in a separate document or
part of a mortgage or deed of trust, and when so duly recorded in
accordance with the methods, procedures, and requirements for
recordation of conveyances of other interests in real property, (1)
the assignment shall be deemed to give constructive notice of the
content of the assignment with the same force and effect as any other
duly recorded conveyance of an interest in real property and (2) the
interest granted by the assignment shall be deemed fully perfected
as of the time of recordation with the same force and effect as any
other duly recorded conveyance of an interest in real property,
notwithstanding a provision of the assignment or a provision of law
that would otherwise preclude or defer enforcement of the rights
granted the assignee under the assignment until the occurrence of a
subsequent event, including, but not limited to, a subsequent default
of the assignor, or the assignee’s obtaining possession of the real
property or the appointment of a receiver.
(c) Upon default of the assignor under the obligation secured by
the assignment of leases, rents, issues, and profits, the assignee
shall be entitled to enforce the assignment in accordance with this
section. On and after the date the assignee takes one or more of the
enforcement steps described in this subdivision, the assignee shall
be entitled to collect and receive all rents, issues, and profits
that have accrued but remain unpaid and uncollected by the assignor
or its agent or for the assignor’s benefit on that date, and all
rents, issues, and profits that accrue on or after the date. The
assignment shall be enforced by one or more of the following:
(1) The appointment of a receiver.
(2) Obtaining possession of the rents, issues, or profits.
(3) Delivery to any one or more of the tenants of a written demand
for turnover of rents, issues, and profits in the form specified in
subdivision (k), a copy of which demand shall also be delivered to
the assignor; and a copy of which shall be mailed to all other
assignees of record of the leases, rents, issues, and profits of the
real property at the address for notices provided in the assignment
or, if none, to the address to which the recorded assignment was to
be mailed after recording.
(4) Delivery to the assignor of a written demand for the rents,
issues, or profits, a copy of which shall be mailed to all other
assignees of record of the leases, rents, issues, and profits of the
real property at the address for notices provided in the assignment
or, if none, to the address to which the recorded assignment was to
be mailed after recording.
Moneys received by the assignee pursuant to this subdivision, net
of amounts paid pursuant to subdivision (g), if any, shall be applied
by the assignee to the debt or otherwise in accordance with the
assignment or the promissory note, deed of trust, or other instrument
evidencing the obligation, provided, however, that neither the
application nor the failure to so apply the rents, issues, or profits
shall result in a loss of any lien or security interest that the
assignee may have in the underlying real property or any other
collateral, render the obligation unenforceable, constitute a
violation of Section 726 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or otherwise
limit a right available to the assignee with respect to its
security.
(d) If an assignee elects to take the action provided for under
paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), the demand provided for therein
shall be signed under penalty of perjury by the assignee or an
authorized agent of the assignee and shall be effective as against
the tenant when actually received by the tenant at the address for
notices provided under the lease or other contractual agreement under
which the tenant occupies the property or, if no address for notices
is so provided, at the property. Upon receipt of this demand, the
tenant shall be obligated to pay to the assignee all rents, issues,
and profits that are past due and payable on the date of receipt of
the demand, and all rents, issues, and profits coming due under the
lease following the date of receipt of the demand, unless either of
the following occurs:
(1) The tenant has previously received a demand that is valid on
its face from another assignee of the leases, issues, rents, and
profits sent by the other assignee in accordance with this
subdivision and subdivision (c).
(2) The tenant, in good faith and in a manner that is not
inconsistent with the lease, has previously paid, or within 10 days
following receipt of the demand notice pays, the rent to the
assignor.
Payment of rent to an assignee following a demand under an
assignment of leases, rents, issues, and profits shall satisfy the
tenant’s obligation to pay the amounts under the lease. If a tenant
pays rent to the assignor after receipt of a demand other than under
the circumstances described in this subdivision, the tenant shall not
be discharged of the obligation to pay rent to the assignee, unless
the tenant occupies the property for residential purposes. The
obligation of a tenant to pay rent pursuant to this subdivision and
subdivision (c) shall continue until receipt by the tenant of a
written notice from a court directing the tenant to pay the rent in a
different manner or receipt by the tenant of a written notice from
the assignee from whom the demand was received canceling the demand,
whichever occurs first. This subdivision does not affect the
entitlement to rents, issues, or profits as between assignees as set
forth in subdivision (h).
(e) An enforcement action of the type authorized by subdivision
(c), and a collection, distribution, or application of rents, issues,
or profits by the assignee following an enforcement action of the
type authorized by subdivision (c), shall not do any of the
following:
(1) Make the assignee a mortgagee in possession of the property,
except if the assignee obtains actual possession of the real
property, or an agent of the assignor.
(2) Constitute an action, render the obligation unenforceable,
violate Section 726 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or, other than
with respect to marshaling requirements, otherwise limit any rights
available to the assignee with respect to its security.
(3) Be deemed to create a bar to a deficiency judgment pursuant to
a provision of law governing or relating to deficiency judgments
following the enforcement of any encumbrance, lien, or security
interest, notwithstanding that the action, collection, distribution,
or application may reduce the indebtedness secured by the assignment
or by a deed of trust or other security instrument.
The application of rents, issues, or profits to the secured
obligation shall satisfy the secured obligation to the extent of
those rents, issues, or profits, and, notwithstanding any provisions
of the assignment or other loan documents to the contrary, shall be
credited against any amounts necessary to cure any monetary default
for purposes of reinstatement under Section 2924c.
(f) If cash proceeds of rents, issues, or profits to which the
assignee is entitled following enforcement as set forth in
subdivision (c) are received by the assignor or its agent for
collection or by another person who has collected such rents, issues,
or profits for the assignor’s benefit, or for the benefit of a
subsequent assignee under the circumstances described in subdivision
(h), following the taking by the assignee of either of the
enforcement actions authorized in paragraph (3) or (4) of subdivision
(c), and the assignee has not authorized the assignor’s disposition
of the cash proceeds in a writing signed by the assignee, the rights
to the cash proceeds and to the recovery of the cash proceeds shall
be determined by the following:
(1) The assignee shall be entitled to an immediate turnover of the
cash proceeds received by the assignor or its agent for collection
or any other person who has collected the rents, issues, or profits
for the assignor’s benefit, or for the benefit of a subsequent
assignee under the circumstances described in subdivision (h), and
the assignor or other described party in possession of those cash
proceeds shall turn over the full amount of cash proceeds to the
assignee, less any amount representing payment of expenses authorized
by the assignee in writing. The assignee shall have a right to bring
an action for recovery of the cash proceeds, and to recover the cash
proceeds, without the necessity of bringing an action to foreclose a
security interest that it may have in the real property. This action
shall not violate Section 726 of the Code of Civil Procedure or
otherwise limit a right available to the assignee with respect to its
security.
(2) As between an assignee with an interest in cash proceeds
perfected in the manner set forth in subdivision (b) and enforced in
accordance with paragraph (3) or (4) of subdivision (c) and another
person claiming an interest in the cash proceeds, other than the
assignor or its agent for collection or one collecting rents, issues,
and profits for the benefit of the assignor, and subject to
subdivision (h), the assignee shall have a continuously perfected
security interest in the cash proceeds to the extent that the cash
proceeds are identifiable. For purposes hereof, cash proceeds are
identifiable if they are either (A) segregated or (B) if commingled
with other funds of the assignor or its agent or one acting on its
behalf, can be traced using the lowest intermediate balance
principle, unless the assignor or other party claiming an interest in
proceeds shows that some other method of tracing would better serve
the interests of justice and equity under the circumstances of the
case. The provisions of this paragraph are subject to any generally
applicable law with respect to payments made in the operation of the
assignor’s business.
(g) (1) If the assignee enforces the assignment under subdivision
(c) by means other than the appointment of a receiver and receives
rents, issues, or profits pursuant to this enforcement, the assignor
or another assignee of the affected real property may make written
demand upon the assignee to pay the reasonable costs of protecting
and preserving the property, including payment of taxes and insurance
and compliance with building and housing codes, if any.
(2) On and after the date of receipt of the demand, the assignee
shall pay for the reasonable costs of protecting and preserving the
real property to the extent of any rents, issues, or profits actually
received by the assignee, provided, however, that no such acts by
the assignee shall cause the assignee to become a mortgagee in
possession and the assignee’s duties under this subdivision, upon
receipt of a demand from the assignor or any other assignee of the
leases, rents, issues, and profits pursuant to paragraph (1), shall
not be construed to require the assignee to operate or manage the
property, which obligation shall remain that of the assignor.
(3) The obligation of the assignee hereunder shall continue until
the earlier of (A) the date on which the assignee obtains the
appointment of a receiver for the real property pursuant to
application to a court of competent jurisdiction, or (B) the date on
which the assignee ceases to enforce the assignment.
(4) This subdivision does not supersede or diminish the right of
the assignee to the appointment of a receiver.
(h) The lien priorities, rights, and interests among creditors
concerning rents, issues, or profits collected before the enforcement
by the assignee shall be governed by subdivisions (a) and (b).
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if an assignee who
has recorded its interest in leases, rents, issues, and profits prior
to the recordation of that interest by a subsequent assignee seeks
to enforce its interest in those rents, issues, or profits in
accordance with this section after any enforcement action has been
taken by a subsequent assignee, the prior assignee shall be entitled
only to the rents, issues, and profits that are accrued and unpaid as
of the date of its enforcement action and unpaid rents, issues, and
profits accruing thereafter. The prior assignee shall have no right
to rents, issues, or profits paid prior to the date of the
enforcement action, whether in the hands of the assignor or any
subsequent assignee. Upon receipt of notice that the prior assignee
has enforced its interest in the rents, issues, and profits, the
subsequent assignee shall immediately send a notice to any tenant to
whom it has given notice under subdivision (c). The notice shall
inform the tenant that the subsequent assignee cancels its demand
that the tenant pay rent to the subsequent assignee.
(i) (1) This section shall apply to contracts entered into on or
after January 1, 1997.
(2) Sections 2938 and 2938.1, as these sections were in effect
prior to January 1, 1997, shall govern contracts entered into prior
to January 1, 1997, and shall govern actions and proceedings
initiated on the basis of these contracts.
(j) “Real property,” as used in this section, means real property
or any estate or interest therein.
(k) The demand required by paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) shall
be in the following form:

DEMAND TO PAY RENT
TO
PARTY OTHER THAN
LANDLORD
(SECTION 2938 OF THE CIVIL CODE)
Tenant: (Name of Tenant)
Property Occupied by Tenant: (Address)
Landlord: (Name of Landlord)
Secured Party: (Name of Secured Party)
Address: (Address for Payment of Rent to Secured
Party and for Further Information):
The secured party named above is the assignee of
leases, rents, issues, and profits under (name
of document) dated ______, and recorded at
(recording information) in the official records
of ___________ County, California. You may
request a copy of the assignment from the
secured party at ____ (address).
THIS NOTICE AFFECTS YOUR LEASE OR RENTAL
AGREEMENT RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. YOU ARE
THEREFORE ADVISED TO CONSULT AN ATTORNEY
CONCERNING THOSE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS NOTICE.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (C) OF SECTION
2938 OF THE CIVIL CODE, YOU ARE HEREBY DIRECTED
TO PAY TO THE SECURED PARTY, ____ (NAME OF
SECURED PARTY) AT ____ (ADDRESS), ALL RENTS
UNDER YOUR LEASE OR OTHER RENTAL AGREEMENT WITH
THE LANDLORD OR PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST OF
LANDLORD, FOR THE OCCUPANCY OF THE PROPERTY AT
____ (ADDRESS OF RENTAL PREMISES) WHICH ARE PAST
DUE AND PAYABLE ON THE DATE YOU RECEIVE THIS
DEMAND, AND ALL RENTS COMING DUE UNDER THE LEASE
OR OTHER RENTAL AGREEMENT FOLLOWING THE DATE YOU
RECEIVE THIS DEMAND UNLESS YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID
THIS RENT TO THE LANDLORD IN GOOD FAITH AND IN A
MANNER NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN YOU AND THE LANDLORD. IN THIS CASE, THIS
DEMAND NOTICE SHALL REQUIRE YOU TO PAY TO THE
SECURED PARTY, ____ (NAME OF THE SECURED PARTY),
ALL RENTS THAT COME DUE FOLLOWING THE DATE
OF THE PAYMENT TO THE LANDLORD.
IF YOU PAY THE RENT TO THE UNDERSIGNED SECURED
PARTY, ____ (NAME OF SECURED PARTY), IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THIS NOTICE, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO
PAY THE RENT TO THE LANDLORD. YOU WILL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO DAMAGES OR OBLIGATED TO PAY RENT TO
THE SECURED PARTY IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY
RECEIVED A DEMAND OF THIS TYPE FROM A DIFFERENT
SECURED PARTY.
(For other than residential tenants) IF YOU PAY
RENT TO THE LANDLORD THAT BY THE TERMS OF THIS
DEMAND YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PAY TO THE SECURED
PARTY, YOU MAY BE SUBJECT TO DAMAGES INCURRED BY
THE SECURED PARTY BY REASON OF YOUR FAILURE TO
COMPLY WITH THIS DEMAND, AND YOU MAY NOT BE
DISCHARGED FROM YOUR OBLIGATION TO PAY THAT RENT
TO THE SECURED PARTY. YOU WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO
THOSE DAMAGES OR OBLIGATED TO PAY THAT RENT
TO THE SECURED PARTY IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY
RECEIVED A DEMAND OF THIS TYPE FROM A DIFFERENT
ASSIGNEE.
Your obligation to pay rent under this demand
shall continue until you receive either (1) a
written notice from a court directing you to pay
the rent in a manner provided therein, or (2) a
written notice from the secured party named
above canceling this demand.
The undersigned hereby certifies, under penalty
of perjury, that the undersigned is an
authorized officer or agent of the secured party
and that the secured party is the assignee, or
the current successor to the assignee, under an
assignment of leases, rents, issues, or profits
executed by the landlord, or a predecessor in
interest, that is being enforced pursuant to and
in accordance with Section 2938 of the Civil
Code.
Executed at _________, California, this ____ day
of _________, _____.
(Secured Party)
Name: __
Title: _

2939. A recorded mortgage must be discharged by a certificate
signed by the mortgagee, his personal representatives or assigns,
acknowledged or proved and certified as prescribed by the chapter on
“recording transfers,” stating that the mortgage has been paid,
satisfied, or discharged. Reference shall be made in said certificate
to the book and page where the mortgage is recorded.

2939.5. Foreign executors, administrators and guardians may satisfy
mortgages upon the records of any county in this state, upon
producing and recording in the office of the county recorder of the
county in which such mortgage is recorded, a duly certified and
authenticated copy of their letters testamentary, or of
administration or of guardianship, and which certificate or
authentication shall also recite that said letters have not been
revoked. For the purposes of this section, “guardian” includes a
foreign conservator, committee, or comparable fiduciary.

2940. A certificate of the discharge of a mortgage, and the proof
or acknowledgment thereof, must be recorded in the office of the
county recorder in which the mortgage is recorded.

2941. (a) Within 30 days after any mortgage has been satisfied, the
mortgagee or the assignee of the mortgagee shall execute a
certificate of the discharge thereof, as provided in Section 2939,
and shall record or cause to be recorded in the office of the county
recorder in which the mortgage is recorded. The mortgagee shall then
deliver, upon the written request of the mortgagor or the mortgagor’s
heirs, successors, or assignees, as the case may be, the original
note and mortgage to the person making the request.
(b) (1) Within 30 calendar days after the obligation secured by
any deed of trust has been satisfied, the beneficiary or the assignee
of the beneficiary shall execute and deliver to the trustee the
original note, deed of trust, request for a full reconveyance, and
other documents as may be necessary to reconvey, or cause to be
reconveyed, the deed of trust.
(A) The trustee shall execute the full reconveyance and shall
record or cause it to be recorded in the office of the county
recorder in which the deed of trust is recorded within 21 calendar
days after receipt by the trustee of the original note, deed of
trust, request for a full reconveyance, the fee that may be charged
pursuant to subdivision (e), recorder’s fees, and other documents as
may be necessary to reconvey, or cause to be reconveyed, the deed of
trust.
(B) The trustee shall deliver a copy of the reconveyance to the
beneficiary, its successor in interest, or its servicing agent, if
known. The reconveyance instrument shall specify one of the following
options for delivery of the instrument, the addresses of which the
recorder has no duty to validate:
(i) The trustor or successor in interest, and that person’s last
known address, as the person to whom the recorder will deliver the
recorded instrument pursuant to Section 27321 of the Government Code.
(ii) That the recorder shall deliver the recorded instrument to
the trustee’s address. If the trustee’s address is specified for
delivery, the trustee shall mail the recorded instrument to the
trustor or the successor in interest to the last known address for
that party.
(C) Following execution and recordation of the full reconveyance,
upon receipt of a written request by the trustor or the trustor’s
heirs, successors, or assignees, the trustee shall then deliver, or
caused to be delivered, the original note and deed of trust to the
person making that request.
(D) If the note or deed of trust, or any copy of the note or deed
of trust, is electronic, upon satisfaction of an obligation secured
by a deed of trust, any electronic original, or electronic copy which
has not been previously marked solely for use as a copy, of the note
and deed of trust, shall be altered to indicate that the obligation
is paid in full.
(2) If the trustee has failed to execute and record, or cause to
be recorded, the full reconveyance within 60 calendar days of
satisfaction of the obligation, the beneficiary, upon receipt of a
written request by the trustor or trustor’s heirs, successor in
interest, agent, or assignee, shall execute and acknowledge a
document pursuant to Section 2934a substituting itself or another as
trustee and issue a full reconveyance.
(3) If a full reconveyance has not been executed and recorded
pursuant to either paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) within 75 calendar
days of satisfaction of the obligation, then a title insurance
company may prepare and record a release of the obligation. However,
at least 10 days prior to the issuance and recording of a full
release pursuant to this paragraph, the title insurance company shall
mail by first-class mail with postage prepaid, the intention to
release the obligation to the trustee, trustor, and beneficiary of
record, or their successor in interest of record, at the last known
address.
(A) The release shall set forth:
(i) The name of the beneficiary.
(ii) The name of the trustor.
(iii) The recording reference to the deed of trust.
(iv) A recital that the obligation secured by the deed of trust
has been paid in full.
(v) The date and amount of payment.
(B) The release issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be
entitled to recordation and, when recorded, shall be deemed to be the
equivalent of a reconveyance of a deed of trust.
(4) Where an obligation secured by a deed of trust was paid in
full prior to July 1, 1989, and no reconveyance has been issued and
recorded by October 1, 1989, then a release of obligation as provided
for in paragraph (3) may be issued.
(5) Paragraphs (2) and (3) do not excuse the beneficiary or the
trustee from compliance with paragraph (1). Paragraph (3) does not
excuse the beneficiary from compliance with paragraph (2).
(6) In addition to any other remedy provided by law, a title
insurance company preparing or recording the release of the
obligation shall be liable to any party for damages, including
attorney’s fees, which any person may sustain by reason of the
issuance and recording of the release, pursuant to paragraphs (3) and
(4).
(7) A beneficiary may, at its discretion, in accordance with the
requirements and procedures of Section 2934a, substitute the title
company conducting the escrow through which the obligation is
satisfied for the trustee of record, in which case the title company
assumes the obligation of a trustee under this subdivision, and may
collect the fee authorized by subdivision (e).
(8) In lieu of delivering the original note and deed of trust to
the trustee within 30 days of loan satisfaction, as required by
paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), a beneficiary who executes and
delivers to the trustee a request for a full reconveyance within 30
days of loan satisfaction may, within 120 days of loan satisfaction,
deliver the original note and deed of trust to either the trustee or
trustor. If the note and deed of trust are delivered as provided in
this paragraph, upon satisfaction of the note and deed of trust, the
note and deed of trust shall be altered to indicate that the
obligation is paid in full. Nothing in this paragraph alters the
requirements and obligations set forth in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(c) For the purposes of this section, the phrases “cause to be
recorded” and “cause it to be recorded” include, but are not limited
to, sending by certified mail with the United States Postal Service
or by an independent courier service using its tracking service that
provides documentation of receipt and delivery, including the
signature of the recipient, the full reconveyance or certificate of
discharge in a recordable form, together with payment for all
required fees, in an envelope addressed to the county recorder’s
office of the county in which the deed of trust or mortgage is
recorded. Within two business days from the day of receipt, if
received in recordable form together with all required fees, the
county recorder shall stamp and record the full reconveyance or
certificate of discharge. Compliance with this subdivision shall
entitle the trustee to the benefit of the presumption found in
Section 641 of the Evidence Code.
(d) The violation of this section shall make the violator liable
to the person affected by the violation for all damages which that
person may sustain by reason of the violation, and shall require that
the violator forfeit to that person the sum of five hundred dollars
($500).
(e) (1) The trustee, beneficiary, or mortgagee may charge a
reasonable fee to the trustor or mortgagor, or the owner of the land,
as the case may be, for all services involved in the preparation,
execution, and recordation of the full reconveyance, including, but
not limited to, document preparation and forwarding services rendered
to effect the full reconveyance, and, in addition, may collect
official fees. This fee may be made payable no earlier than the
opening of a bona fide escrow or no more than 60 days prior to the
full satisfaction of the obligation secured by the deed of trust or
mortgage.
(2) If the fee charged pursuant to this subdivision does not
exceed forty-five dollars ($45), the fee is conclusively presumed to
be reasonable.
(3) The fee described in paragraph (1) may not be charged unless
demand for the fee was included in the payoff demand statement
described in Section 2943.
(f) For purposes of this section, “original” may include an
optically imaged reproduction when the following requirements are
met:
(1) The trustee receiving the request for reconveyance and
executing the reconveyance as provided in subdivision (b) is an
affiliate or subsidiary of the beneficiary or an affiliate or
subsidiary of the assignee of the beneficiary, respectively.
(2) The optical image storage media used to store the document
shall be nonerasable write once, read many (WORM) optical image media
that does not allow changes to the stored document.
(3) The optical image reproduction shall be made consistent with
the minimum standards of quality approved by either the National
Institute of Standards and Technology or the Association for
Information and Image Management.
(4) Written authentication identifying the optical image
reproduction as an unaltered copy of the note, deed of trust, or
mortgage shall be stamped or printed on the optical image
reproduction.
(g) No fee or charge may be imposed on the trustor in connection
with, or relating to, any act described in this section except as
expressly authorized by this section.
(h) The amendments to this section enacted at the 1999-2000
Regular Session shall apply only to a mortgage or an obligation
secured by a deed of trust that is satisfied on or after January 1,
2001.
(i) (1) In any action filed before January 1, 2002, that is
dismissed as a result of the amendments to this section enacted at
the 2001-02 Regular Session, the plaintiff shall not be required to
pay the defendant’s costs.
(2) Any claimant, including a claimant in a class action lawsuit,
whose claim is dismissed or barred as a result of the amendments to
this section enacted at the 2001-02 Regular Session, may, within 6
months of the dismissal or barring of the action or claim, file or
refile a claim for actual damages occurring before January 1, 2002,
that were proximately caused by a time lapse between loan
satisfaction and the completion of the beneficiary’s obligations as
required under paragraph (1) of subdivision (b). In any action
brought under this section, the defendant may be found liable for
actual damages, but may not be found liable for any civil penalty
authorized by Section 2941.
(j) Notwithstanding any other penalties, if a beneficiary collects
a fee for reconveyance and thereafter has knowledge, or should have
knowledge, that no reconveyance has been recorded, the beneficiary
shall cause to be recorded the reconveyance, or in the event a
release of obligation is earlier and timely recorded, the beneficiary
shall refund to the trustor the fee charged to perform the
reconveyance. Evidence of knowledge includes, but is not limited to,
notice of a release of obligation pursuant to paragraph (3) of
subdivision (b).

2941.1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if no payoff
demand statement is issued pursuant to Section 2943, nothing in
Section 2941 shall be construed to prohibit the charging of a
reconveyance fee.

2941.5. Every person who willfully violates Section 2941 is guilty
of a misdemeanor punishable by fine of not less than fifty dollars
($50) nor more than four hundred dollars ($400), or by imprisonment
in the county jail for not to exceed six months, or by both such fine
and imprisonment.
For purposes of this section, “willfully” means simply a purpose
or willingness to commit the act, or make the omission referred to.
It does not require an intent to violate the law, to injure another,
or to acquire any advantage.

2941.7. Whenever the obligation secured by a mortgage or deed of
trust has been fully satisfied and the present mortgagee or
beneficiary of record cannot be located after diligent search, or
refuses to execute and deliver a proper certificate of discharge or
request for reconveyance, or whenever a specified balance, including
principal and interest, remains due and the mortgagor or trustor or
the mortgagor’s or trustor’s successor in interest cannot, after
diligent search, locate the then mortgagee or beneficiary of record,
the lien of any mortgage or deed of trust shall be released when the
mortgagor or trustor or the mortgagor’s or trustor’s successor in
interest records or causes to be recorded, in the office of the
county recorder of the county in which the encumbered property is
located, a corporate bond accompanied by a declaration, as specified
in subdivision (b), and with respect to a deed of trust, a
reconveyance as hereinafter provided.
(a) The bond shall be acceptable to the trustee and shall be
issued by a corporation lawfully authorized to issue surety bonds in
the State of California in a sum equal to the greater of either (1)
two times the amount of the original obligation secured by the
mortgage or deed of trust and any additional principal amounts,
including advances, shown in any recorded amendment thereto, or (2)
one-half of the total amount computed pursuant to (1) and any accrued
interest on such amount, and shall be conditioned for payment of any
sum which the mortgagee or beneficiary may recover in an action on
the obligation secured by the mortgage or deed of trust, with costs
of suit and reasonable attorneys’ fees. The obligees under the bond
shall be the mortgagee or mortgagee’s successor in interest or the
trustee who executes a reconveyance under this section and the
beneficiary or beneficiary’s successor in interest.
The bond recorded by the mortgagor or trustor or mortgagor’s or
trustor’s successor in interest shall contain the following
information describing the mortgage or deed of trust:
(1) Recording date and instrument number or book and page number
of the recorded instrument.
(2) Names of original mortgagor and mortgagee or trustor and
beneficiary.
(3) Amount shown as original principal sum secured thereby.
(4) The recording information and new principal amount shown in
any recorded amendment thereto.
(b) The declaration accompanying the corporate bond recorded by
the mortgagor or trustor or the mortgagor’s or trustor’s successor in
interest shall state:
(1) That it is recorded pursuant to this section.
(2) The name of the original mortgagor or trustor and mortgagee or
beneficiary.
(3) The name and address of the person making the declaration.
(4) That either the obligation secured by the mortgage or deed of
trust has been fully satisfied and the present mortgagee or
beneficiary of record cannot be located after diligent search, or
refuses to execute and deliver a proper certificate of discharge or
request for reconveyance as required under Section 2941; or that a
specified balance, including principal and interest, remains due and
the mortgagor or trustor or mortgagor’s or trustor’s successor in
interest cannot, after diligent search, locate the then mortgagee or
beneficiary.
(5) That the declarant has mailed by certified mail, return
receipt requested, to the last address of the person to whom payments
under the mortgage or deed of trust were made and to the last
mortgagee or beneficiary of record at the address for such mortgagee
or beneficiary shown on the instrument creating, assigning, or
conveying the interest, a notice of recording a declaration and bond
under this section and informing the recipient of the name and
address of the mortgagor or trustee, if any, and of the right to
record a written objection with respect to the release of the lien of
the mortgage or, with respect to a deed of trust, notify the trustee
in writing of any objection to the reconveyance of the deed of
trust. The declaration shall state the date any notices were mailed
pursuant to this section and the names and addresses of all persons
to whom mailed.
The declaration provided for in this section shall be signed by
the mortgagor or trustor under penalty of perjury.
(c) With respect to a deed of trust, after the expiration of 30
days following the recording of the corporate bond and accompanying
declaration provided in subdivisions (a) and (b), and delivery to the
trustee of the usual reconveyance fees plus costs and a demand for
reconveyance under this section, the trustee shall execute and
record, or otherwise deliver as provided in Section 2941, a
reconveyance in the same form as if the beneficiary had delivered to
the trustee a proper request for reconveyance, provided that the
trustee has not received a written objection to the reconveyance from
the beneficiary of record. No trustee shall have any liability to
any person by reason of its execution of a reconveyance in reliance
upon a trustor’s or trustor’s successor’s in interest substantial
compliance with this section. The sole remedy of any person damaged
by reason of the reconveyance shall be against the trustor, the
affiant, or the bond. With respect to a mortgage, a mortgage shall be
satisfied of record when 30 days have expired following recordation
of the corporate bond and accompanying declaration, provided no
objection to satisfaction has been recorded by the mortgagee within
that period. A bona fide purchaser or encumbrancer for value shall
take the interest conveyed free of such mortgage, provided there has
been compliance with subdivisions (a) and (b) and the deed to the
purchaser recites that no objections by the mortgagee have been
recorded.
Upon recording of a reconveyance under this section, or, in the
case of a mortgage the expiration of 30 days following recordation of
the corporate bond and accompanying declaration without objection
thereto having been recorded, interest shall no longer accrue as to
any balance remaining due to the extent the balance due has been
alleged in the declaration recorded under subdivision (b).
The sum of any specified balance, including principal and
interest, which remains due and which is remitted to any issuer of a
corporate bond in conjunction with the issuance of a bond pursuant to
this section shall, if unclaimed, escheat to the state after three
years pursuant to the Unclaimed Property Law. From the date of
escheat the issuer of the bond shall be relieved of any liability to
pay to the beneficiary or his or her heirs or other successors in
interest the escheated funds and the sole remedy shall be a claim for
property paid or delivered to the Controller pursuant to the
Unclaimed Property Law.
(d) The term “diligent search,” as used in this section, shall
mean all of the following:
(1) The mailing of notices as provided in paragraph (5) of
subdivision (b), and to any other address that the declarant has used
to correspond with or contact the mortgagee or beneficiary.
(2) A check of the telephone directory in the city where the
mortgagee or beneficiary maintained the mortgagee’s or beneficiary’s
last known address or place of business.
(3) In the event the mortgagee or beneficiary or the mortgagee’s
or beneficiary’s successor in interest is a corporation, a check of
the records of the California Secretary of State and the secretary of
state in the state of incorporation, if known.
(4) In the event the mortgagee or beneficiary is a state or
national bank or a state or federal savings and loan association, an
inquiry of the regulatory authority of such bank or savings and loan
association.
(e) This section shall not be deemed to create an exclusive
procedure for the issuance of reconveyances and the issuance of bonds
and declarations to release the lien of a mortgage and shall not
affect any other procedures, whether or not such procedures are set
forth in statute, for the issuance of reconveyances and the issuance
of bonds and declarations to release the lien of a mortgage.
(f) For purposes of this section, the trustor or trustor’s
successor in interest may substitute the present trustee of record
without conferring any duties upon the trustee other than those that
are incidental to the execution of a reconveyance pursuant to this
section if all of the following requirements are met:
(1) The present trustee of record and the present mortgagee or
beneficiary of record cannot be located after diligent search.
(2) The declaration filed pursuant to subdivision (b) shall state
in addition that it is filed pursuant to this subdivision, and shall,
in lieu of the provisions of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b), state
that the obligation secured by the mortgage or deed of trust has
been fully satisfied and the present trustee of record and present
mortgagee or beneficiary of record cannot be located after diligent
search.
(3) The substitute trustee is a title insurance company that
agrees to accept the substitution. This subdivision shall not impose
a duty upon a title insurance company to accept the substitution.
(4) The corporate bond required in subdivision (a) is for a period
of five or more years.

2941.9. (a) The purpose of this section is to establish a process
through which all of the beneficiaries under a trust deed may agree
to be governed by beneficiaries holding 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 any affiliate of that licensed
real estate broker.
(b) All holders of notes secured by the same real property or a
series of undivided interests in notes secured by real property
equivalent to a series transaction may agree in writing to be
governed by the desires of the holders of more than 50 percent of the
record beneficial interest of those notes or interests, exclusive of
any notes or interests of a licensed real estate broker that is the
issuer or servicer of the notes or interests of any affiliate of the
licensed real estate broker, with respect to actions to be taken on
behalf of all holders in the event of default or foreclosure for
matters that require direction or approval of the holders, including
designation of the broker, servicing agent, or other person acting on
their behalf, and the sale, encumbrance, or lease of real property
owned by the holders resulting from foreclosure or receipt of a deed
in lieu of foreclosure.
(c) A description of the agreement authorized in subdivision (b)
of this section shall be disclosed pursuant to Section 10232.5 of the
Business and Professions Code and shall be included in a recorded
document such as the deed of trust or the assignment of interests.
(d) Any action taken pursuant to the authority granted in this
section is not effective unless all the parties agreeing to the
action sign, under penalty of perjury, a separate written document
entitled “Majority Action Affidavit” stating the following:
(1) The action has been authorized pursuant to this section.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) Notice of the action 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 this document.
This document shall 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 in this subdivision is
recorded, it shall constitute conclusive evidence of compliance with
the requirements of this subdivision in favor of trustees acting
pursuant to this section, substituted trustees acting pursuant to
Section 2934a, 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.
(e) For purposes of this section, “affiliate of the licensed real
estate broker” includes any person as defined in Section 25013 of the
Corporations Code who 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.

2942. Contracts of bottomry or respondentia, although in the nature
of mortgages, are not affected by any of the provisions of this
Chapter.

2943. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Beneficiary” means a mortgagee or beneficiary of a mortgage
or deed of trust, or his or her assignees.
(2) “Beneficiary statement” means a written statement showing:
(A) The amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by
the mortgage or deed of trust and the interest rate, together with
the total amounts, if any, of all overdue installments of either
principal or interest, or both.
(B) The amounts of periodic payments, if any.
(C) The date on which the obligation is due in whole or in part.
(D) The date to which real estate taxes and special assessments
have been paid to the extent the information is known to the
beneficiary.
(E) The amount of hazard insurance in effect and the term and
premium of that insurance to the extent the information is known to
the beneficiary.
(F) The amount in an account, if any, maintained for the
accumulation of funds with which to pay taxes and insurance premiums.
(G) The nature and, if known, the amount of any additional
charges, costs, or expenses paid or incurred by the beneficiary which
have become a lien on the real property involved.
(H) Whether the obligation secured by the mortgage or deed of
trust can or may be transferred to a new borrower.
(3) “Delivery” means depositing or causing to be deposited in the
United States mail an envelope with postage prepaid, containing a
copy of the document to be delivered, addressed to the person whose
name and address is set forth in the demand therefor. The document
may also be transmitted by facsimile machine to the person whose name
and address is set forth in the demand therefor.
(4) “Entitled person” means the trustor or mortgagor of, or his or
her successor in interest in, the mortgaged or trust property or any
part thereof, any beneficiary under a deed of trust, any person
having a subordinate lien or encumbrance of record thereon, the
escrowholder licensed as an agent pursuant to Division 6 (commencing
with Section 17000) of the Financial Code, or the party exempt by
virtue of Section 17006 of the Financial Code who is acting as the
escrowholder.
(5) “Payoff demand statement” means a written statement, prepared
in response to a written demand made by an entitled person or
authorized agent, setting forth the amounts required as of the date
of preparation by the beneficiary, to fully satisfy all obligations
secured by the loan that is the subject of the payoff demand
statement. The written statement shall include information reasonably
necessary to calculate the payoff amount on a per diem basis for the
period of time, not to exceed 30 days, during which the per diem
amount is not changed by the terms of the note.
(b) (1) A beneficiary, or his or her authorized agent, shall,
within 21 days of the receipt of a written demand by an entitled
person or his or her authorized agent, prepare and deliver to the
person demanding it a true, correct, and complete copy of the note or
other evidence of indebtedness with any modification thereto, and a
beneficiary statement.
(2) A request pursuant to this subdivision may be made by an
entitled person or his or her authorized agent at any time before, or
within two months after, the recording of a notice of default under
a mortgage or deed of trust, or may otherwise be made more than 30
days prior to the entry of the decree of foreclosure.
(c) A beneficiary, or his or her authorized agent, shall, on the
written demand of an entitled person, or his or her authorized agent,
prepare and deliver a payoff demand statement to the person
demanding it within 21 days of the receipt of the demand. However, if
the loan is subject to a recorded notice of default or a filed
complaint commencing a judicial foreclosure, the beneficiary shall
have no obligation to prepare and deliver this statement as
prescribed unless the written demand is received prior to the first
publication of a notice of sale or the notice of the first date of
sale established by a court.
(d) (1) A beneficiary statement or payoff demand statement may be
relied upon by the entitled person or his or her authorized agent in
accordance with its terms, including with respect to the payoff
demand statement reliance for the purpose of establishing the amount
necessary to pay the obligation in full. If the beneficiary notifies
the entitled person or his or her authorized agent of any amendment
to the statement, then the amended statement may be relied upon by
the entitled person or his or her authorized agent as provided in
this subdivision.
(2) If notification of any amendment to the statement is not given
in writing, then a written amendment to the statement shall be
delivered to the entitled person or his or her authorized agent no
later than the next business day after notification.
(3) Upon the dates specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) any sums
that were due and for any reason not included in the statement or
amended statement shall continue to be recoverable by the beneficiary
as an unsecured obligation of the obligor pursuant to the terms of
the note and existing provisions of law.
(A) If the transaction is voluntary, the entitled party or his or
her authorized agent may rely upon the statement or amended statement
upon the earlier of (i) the close of escrow, (ii) transfer of title,
or (iii) recordation of a lien.
(B) If the loan is subject to a recorded notice of default or a
filed complaint commencing a judicial foreclosure, the entitled party
or his or her authorized agent may rely upon the statement or
amended statement upon the acceptance of the last and highest bid at
a trustee’s sale or a court supervised sale.
(e) The following provisions apply to a demand for either a
beneficiary statement or a payoff demand statement:
(1) If an entitled person or his or her authorized agent requests
a statement pursuant to this section and does not specify a
beneficiary statement or a payoff demand statement the beneficiary
shall treat the request as a request for a payoff demand statement.
(2) If the entitled person or the entitled person’s authorized
agent includes in the written demand a specific request for a copy of
the deed of trust or mortgage, it shall be furnished with the
written statement at no additional charge.
(3) The beneficiary may, before delivering a statement, require
reasonable proof that the person making the demand is, in fact, an
entitled person or an authorized agent of an entitled person, in
which event the beneficiary shall not be subject to the penalties of
this section until 21 days after receipt of the proof herein provided
for. A statement in writing signed by the entitled person appointing
an authorized agent when delivered personally to the beneficiary or
delivered by registered return receipt mail shall constitute
reasonable proof as to the identity of an agent. Similar delivery of
a policy of title insurance, preliminary report issued by a title
company, original or photographic copy of a grant deed or certified
copy of letters testamentary, guardianship, or conservatorship shall
constitute reasonable proof as to the identity of a successor in
interest, provided the person demanding a statement is named as
successor in interest in the document.
(4) If a beneficiary for a period of 21 days after receipt of the
written demand willfully fails to prepare and deliver the statement,
he or she is liable to the entitled person for all damages which he
or she may sustain by reason of the refusal and, whether or not
actual damages are sustained, he or she shall forfeit to the entitled
person the sum of three hundred dollars ($300). Each failure to
prepare and deliver the statement, occurring at a time when, pursuant
to this section, the beneficiary is required to prepare and deliver
the statement, creates a separate cause of action, but a judgment
awarding an entitled person a forfeiture, or damages and forfeiture,
for any failure to prepare and deliver a statement bars recovery of
damages and forfeiture for any other failure to prepare and deliver a
statement, with respect to the same obligation, in compliance with a
demand therefor made within six months before or after the demand as
to which the award was made. For the purposes of this subdivision,
“willfully” means an intentional failure to comply with the
requirements of this section without just cause or excuse.
(5) If the beneficiary has more than one branch, office, or other
place of business, then the demand shall be made to the branch or
office address set forth in the payment billing notice or payment
book, and the statement, unless it specifies otherwise, shall be
deemed to apply only to the unpaid balance of the single obligation
named in the request and secured by the mortgage or deed of trust
which is payable at the branch or office whose address appears on the
aforesaid billing notice or payment book.
(6) The beneficiary may make a charge not to exceed thirty dollars
($30) for furnishing each required statement. The provisions of this
paragraph shall not apply to mortgages or deeds of trust insured by
the Federal Housing Administrator or guaranteed by the Administrator
of Veterans Affairs.
(f) The preparation and delivery of a beneficiary statement or a
payoff demand statement pursuant to this section shall not change a
date of sale established pursuant to Section 2924g.
(g) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2014.

2943.1. (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions
apply:
(1) “Beneficiary” has the same meaning as defined in Section 2943.
(2) “Borrower’s Instruction to Suspend and Close Equity Line of
Credit” means the instruction described in subdivision (c), signed by
the borrower or borrowers under an equity line of credit.
(3) “Entitled person” has the same meaning as defined in Section
2943.
(4) “Equity line of credit” means a revolving line of credit used
for consumer purposes, which is secured by a mortgage or deed of
trust encumbering residential real property consisting of one to four
dwelling units, at least one of which is occupied by the borrower.
(5) “Payoff demand statement” has the same meaning as defined in
Section 2943.
(6) “Suspend” means to prohibit the borrower from drawing on,
increasing, or incurring any additional principal debt on the equity
line of credit.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section
2943, a payoff demand statement issued by a beneficiary in connection
with an equity line of credit shall include an email address, fax
number, or mailing address designated by the beneficiary for delivery
of the Borrower’s Instruction to Suspend and Close Equity Line of
Credit by the entitled person.
(c) Upon receipt from an entitled person of a Borrower’s
Instruction to Suspend and Close Equity Line of Credit, that has been
prepared and presented to the borrower by the entitled person and
signed by a borrower, a beneficiary shall suspend the equity line of
credit for a minimum of 30 days. A Borrower’s Instruction to Suspend
and Close Equity Line of Credit shall be effective if made
substantially in the following form and signed by the borrower:

“Borrower’s Instruction to Suspend and
Close
Equity Line of Credit
Lender: (Name of Lender)
Borrower(s): (Name of Borrower(s))
Account Number of the Equity Line of Credit:
(Account Number)
Encumbered Property Address: (Property Address)
Escrow or Settlement Agent: (Name of Agent):
In connection with a sale or refinance of the
above-referenced property, my Escrow or
Settlement Agent has requested a payoff demand
statement for the above-described equity line of
credit. I understand my ability to use this
equity line of credit has been suspended for at
least 30 days to accommodate this pending
transaction. I understand that I cannot use any
credit cards, debit cards, or checks associated
with this equity line of credit while it is
suspended and all amounts will be due and
payable upon close of escrow. I also understand
that when payment is made in accordance with the
payoff demand statement, my equity line of
credit will be closed. If any amounts remain due
after the payment is made, I understand I will
remain personally liable for those amounts even
if the equity line of credit has been closed and
the property released.
This is my written authorization and instruction
that you are to close my equity line of credit
and cause the secured lien against this property
to be released when you are in receipt of both
this instruction and payment in accordance with
your payoff demand statement.
__________
________ (Signature
(Date) _______
of Each
___________
Borrower)”

(d) When a beneficiary is in receipt of both a Borrower’s
Instruction to Suspend and Close Equity Line of Credit and payment in
accordance with the payoff demand statement as set forth in Section
2943, the beneficiary shall do all of the following:
(1) Close the equity line of credit.
(2) Release or reconvey the property securing the equity line of
credit, as provided by this chapter.
(e) The beneficiary may conclusively rely on the Borrower’s
Instruction to Suspend and Close Equity Line of Credit provided by
the entitled person as coming from the borrower.
(f) (1) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2015.
(2) This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2019,
and as of that date is repealed.

2944. None of the provisions of this chapter applies to any
transaction or security interest governed by the Commercial Code,
except to the extent made applicable by reason of an election made by
the secured party pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of
subdivision (a) of Section 9604 of the Commercial Code.

2944.5. No lender, mortgagee, or any third party having an interest
in real or personal property shall refuse to accept a policy issued
by an admitted insurer solely because the policy is issued for a
continuous period without a fixed expiration date even though the
policy premium is due and payable every six months, provided the
lender, mortgagee, or third party is entitled to receive (a) notice
of renewal from the insurer within 15 days of receipt of payment on
the policy by the insured or (b) notice of cancellation or nonrenewal
under the terms and conditions set forth in Sections 678 and 2074.8
of the Insurance Code, whichever is applicable.

2944.6. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person
who negotiates, attempts to negotiate, arranges, attempts to arrange,
or otherwise offers to perform a mortgage loan modification or other
form of mortgage loan forbearance for a fee or other compensation
paid by the borrower, shall provide the following to the borrower, as
a separate statement, in not less than 14-point bold type, prior to
entering into any fee agreement with the borrower:
It is not necessary to pay a third party to arrange for a loan
modification or other form of forbearance from your mortgage lender
or servicer. You may call your lender directly to ask for a change in
your loan terms. Nonprofit housing counseling agencies also offer
these and other forms of borrower assistance free of charge. A list
of nonprofit housing counseling agencies approved by the United
States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is available
from your local HUD office or by visiting http://www.hud.gov.

(b) If loan modification or other mortgage loan forbearance
services are offered or negotiated in one of the languages set forth
in Section 1632, a translated copy of the statement in subdivision
(a) shall be provided to the borrower in that foreign language.
(c) A violation of this section by a natural person is a public
offense punishable by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars
($10,000), by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to
exceed one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment, or if by a
business entity, the violation is punishable by a fine not exceeding
fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). These penalties are cumulative to
any other remedies or penalties provided by law.
(d) This section does not apply to a person, or an agent acting on
that person’s behalf, offering loan modification or other loan
forbearance services for a loan owned or serviced by that person.
(e) This section shall apply only to mortgages and deeds of trust
secured by residential real property containing four or fewer
dwelling units.

2944.7. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, it shall be unlawful for
any person who negotiates, attempts to negotiate, arranges, attempts
to arrange, or otherwise offers to perform a mortgage loan
modification or other form of mortgage loan forbearance for a fee or
other compensation paid by the borrower, to do any of the following:
(1) Claim, demand, charge, collect, or receive any compensation
until after the person has fully performed each and every service the
person contracted to perform or represented that he or she would
perform.
(2) Take any wage assignment, any lien of any type on real or
personal property, or other security to secure the payment of
compensation.
(3) Take any power of attorney from the borrower for any purpose.
(b) A violation of this section by a natural person is punishable
by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), by
imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed one year, or
by both that fine and imprisonment, or if by a business entity, the
violation is punishable by a fine not exceeding fifty thousand
dollars ($50,000). These penalties are cumulative to any other
remedies or penalties provided by law.
(c) In addition to the penalties and remedies provided by Chapter
5 (commencing with Section 17200) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the
Business and Professions Code, a person who violates this section
shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed twenty thousand
dollars ($20,000) for each violation, which shall be assessed and
recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the people of the
State of California by the Attorney General, by any district
attorney, by any county counsel authorized by agreement with the
district attorney in actions involving a violation of a county
ordinance, by any city attorney of a city having a population in
excess of 750,000, by any city attorney of any city and county, or,
with the consent of the district attorney, by a city prosecutor in
any city having a full-time city prosecutor, in any court of
competent jurisdiction pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section
17200) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code.
(d) Nothing in this section precludes a person, or an agent acting
on that person’s behalf, who offers loan modification or other loan
forbearance services for a loan owned or serviced by that person,
from doing any of the following:
(1) Collecting principal, interest, or other charges under the
terms of a loan, before the loan is modified, including charges to
establish a new payment schedule for a nondelinquent loan, after the
borrower reduces the unpaid principal balance of that loan for the
express purpose of lowering the monthly payment due under the terms
of the loan.
(2) Collecting principal, interest, or other charges under the
terms of a loan, after the loan is modified.
(3) Accepting payment from a federal agency in connection with the
federal Making Home Affordable Plan or other federal plan intended
to help borrowers refinance or modify their loans or otherwise avoid
foreclosures.
(e) This section shall apply only to mortgages and deeds of trust
secured by residential real property containing four or fewer
dwelling units.

2944.8. (a) In addition to any liability for a civil penalty
pursuant to Section 2944.7, if a person violates Section 2944.7 with
respect to a victim who is a senior citizen or a disabled person, the
violator may be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed two
thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation, which may
be assessed and recovered in a civil action.
(b) As used in this section, the following terms have the
following meanings:
(1) “Disabled person” means a person who has a physical or mental
disability, as defined in Sections 12926 and 12926.1 of the
Government Code.
(2) “Senior citizen” means a person who is 65 years of age or
older.
(c) In determining whether to impose a civil penalty pursuant to
subdivision (a) and the amount thereof, the court shall consider, in
addition to any other appropriate factors, the extent to which one or
more of the following factors are present:
(1) Whether the defendant knew or should have known that his or
her conduct was directed to one or more senior citizens or disabled
persons.
(2) Whether the defendant’s conduct caused one or more senior
citizens or disabled persons to suffer any of the following: loss or
encumbrance of a primary residence, principal employment, or source
of income, substantial loss of property set aside for retirement, or
for personal or family care and maintenance, or substantial loss of
payments received under a pension or retirement plan or a government
benefits program, or assets essential to the health or welfare of the
senior citizen or disabled person.
(3) Whether one or more senior citizens or disabled persons are
substantially more vulnerable than other members of the public to the
defendant’s conduct because of age, poor health or infirmity,
impaired understanding, restricted mobility, or disability, and
actually suffered substantial physical, emotional, or economic damage
resulting from the defendant’s conduct.
(d) A court of competent jurisdiction hearing an action pursuant
to this section may make orders and judgments as necessary to restore
to a senior citizen or disabled person money or property, real or
personal, that may have been acquired by means of a violation of
Section 2944.7.

2944.10. Any action to enforce any cause of action pursuant to
Section 2944.7 or 2944.8 shall be commenced within four years after
the cause of action accrued. No cause of action barred under existing
law on the effective date of this section shall be revived by its
enactment.

Author: timothymccandless

Attorney at law, specializing in litigation, labor law overtime, criminal record expungement, partnership dissolution, and Real Estate workout solutions. Employment law claims and Wage and Hour claims Wrongful termination

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