How to get clean title w/o foreclosing?

[Chet Mazur]

I am (still) working a dealing trying to buy a 2nd that's in default. This deal died before xmas and then came back to life last week. There is significant equity in the property, that's why I have a death grip on the deal.

If buy and I take the defaulted note to trustee sale, someone can over bid my opening bid. If I see that the deal is worth 500K, it's likely that someone else does too. This over bid is real cash that go to the borrower.

I would like to not take the property to trustee's sale, but still get clear title.

This maybe state specific to CA, but the only thing I thought of was a deed in lieu.