Bill Text: CA SB306 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Real property transactions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2009-08-06 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 43, Statutes of 2009. [SB306 Detail]
Download: California-2009-SB306-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 306 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 43
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AUGUST 6, 2009
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR AUGUST 5, 2009
PASSED THE SENATE JULY 16, 2009
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY JULY 6, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 22, 2009
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 21, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Senator Calderon
FEBRUARY 25, 2009
An act to amend Sections 2923.5, 2923.6, 2924.8, and 2924f of, and
to amend, repeal, and add Section 2943 of, the Civil Code, and to
amend Section 17312 of the Financial Code, relating to real property
transactions.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 306, Calderon. Real property transactions.
(1) Existing law requires that, upon a breach of the obligation of
a mortgage or transfer of an interest in property, the trustee,
mortgagee, or beneficiary record a notice of default in the office of
the county recorder where the mortgaged or trust property is
situated and mail the notice of default to the mortgagor or trustor.
Existing law, until January 1, 2013, prohibits a mortgagee, trustee,
beneficiary, or authorized agent from filing a notice of default for
an additional 30 days on loans made between January 1, 2003, to
December 31, 2007, that secure residential real property, under
certain circumstances.
This bill would, until January 1, 2013, provide that these
provisions apply to mortgages and deeds of trust recorded between
January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2007, secured by owner-occupied
residential real property containing no more than 4 dwelling units.
The bill would also, among other things, revise the declaration that
is required to be filed in this connection with the notice of
default.
(2) Existing law states legislative findings and declarations with
regard to the duty loan servicers have to maximize net present value
under their pooling and servicing agreements, stating that their
duty is owed to all parties in a loan pool, not to any particular
parties, and that a servicer acts in the best interests of all
parties if it agrees to or implements a loan modification or workout
plan, as specified.
This bill would specify the application of these findings and
declarations to certain investors.
(3) Existing law requires a trustee or authorized agent, upon
posting a notice of sale, to post and mail a specified notice
addressed to residents of property subject to foreclosure upon
posting a notice of sale. Existing law requires a notice of sale to
be recorded in the county in which the property, or some part of it,
is situated at least 14 days prior to the date of sale.
This bill would specify how and when this notice is to be mailed.
This bill would extend the time during which the notice of sale must
be recorded from 14 to 20 days.
(4) Existing law requires a beneficiary on a deed of trust or a
mortgagee on a mortgage to prepare and deliver a beneficiary
statement or a pay-off demand statement within 21 days of receipt of
a written demand from specified entitled parties. Existing law
requires the written statement to 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.
The bill would, until January 1, 2014, require a beneficiary,
within 21 days of the receipt of a short-pay request, as defined, to
prepare and deliver a short-pay demand statement, which would be a
written statement, conditioned on the existence of a short-pay
agreement, that is prepared in response to a request from an entitled
person or authorized agent, setting forth an amount less than the
outstanding debt, together with any terms and conditions, under which
the beneficiary would execute and deliver a reconveyance of the deed
of trust securing the note that is the subject of the short-pay
demand statement. The bill would provide that the short-pay agreement
is an agreement in writing in which the beneficiary agrees to
release its lien on a property in return for payment of an amount
less than the secured obligation. The bill would permit a beneficiary
that elects not to proceed with the transaction that is the subject
of the short-pay request to refuse to provide a short-pay demand
statement, but would require that he or she provide a written
statement, indicating that the beneficiary has elected not to
proceed. The bill would provide that if the terms and conditions of
the short-pay agreement require approval by the beneficiary of a
closing statement prepared by an escrowholder, approval or
disapproval shall be provided not more than 4 days after receipt by
the beneficiary of the closing statement, or the closing statement
shall be deemed approved, except as specified.
(5) The Escrow Law provides for licensing and regulation of escrow
agents, other than certain exempt persons, by the Commissioner of
Corporations. The law requires licensees to apply for membership in
the Escrow Agents' Fidelity Corporation, a nonprofit mutual benefit
corporation, which is established to indemnify its members against
loss of trust obligations. The law limits required membership in the
Escrow Agents' Fidelity Corporation who engage in certain kinds of
business. Existing law defines and regulates the activities of
exchange facilitators and excepts from the definition of exchange
facilitator escrow companies, under specified circumstances.
This bill would provide escrow transactions that involve money or
property held or deposited pursuant to specified actions of an
exchange facilitator regarding deposit of funds are not transactions
that require a licensee to have membership in the Escrow Agents'
Fidelity Corporation.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 2923.5 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
2923.5. (a) (1) A mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized
agent may not file a notice of default pursuant to Section 2924 until
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 (g).
(2) A mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent 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 mortgagee,
beneficiary, or authorized agent shall advise the borrower that he or
she has the right to request a subsequent meeting and, if requested,
the mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent 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 filed pursuant to Section 2924 shall
include a declaration that the mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized
agent has contacted the borrower, has tried with due diligence to
contact the borrower as required by this section, or that no contact
was required pursuant to subdivision (h).
(c) If a mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent had
already filed the notice of default prior to the enactment of this
section and did not subsequently file a notice of rescission, then
the mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall, as
part of the notice of sale filed pursuant to Section 2924f, include a
declaration that either:
(1) States that the borrower was contacted to assess the borrower'
s financial situation and to explore options for the borrower to
avoid foreclosure.
(2) Lists the efforts made, if any, to contact the borrower in the
event no contact was made.
(d) A mortgagee's, beneficiary's, or authorized agent's loss
mitigation personnel may participate by telephone during any contact
required by this section.
(e) For purposes of this section, a "borrower" shall include a
mortgagor or trustor.
(f) A borrower may designate, with consent given in writing, a
HUD-certified housing counseling agency, attorney, or other advisor
to discuss with the mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent, on
the borrower's behalf, the borrowers 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 mortgagee, beneficiary, or
authorized agent is subject to approval by the borrower.
(g) A notice of default may be filed pursuant to Section 2924 when
a mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent 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 mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent. For
purposes of this section, "due diligence" shall require and mean all
of the following:
(1) A mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent 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 mortgagee,
beneficiary, or authorized agent 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 mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent 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 mortgagee, beneficiary, or
authorized agent.
(C) A mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent 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
mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall then send a
certified letter, with return receipt requested.
(4) The mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent 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 mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent 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 mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized
agent when discussing options for avoiding foreclosure.
(C) A toll-free telephone number for borrowers who wish to discuss
options for avoiding foreclosure with their mortgagee, beneficiary,
or authorized agent.
(D) The toll-free telephone number made available by HUD to find a
HUD-certified housing counseling agency.
(h) Subdivisions (a), (c), and (g) shall not apply if any of the
following occurs:
(1) The borrower has surrendered the 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.
(2) The borrower 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.
(3) A case has been filed by the borrower 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.
(i) This section shall apply only to mortgages or deeds of trust
recorded from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2007, inclusive, that
are secured by owner-occupied residential real property containing no
more than four dwelling units. For purposes of this subdivision,
"owner-occupied" means that the residence is the principal residence
of the borrower as indicated to the lender in loan documents.
(j) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2013, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2013, deletes or extends
that date.
SEC. 2. Section 2923.6 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
2923.6. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that any duty
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 polling and
servicing agreement, and that a 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 mortgagee,
beneficiary, or authorized agent 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 remain in effect only until January 1,
2013, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2013, deletes or extends
that date.
SEC. 3. Section 2924.8 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
2924.8. (a) 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 60-day eviction notice.
However, other laws may prohibit an eviction in this circumstance or
provide you with a longer notice before eviction. You may wish to
contact a lawyer or your local legal aid or housing counseling agency
to discuss any rights you may have."
(b) It shall be 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) A state government entity 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 January 1,
2013, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2013, deletes or extends
that date.
SEC. 4. Section 2924f of the Civil Code is amended to read:
2924f. (a) As used in this section and Sections 2924g and 2924h,
"property" means real property or a leasehold estate therein, and
"calendar week" means Monday through Saturday, inclusive.
(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (c), before any sale of
property can be made under the power of sale contained in any deed of
trust or mortgage, or any resale resulting from a rescission for a
failure of consideration pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section
2924h, notice of the sale thereof shall be given by posting a written
notice of the time of sale and of the street address and the
specific place at the street address where the sale will be held, and
describing the property to be sold, at least 20 days before the date
of sale in one public place in the city where the property is to be
sold, if the property is to be sold in a city, or, if not, then in
one public place in the judicial district in which the property is to
be sold, and publishing a copy once a week for three consecutive
calendar weeks, 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 (A) is contiguous to the county in which the
property or some part thereof is situated and (B) 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. 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.
Additionally, 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.
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. 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.
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.
(2) 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.
SEC. 5. Section 2943 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
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.
(6) "Short-pay agreement" means an agreement in writing in which
the beneficiary agrees to release its lien on a property in return
for payment of an amount less than the secured obligation.
(7) "Short-pay demand statement" means a written statement, issued
subsequent to and conditioned on the existence of a short-pay
agreement that is in possession of the entitled person, that is
prepared in response to a written demand made by an entitled person
or authorized agent, setting forth an amount less than the
outstanding debt, together with any terms and conditions, under which
the beneficiary will execute and deliver a reconveyance of the deed
of trust securing the note that is the subject of the short-pay
demand statement. The period shall not be greater than 30 days from
the date of preparation by the beneficiary.
(8) "Short-pay request" means a written request made by an
entitled person or authorized agent requesting the beneficiary to
provide a short-pay demand statement that includes all of the
following:
(A) A copy of an existing contract to purchase the property for an
amount certain.
(B) A copy of the short-pay agreement in the possession of the
entitled person.
(C) Information related to the release of any other liens on the
property, if any.
(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) (1) 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.
(2) Except as provided in this subdivision, a beneficiary, or his
or her authorized agent, shall, upon receipt of a short-pay request,
prepare and deliver a short-pay demand statement to the person
requesting it within 21 days of the receipt of the short-pay request.
A beneficiary, or his or her authorized agent that elects not to
proceed with the transaction that is the subject of the short-pay
request may refuse to provide a short-pay demand statement for that
transaction, but shall provide a written statement to the person
requesting it, indicating that the beneficiary elects not to proceed
with the proposed transaction, within 21 days
of the receipt of the short-pay request. If the
terms and conditions of the short-pay agreement require approval by
the beneficiary of a closing statement or similar document prepared
by an escrowholder, approval or disapproval shall be provided not
more than four days after receipt by the beneficiary of the closing
statement, or the closing statement shall be deemed approved,
provided that the statement is not clearly contrary to the terms of
the short-pay agreement or the short-pay demand statement provided to
the escrowholder.
(d) (1) A beneficiary statement, payoff demand statement, or
short-pay 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 or short-pay
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, a payoff demand statement, or a short-pay
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, a payoff demand statement, or short-pay 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, a
payoff demand statement, or short-pay demand statement pursuant to
this section shall not change a date of sale established pursuant to
Section 2924g.
(g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2014, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends
that date.
SEC. 6. Section 2943 is added to the Civil Code, to read:
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.
SEC. 7. Section 17312 of the Financial Code is amended to read:
17312. (a) Each person licensed pursuant to this division who is
engaged in the business of receiving escrows specified in subdivision
(c) and whose escrow business location is located within the State
of California shall participate as a member in Fidelity Corporation
in accordance with this chapter and rules established by the Board of
Directors of Fidelity Corporation. Fidelity Corporation shall not
deny membership to any escrow agent holding a valid unrevoked license
under the Escrow Law who is required to be a member under this
subdivision.
(b) Upon filing a new application for licensure as required by
Section 17201, persons required to be a member of Fidelity
Corporation shall file a copy thereof concurrently with Fidelity
Corporation. If an application for licensure submitted to Fidelity
Corporation contains personal or confidential information, Fidelity
Corporation and its board shall maintain this information in
confidence to protect the privacy of the information. The copy of the
application shall include the three-thousand-dollar ($3,000) fee
specified in subdivision (a) of Section 17320 and all required
Fidelity Corporation Certificates set forth in Sections 17331 and
17331.1. Fidelity Corporation shall promptly furnish to the
commissioner a compliance letter confirming that the applicant has
satisfied the requirements to be a member of Fidelity Corporation.
(c) The required membership in Fidelity Corporation shall be
limited to those licensees whose escrow business location is located
within the State of California and who engage, in whole or in part,
in the business of receiving escrows for deposit or delivery in the
following types of transactions:
(1) Real property escrows, including, but not limited to, the
sale, encumbrance, lease, transfer of title, loans or other
obligations to be secured by a lien upon real property, and
exchanges, excluding money or property held or deposited pursuant to
paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 51003.
(2) Bulk sale escrows, including, but not limited to, the sale or
transfer of title to a business entity and the transfer of liquor
licenses or other types of business licenses or permits.
(3) Fund or joint control escrows, including, but not limited to,
transactions specified in Section 17005.1, and contracts specified in
Section 10263 of the Public Contract Code.
(4) The sale, transfer of title, or refinance escrows for
manufactured homes or mobilehomes.
(5) Reservation deposits required under Article 2 (commencing with
Section 11010) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Business
and Professions Code or by regulation of the Department of Real
Estate to be held in an escrow account.
(6) Escrows for sale, transfer, modification, assignment, or
hypothecation of promissory notes secured by deeds of trust.
(d) Coverage required to be provided by Fidelity Corporation under
this chapter shall be provided to members only for loss of trust
obligations with respect to those types of transactions specified in
subdivision (c). If a loss covered by Fidelity Corporation is also
covered by a member's general liability, dishonesty, or indemnity
policy, or other private insurance policy, then the member's private
policy shall first be applied as the primary indemnity to cover the
loss. However, the failure of the member's private primary policy to
indemnify the member's loss within the time specified for Fidelity
Corporation indemnity in subdivision (a) of Section 17314 shall not
limit the indemnity obligations of Fidelity Corporation as defined in
this chapter. Indemnity coverage for those types of transactions not
specified in subdivision (c) shall be provided by escrow agents in
accordance with Section 17203.1.
