Trustee Rescinding Sale - California

Trustee Rescinding Sale - California

El Sobrante, CA · Member since 2013 · 8 posts · 1 vote

The facts are straight forward:

1. I bought a Home Equity Loan in foreclosure. It was in the first position because a subsequent 'first' loan did not have a subordination agreement recorded. I received and recorded the Trustee Deed.

Three weeks later I found out that one week before the foreclosure sale the beneficiary/trustee of the 'second' position filed a suit against the bene/trustee of the first (the Home Equity Loan) claiming that the order ought to be reversed because the 'second' bene paid the first off the home equity loan 7 years ago but that it was never recorded and the Home Equity Loan was maintained active when it should have been closed.

3. Although the suit was filed, the lawyers for the 'second' forgot to file a Lis Pendens SO I bought the 'first' Home Equity Loan being unaware their was a suit disputing the seniority.

4. The Trustee now wishes to rescind the sale - which is not something I am sure that I want. Here is my take:

First, it is my understanding that once a trustee deed is issued and recorded there creates a conclusive presumption of validity of the sale in favor of the bona fide purchaser.

Second, if there is a material procedural error in the foreclosure process and it is discovered before the issuance and recording of a trustee deed and it results in a price significantly less that what otherwise might be obtained, the trustee can abort the sale and return the funds (with interest) to the purchaser - but this is not the case. At this point there is no allegation or proof of any material error in the statutory foreclosure process, AND in any event the deed has been delivered and recorded. This sounds like an issue for the title company insurers to work out.

Third, it seems to me that the trustee and beneficiary of the 'first' home equity loan is attempting to create full immunity for foreclosure choices it made prior to the sale. If in 2005 it were negligent in its duties as alleged , and was fully aware the suit against them, and then they chose to go forward then that was their choice within the process (not a flaw in the process itself). A change of heart is not a sufficient reason to pretend the sale and recording did not occur.

Finally, the failure of lawyers of the 'second' trustee/bene to timely record a Lis Pendens prior to the foreclosure sale suggests that if there is a flaw it is that such was not posted in the record and bidders are the ones that should have the option to cancel the purchase. I am unclear if recordation of a Lis Pendens is a statutory foreclosure procedure.

I think I have a strong case for a very valuable property - thoughts? Should I fight it?

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Investor · Central Valley, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
13y
Originally posted by Steve Babiak:
Originally posted by K. Marie Poe:
...
There are a couple of threads here on BP that address CA trustee's sale rescissions and bona fide purchasers and some relevant case law. Unfortunately, I can never find anything with the BP search function. A better person may be able to figure out where those threads are.
...

K. Marie Poe - were you summoning me? :)

I said "better person" and then one appeared. Thank you Steve!

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  • El Sobrante, CA · Member since 2013 · 8 posts · 1 vote
    13y

    Chris,

    If a BKruptcy is filed before the auction sale, the Trustee will later contact the buyer, rescind the sale, and return the buyer's money (in California 100 percent of the price is paid at the auction...no deposits).

    If a BKruptcy is filed even an hour after the auction sale, the property goes to the foreclosure buyer.

  • Investor · Central Valley, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Mark Hamilton:
    K Marie,

    No I am not that Mark and don't know Judy or her problem solving meetings. At 'the other site' I am Mark H. But if you make it tomorrow feel free to submit my problem.

    So far we do think the second was noticed properly - it the lawsuit it specifically asks the court to stop the foreclosure sale (in one week) and states that the second has asked repeatedly and the trustee has refused. The suit papers show the two were in contact and arguing about the seniority issue PRIOR to the sale.

    What happened (I suspect) is that the day of the sale I use the title company that underwrote the second (Fidelity). They researched the record and the escrow papers and confirmed no subordination agreement was recorded or gotten by the escrow officer for recording.

    They notified their corporate HQ THAT I just bought the first and that they (Fidelity) underwrote the second's title insurance.

    The next day the LIS Pendens was filed. While the sale was over, I had to wait till I got the trustee deed 10 days or so later. In Calif. if you record the trustee deed not more than two weeks after the sale the effective date of the sale is the day of the auction. So I made the deadline.

    My attorney is now contacting the stakeholders to find out if they have any other basis to cancel the sale.

    [/quote

    Sorry for the mistake. But there is another investor Mark that I met from El Sobrante. "Judy's meeting" is a support group that meets to discuss real estate legal issues. Unfortunately I'm not attending tomorrow, so I can't present your scenario. I'd love to brainstorm with that group on your rescission case.

    Please keep us posted!

  • Investor · Willow Spring, NC · Member since 2009 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Mark Hamilton:
    Chris,

    If a BKruptcy is filed before the auction sale, the Trustee will later contact the buyer, rescind the sale, and return the buyer's money (in California 100 percent of the price is paid at the auction...no deposits).

    If a BKruptcy is filed even an hour after the auction sale, the property goes to the foreclosure buyer.

    Yup. More state differences. Very different form other states that may have a redemption period, a partial payment (e.g. 5% deposit at sale), or both.

  • Wholesaler · Salt Lake City, UT · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 401 votes
    13y

    Mark

    Never had this happen to me but something close and the other party backed off just before trial. Because I felt I was a BFP and entitled to the benefit of the bargain in legal terms I was prepared to ride it all the way up the court system, and go postal if I lost. Character flaw, my grandfather taught never get even, get even 3 times, 1.to get even 2.to equal the original deed and place the doer where they put you 3. punishment for doing it in the first place.

  • Investor · San Jose, CA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y

    Mark,

    I saw you posted this topic on the other forum on 5/9. Well, I've always had high respect for K. Marie and Rick Harmon when it comes to TS so you got really good advice from K. there. Anyways, how did it turn out so far? Was it a "blown sale"?

  • El Sobrante, CA · Member since 2013 · 8 posts · 1 vote
    13y

    Thanks to Rick and all,

    Actually I educated myself (and my attorney) by reviewing the case law, reading some law articles, and talking to another attorney. Till now, I really couldn't find enough depth on the issue to satisfy myself (the issue is still pending).

    Here is the scoop...

    There are two kinds of sale cancelations: "Voidable" sales and "Void Sales". Most of us have experience with "voidable" sales wherein we buy a property and before we get the trustee deed, the sale is voided. "Voidable" sales is a sale in which there is a flaw in the foreclosure process (as in the California Code) and if the sale were to proceed it would cause a much lower price in the sale than if the sale had been properly conducted.

    Hence, if the Trustee cancels the sale BEFORE the Trustee Deed is obtained for the above reasons then the foreclosure purchaser has little recourse (a recent California Supreme Court Opinion gives a long explanation of what constitutes a "voidable" sale.

    However once the Trustee Deed is mailed to a bonafide purchaser of value (that is us) and it is recorded THEN the only way the sale can be rescinded is if the sale itself was "void", meaning that the trustee never had the right to sell the property to begin with (e.g. fraudulent mortgage, wrong trustee sold the property, etc.).

    In my case it is uncertain if a court would find our purchase a "void" sale. I could go into detail, but at this point we are trying to settle before court. I can give more detail if interested.

  • Investor · Central Valley, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y
    Mark: thanks for the update. I would not want to pay to contribute to case law on this issue so would probably not go that far unless it was my primary residence. But I've always been interested in the settlement route. I'm curious why your legal team is uncertain about the void sale in your case. What element of the sale is the other side claiming that supports their void claim? Regardless of whether there was a void sale, there is no doubt that you are a BFP.

    Surely your lawyer is presenting the case in such a way that the trustee and lender should be concerned that you'll waste their time and money in court. Have you asked for a certain amount and it's being considered?


  • Denver, CO · Member since 2013 · 409 posts · 105 votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Mark Hamilton:


    3. Although the suit was filed, the lawyers for the 'second' forgot to file a Lis Pendens SO I bought the 'first' Home Equity Loan being unaware their was a suit disputing the seniority.

    4. The Trustee now wishes to rescind the sale - which is not something I am sure that I want. Here is my take:


    I think I have a strong case for a very valuable property - thoughts? Should I fight it?

    If the Foreclosing HELCO had actual knowledge of the claims of the other mortgage company prior to the sale, you have a problem, and the sale will probably be overturned by the Court. Do you know if they had been served yet prior to the sale? Your decision to incur legal costs will also depend on the numbers, so far I have not seen any numbers. You will of course not be able to sell the property with title insurance as long as the lis pendens remains of record. You can't just file a seperate case with the Court to have the Lis Pendens removed without entering an appearance, answer and all else in the Court case that originated the Lis Pendens

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