Bill Text: MN SF1276 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Mortgage foreclosures provisions modifications; lenders and servicers loss mitigation requirements
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-05-24 - Secretary of State Chapter 115 [SF1276 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-SF1276-Engrossed.html
1.2relating to real estate; requiring loss mitigation by mortgage lenders and
1.3servicers;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 580.02; 580.041,
1.4subdivision 1b; 582.25; 582.27, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in
1.5Minnesota Statutes, chapter 582.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 580.02, is amended to read:
1.8580.02 REQUISITES FOR FORECLOSURE.
1.9 To entitle any party to make such foreclosure, it is requisite:
1.10 (1) that some default in a condition of such mortgage has occurred, by which the
1.11power to sell has become operative;
1.12 (2) that no action or proceeding has been instituted at law to recover the debt then
1.13remaining secured by such mortgage, or any part thereof, or, if the action or proceeding
1.14has been instituted, that the same has been discontinued, or that an execution upon the
1.15judgment rendered therein has been returned unsatisfied, in whole or in part;
1.16 (3) that the mortgage has been recorded and, if it has been assigned, that all
1.17assignments thereof have been recorded; provided, that, if the mortgage is upon registered
1.18land, it shall be sufficient if the mortgage and all assignments thereof have been duly
1.19registered;and
1.20 (4) before the notice of pendency as required under section580.032 is recorded, the
1.21party has complied with section 580.021; and
1.22 (5) before the foreclosure sale, the party has complied with section 582.043, if
1.23applicable.
2.1 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 580.041, subdivision 1b, is amended to read:
2.2 Subd. 1b. Form and delivery of foreclosure advice notice. The foreclosure advice
2.3notice required by this section must be in 14-point boldface type and must be printed on
2.4colored paper that is other than the color of the notice of foreclosure required by sections
2.5580.03
and
580.04 and the notice of redemption rights required by this section, and that
2.6does not obscure or overshadow the content of the notice. The title of the notice must be
2.7in 20-point boldface type. The notice must be on its own page. The foreclosure advice
2.8notice required by this section must be delivered with the notice of foreclosure required by
2.9sections580.03 and
580.04 . The foreclosure advice notice required by this section also
2.10must be delivered with each subsequent written communication regarding the foreclosure
2.11mailed to the mortgagor by the foreclosing party up to the day ofredemption foreclosure
2.12sale. A foreclosing mortgagee will be deemed to have complied with this section if it
2.13sends the foreclosure advice notice required by this section at least once every 60 days
2.14during the period of up to the date of the foreclosure process sale. The foreclosure advice
2.15notice required by this section must not be published.
2.16 Sec. 3. [582.043] LOSS MITIGATION; MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE DUAL
2.17TRACKING.
2.18 Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the terms defined in this
2.19subdivision have the meanings given them.
2.20(b) "Foreclosure sale date" means either:
2.21(1) the date of the foreclosure sale contained in the notice that has been either served
2.22or published as required under section 580.03, or 550.18 and 550.19; or
2.23(2) the date to which the foreclosure sale is postponed by the borrower under section
2.24580.07, subdivision 2, whichever is later.
2.25(c) "Loss mitigation option" means a temporary or permanent loan modification, a
2.26forbearance agreement, a repayment agreement, a principal reduction, capitalizing arrears,
2.27or any other relief, intended to allow a mortgagor to retain ownership of the property.
2.28(d) "Mortgagor" means a person who is liable on the promissory note secured by the
2.29mortgage, except that the mortgagor does not include a person who has surrendered the
2.30mortgaged property, as evidenced by either a letter or other written notice confirming the
2.31surrender or by delivery of the keys to the property to the servicer or authorized agent.
2.32(e) "Servicer" means a residential mortgage servicer as defined in section 58.02,
2.33subdivision 20.
2.34(f) "Small servicer" means a servicer that is either:
3.1(1) a small servicer, as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 12, section
3.21026.41, paragraph (e), clause (4); or
3.3(2) a Housing Finance Agency, as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title
3.424, section 266.5.
3.5Until August 1, 2014, "small servicer" also means a servicer that has conducted 125 or
3.6fewer foreclosure sales during the preceding 12 months.
3.7 Subd. 2. Applicability. This section applies only to first lien mortgages subject to
3.8foreclosure under chapters 580 or 581 that are secured by owner-occupied residential real
3.9property containing no more than four dwelling units and where the subject mortgage
3.10does not secure a loan for business, commercial, or agricultural purposes. For purposes
3.11of this subdivision, "owner-occupied" means that the property is the principal residence
3.12of the owner.
3.13Nothing in this section imposes a duty on a servicer to provide any mortgagor with
3.14any specific loan modification option.
3.15 Subd. 3. Compliance required. A servicer shall not conduct a foreclosure sale
3.16unless the servicer has complied with subdivisions 5, 6, and 7, if applicable.
3.17 Subd. 4. Small servicer requirements. A small servicer is not subject to this section,
3.18except that a small servicer shall not refer a mortgage loan to an attorney for foreclosure,
3.19record the notice of pendency or lis pendens, or conduct a foreclosure sale if a mortgagor is
3.20performing pursuant to the terms of a loan modification or other loss mitigation agreement.
3.21 Subd. 5. Loss mitigation. A servicer must:
3.22(1) notify a mortgagor in writing of available loss mitigation options offered by the
3.23servicer that are applicable to the mortgagor's loan before referring the mortgage loan to
3.24an attorney for foreclosure;
3.25(2) after receiving a request for a loan modification or other loss mitigation option,
3.26exercise reasonable diligence in obtaining documents and information from the mortgagor
3.27to complete a loss mitigation application, facilitate the submission and review of loss
3.28mitigation applications, and give the mortgagor a reasonable amount of time to provide
3.29the required documents;
3.30(3) upon the timely receipt of a loss mitigation application, evaluate the mortgagor
3.31for all available loss mitigation options prior to referring a mortgage loan to an attorney
3.32for foreclosure;
3.33(4) after review of the loss mitigation application, timely offer the mortgagor a loan
3.34modification if the mortgagor is eligible or, if not, timely offer the mortgagor any other
3.35loss mitigation option for which the mortgagor is eligible; and
4.1(5) comply with any applicable appeal period and procedures applicable to the
4.2specific loss mitigation option.
4.3 Subd. 6. Dual tracking. (a) If the servicer has received a loss mitigation application
4.4and the subject mortgage loan has not already been referred to an attorney for foreclosure,
4.5a servicer shall not refer the subject mortgage loan to an attorney for foreclosure while the
4.6mortgagor's application is pending, unless:
4.7(1) the servicer determines that the mortgagor is not eligible for any loss mitigation
4.8option, the servicer informs the mortgagor of the determination in writing, and the
4.9applicable appeal period has expired without an appeal or the appeal has been properly
4.10denied;
4.11(2) where a written offer is made and a written acceptance is required, the mortgagor
4.12fails to accept the loss mitigation offer within the time frame specified in the offer or
4.13within 14 days after the date of the offer, whichever is longer; or
4.14(3) the mortgagor declines the loss mitigation offer in writing.
4.15(b) If the servicer receives a loss mitigation application after the subject mortgage
4.16loan has been referred to an attorney for foreclosure, but before a foreclosure sale has
4.17been scheduled, a servicer shall not move for an order of foreclosure, seek a foreclosure
4.18judgment, or conduct a foreclosure sale unless:
4.19(1) the servicer determines that the mortgagor is not eligible for a loss mitigation
4.20option, the servicer informs the mortgagor of this determination in writing, and the
4.21applicable appeal period has expired without an appeal or the appeal has been properly
4.22denied;
4.23(2) where a written offer is made and a written acceptance is required, the mortgagor
4.24fails to accept the loss mitigation offer within the time frame specified in the offer or
4.25within 14 days after the date of the offer, whichever is longer; or
4.26(3) the mortgagor declines a loss mitigation offer in writing.
4.27(c) If the servicer receives a loss mitigation application after the foreclosure sale has
4.28been scheduled, but before midnight of the seventh business day prior to the foreclosure
4.29sale date, the servicer must halt the foreclosure sale and evaluate the application. If required
4.30to halt the foreclosure sale and evaluate the application, the servicer must not move for an
4.31order of foreclosure, seek a foreclosure judgment, or conduct a foreclosure sale unless:
4.32(1) the servicer determines that the mortgagor is not eligible for a loss mitigation
4.33option, the servicer informs the mortgagor of this determination in writing, and the
4.34applicable appeal period has expired without an appeal or the appeal has been properly
4.35denied;
5.1(2) where a written offer is made and a written acceptance is required, the mortgagor
5.2fails to accept the loss mitigation offer within the time frame specified in the offer or
5.3within 14 days after the date of the offer, whichever is longer; or
5.4(3) the mortgagor declines a loss mitigation offer in writing.
5.5(d) A servicer shall not move for an order of foreclosure or conduct a foreclosure
5.6sale under any of the following circumstances:
5.7(1) the mortgagor is in compliance with the terms of a trial or permanent loan
5.8modification, or other loss mitigation option; or
5.9(2) a short sale has been approved by all necessary parties and proof of funds or
5.10financing has been provided to the servicer.
5.11 Subd. 7. Relief. (a) A mortgagor has a cause of action, based on a violation of this
5.12section, to enjoin or set aside a sale. A mortgagor who prevails in an action to set aside or
5.13enjoin a sale, or who successfully defends a foreclosure by action, based on a violation of
5.14this section is entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs.
5.15(b) A lis pendens must be recorded prior to the expiration of the mortgagor's
5.16applicable redemption period under section 580.23 or 582.032 for an action taken under
5.17paragraph (a). The failure to record the lis pendens creates a conclusive presumption that
5.18the servicer has complied with this section.
5.19 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 582.25, is amended to read:
5.20582.25 MORTGAGES; VALIDATING FORECLOSURE SALES.
5.21Every mortgage foreclosure sale by advertisement in this state under power of sale
5.22contained in any mortgage duly executed and recorded in the office of the county recorder
5.23or registered with the registrar of titles of the proper county of this state, together with
5.24the record of such foreclosure sale, is, after expiration of the period specified in section
5.25582.27
, hereby legalized and made valid and effective to all intents and purposes, as
5.26against any or all of the following objections:
5.27(1) that the power of attorney, recorded or filed in the proper office provided for
5.28by section580.05 :
5.29(a) did not definitely describe and identify the mortgage,
5.30(b) did not definitely describe and identify the mortgage, but instead described
5.31another mortgage between the same parties,
5.32(c) did not have the corporate seal affixed thereto, if executed by a corporation,
5.33(d) had not been executed and recorded or filed prior to sale, or had been executed
5.34prior to, but not recorded or filed until after such sale,
6.1(e) was executed subsequent to the date of the printed notice of sale or subsequent to
6.2the date of the first publication of such notice;
6.3(2) that no power of attorney to foreclose such mortgage as provided in section
6.4580.05
, was ever given, or recorded, or registered;
6.5(3) that the notice of sale:
6.6(a) was published only three, four or five times, or that it was published six times but
6.7not for six weeks prior to the date of sale,
6.8(b) properly described the property to be sold in one or more of the publications
6.9thereof but failed to do so in the other publications thereof, the correct description having
6.10been contained in the copy of said notice served on the occupant of the premises,
6.11(c) correctly stated the date of the month and hour and place of sale but named a day
6.12of the week which did not fall on the date given for such sale, or failed to state or state
6.13correctly the year of such sale,
6.14(d) correctly described the real estate but omitted the county and state in which
6.15said real estate is located,
6.16(e) correctly described the land by government subdivision, township and range,
6.17but described it as being in a county other than that in which said mortgage foreclosure
6.18proceedings were pending, and other than that in which said government subdivision
6.19was actually located,
6.20(f) did not state the amount due or failed to state the correct amount due or claimed
6.21to be due,
6.22(g) incorrectly stated the municipal status of the place where the sale was to occur,
6.23(h) in one or more of the publications thereof, or in the notice served on the occupant
6.24or occupants designated either a place or a time of sale other than that stated in the
6.25certificate of sale,
6.26(i) failed to state the names of one or more of the assignees of the mortgage and
6.27described the subscriber thereof as mortgagee instead of assignee,
6.28(j) failed to state or incorrectly stated the name of the mortgagor, the mortgagee,
6.29or assignee of mortgagee,
6.30(k) was not served upon persons whose possession of the mortgaged premises was
6.31otherwise than by their personal presence thereon, if a return or affidavit was recorded
6.32or filed as a part of the foreclosure record that at a date at least four weeks prior to the
6.33sale the mortgaged premises were vacant and unoccupied,
6.34(l) was not served upon all of the parties in possession of the mortgaged premises,
6.35provided it was served upon one or more of such parties,
7.1(m) was not served upon the persons in possession of the mortgaged premises, if, at
7.2least two weeks before the sale was actually made, a copy of the notice was served upon
7.3the owner in the manner provided by law for service upon the occupants, or the owner
7.4received actual notice of the proposed sale,
7.5(n) gave the correct description at length, and an incorrect description by
7.6abbreviation or figures set off by the parentheses, or vice versa,
7.7(o) was served personally upon the occupants of the premises as such, but said
7.8service was less than four weeks prior to the appointed time of sale,
7.9(p) did not state the original principal amount secured, or failed to state the correct
7.10original principal amount secured;
7.11(4) that distinct and separate parcels of land were sold together as one parcel and to
7.12one bidder for one bid for the whole as one parcel;
7.13(5) that no authenticated copy of the order appointing, or letters issued to a foreign
7.14representative of the estate of the mortgagee or assignee, was properly filed or recorded,
7.15provided such order or letters have been filed or recorded in the proper office prior to one
7.16year after the last day of the redemption period of the mortgagor, the mortgagor's personal
7.17representatives or assigns;
7.18(6) that a holder of a mortgage was a representative appointed by a court of competent
7.19jurisdiction in another state or county in which before the foreclosure sale an authenticated
7.20copy of the representative's letters or other record of authority were filed for record in the
7.21office of the county recorder of the proper county but no certificate was filed and recorded
7.22therewith showing that said letters or other record of authority were still in force;
7.23(7)(a) that said mortgage was assigned by a decree of a court exercising probate
7.24jurisdiction in which decree the mortgage was not specifically or sufficiently described,
7.25(b) that the mortgage foreclosed had been assigned by the final decree of
7.26the court exercising probate jurisdiction to the heirs, devisees, or legatees of the
7.27deceased mortgagee, or the mortgagee's assigns, and subsequent thereto and before the
7.28representative of the estate had been discharged by order of the court, the representative
7.29had assigned the mortgage to one of the heirs, devisees, or legatees named in such final
7.30decree, and such assignment placed on record and the foreclosure proceedings conducted
7.31in the name of such assignee and without any assignment of the mortgage from the heirs,
7.32devisees, or legatees named in such final decree, and the mortgaged premises bid in at the
7.33sale by such assignee, and the sheriff's certificate of sale, with accompanying affidavits
7.34recorded in the office of the county recorder of the proper county,
7.35(c) that a mortgage owned by joint tenants or tenants in common was foreclosed
7.36by only one tenant;
8.1(8) that the sheriff's certificate of sale or the accompanying affidavits and return of
8.2service were not executed, filed or recorded within 20 days after the date of sale, but have
8.3been executed and filed or recorded prior to the last day of the redemption period of the
8.4mortgagor, the mortgagor's personal representatives or assigns;
8.5(9) that the year, or the month, or the day, or the hour of the sale is omitted or
8.6incorrectly or insufficiently stated in the notice of sale or the sheriff's certificate of sale;
8.7(10)(a) that prior to the foreclosure no registration tax was paid on the mortgage,
8.8provided such tax had been paid prior to one year after the last day of the redemption
8.9period of the mortgagor, the mortgagor's personal representatives or assigns,
8.10(b) that an insufficient registration tax has been paid on the mortgage;
8.11(11) that the date of the mortgage or any assignment thereof or the date, the
8.12month, the day, hour, book, and page, or document number of the record or filing of the
8.13mortgage or any assignment thereof, in the office of the county recorder or registrar of
8.14titles is omitted or incorrectly or insufficiently stated in the notice of sale or in any of the
8.15foreclosure papers, affidavits or instruments;
8.16(12) that the notice of mortgage foreclosure sale or sheriff's certificate of sale
8.17designated the place of sale as the office of a county official located in the court house of
8.18the county when such office was not located in such court house;
8.19(13) that no notice of the pendency of the proceedings to enforce or foreclose
8.20the mortgage as provided in section508.57 , was filed with the registrar of titles or no
8.21memorial thereof was entered on the register at the time of or prior to the commencement
8.22of such proceedings; or that when required by section508.57 , the notice of mortgage
8.23foreclosure sale failed to state the fact of registration;
8.24(14) that the power of attorney to foreclose or the notice of sale was signed by the
8.25person who was the representative of an estate, but failed to state or correctly state the
8.26person's representative capacity;
8.27(15) that the complete description of the property foreclosed was not set forth in
8.28the sheriff's certificate of sale, if said certificate correctly refers to the mortgage by book
8.29and page numbers or document number and date of filing and the premises are accurately
8.30described in the printed notice of sale annexed to said foreclosure sale record containing
8.31said sheriff's certificate of sale;
8.32(16) that the date of recording of the mortgage was improperly stated in the sheriff's
8.33certificate of mortgage foreclosure sale, the mortgage being otherwise properly described
8.34in said sheriff's certificate of mortgage foreclosure sale and said certificate of mortgage
8.35foreclosure sale further referring to the printed notice of mortgage foreclosure sale
9.1attached to said sheriff's certificate of mortgage foreclosure sale in which printed notice
9.2the mortgage and its recording was properly described;
9.3(17) that prior to the first publication of the notice of sale in foreclosure of a
9.4mortgage by advertisement, an action or proceeding had been instituted for the foreclosure
9.5of said mortgage or the recovery of the debt secured thereby and such action or proceeding
9.6had not been discontinued;
9.7(18) that at the time and place of sale the sheriff considered and accepted a bid
9.8submitted prior to the date of the sale by the owner of the mortgage and sold the mortgaged
9.9premises for the amount of such bid, no other bid having been submitted, and no one
9.10representing the owner of the mortgage being present at the time and place of sale;
9.11(19) that such sale was postponed by the sheriff to a date or time subsequent to the
9.12one specified in the notice of sale but there was no publication or posting of a notice of
9.13such postponement;
9.14(20) that there was not recorded with letters or other record of authority issued to a
9.15representative appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction in another state or county, a
9.16certificate that said letters or other record of authority were still in force and effect;
9.17(21) that the sheriff's affidavit of sale correctly stated in words the sum for which
9.18said premises were bid in and purchased by the mortgagee, but incorrectly stated the same
9.19in figures immediately following the correct amount in words;
9.20(22) that the notice of pendency of the foreclosure as required by section580.032
9.21was not filed for record before the first date of publication of the foreclosure notice, but
9.22was filed before the date of sale; and
9.23(23) that the servicer did not comply with the requirements of section 582.043.
9.24 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 582.27, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
9.25 Subdivision 1. Section582.25 . Upon expiration of the periods specified in this
9.26section, the provisions of section582.25 apply to a mortgage foreclosure sale subject
9.27to this section:
9.28(A) as to all of the provisions of section582.25 , except clause (2) clauses (2) and
9.29(23), one year after the last day of the redemption period of the mortgagor, the mortgagor's
9.30personal representatives or assigns;
9.31(B) as to clause (2), ten years after the date of the foreclosure sale.
9.32(C) as to clause (23), the expiration of the mortgagor's applicable redemption period
9.33as specified in sections 580.23 or 582.032.
9.34 Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
10.1Sections 1, 4, and 5, are effective August 1, 2013, for foreclosures with a notice of
10.2pendency under Minnesota Statutes, section 580.032, or a lis pendens for a foreclosure
10.3under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 581, recorded on or after August 1, 2013.
10.4Section 2 is effective August 1, 2013.
10.5Section 3 is effective August 1, 2013, for foreclosures with a notice of pendency
10.6under Minnesota Statutes, section 580.032, or a lis pendens for a foreclosure under
10.7Minnesota Statutes, chapter 581, recorded on or after August 1, 2013, except that
10.8subdivision 6 is effective October 31, 2013.
1.3servicers;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 580.02; 580.041,
1.4subdivision 1b; 582.25; 582.27, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in
1.5Minnesota Statutes, chapter 582.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 580.02, is amended to read:
1.8580.02 REQUISITES FOR FORECLOSURE.
1.9 To entitle any party to make such foreclosure, it is requisite:
1.10 (1) that some default in a condition of such mortgage has occurred, by which the
1.11power to sell has become operative;
1.12 (2) that no action or proceeding has been instituted at law to recover the debt then
1.13remaining secured by such mortgage, or any part thereof, or, if the action or proceeding
1.14has been instituted, that the same has been discontinued, or that an execution upon the
1.15judgment rendered therein has been returned unsatisfied, in whole or in part;
1.16 (3) that the mortgage has been recorded and, if it has been assigned, that all
1.17assignments thereof have been recorded; provided, that, if the mortgage is upon registered
1.18land, it shall be sufficient if the mortgage and all assignments thereof have been duly
1.19registered;
1.20 (4) before the notice of pendency as required under section
1.21party has complied with section 580.021; and
1.22 (5) before the foreclosure sale, the party has complied with section 582.043, if
1.23applicable.
2.1 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 580.041, subdivision 1b, is amended to read:
2.2 Subd. 1b. Form and delivery of foreclosure advice notice. The foreclosure advice
2.3notice required by this section must be in 14-point boldface type and must be printed on
2.4colored paper that is other than the color of the notice of foreclosure required by sections
2.6does not obscure or overshadow the content of the notice. The title of the notice must be
2.7in 20-point boldface type. The notice must be on its own page. The foreclosure advice
2.8notice required by this section must be delivered with the notice of foreclosure required by
2.9sections
2.10must be delivered with each subsequent written communication regarding the foreclosure
2.11mailed to the mortgagor by the foreclosing party up to the day of
2.12sale. A foreclosing mortgagee will be deemed to have complied with this section if it
2.13sends the foreclosure advice notice required by this section at least once every 60 days
2.14
2.15notice required by this section must not be published.
2.16 Sec. 3. [582.043] LOSS MITIGATION; MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE DUAL
2.17TRACKING.
2.18 Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the terms defined in this
2.19subdivision have the meanings given them.
2.20(b) "Foreclosure sale date" means either:
2.21(1) the date of the foreclosure sale contained in the notice that has been either served
2.22or published as required under section 580.03, or 550.18 and 550.19; or
2.23(2) the date to which the foreclosure sale is postponed by the borrower under section
2.24580.07, subdivision 2, whichever is later.
2.25(c) "Loss mitigation option" means a temporary or permanent loan modification, a
2.26forbearance agreement, a repayment agreement, a principal reduction, capitalizing arrears,
2.27or any other relief, intended to allow a mortgagor to retain ownership of the property.
2.28(d) "Mortgagor" means a person who is liable on the promissory note secured by the
2.29mortgage, except that the mortgagor does not include a person who has surrendered the
2.30mortgaged property, as evidenced by either a letter or other written notice confirming the
2.31surrender or by delivery of the keys to the property to the servicer or authorized agent.
2.32(e) "Servicer" means a residential mortgage servicer as defined in section 58.02,
2.33subdivision 20.
2.34(f) "Small servicer" means a servicer that is either:
3.1(1) a small servicer, as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 12, section
3.21026.41, paragraph (e), clause (4); or
3.3(2) a Housing Finance Agency, as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title
3.424, section 266.5.
3.5Until August 1, 2014, "small servicer" also means a servicer that has conducted 125 or
3.6fewer foreclosure sales during the preceding 12 months.
3.7 Subd. 2. Applicability. This section applies only to first lien mortgages subject to
3.8foreclosure under chapters 580 or 581 that are secured by owner-occupied residential real
3.9property containing no more than four dwelling units and where the subject mortgage
3.10does not secure a loan for business, commercial, or agricultural purposes. For purposes
3.11of this subdivision, "owner-occupied" means that the property is the principal residence
3.12of the owner.
3.13Nothing in this section imposes a duty on a servicer to provide any mortgagor with
3.14any specific loan modification option.
3.15 Subd. 3. Compliance required. A servicer shall not conduct a foreclosure sale
3.16unless the servicer has complied with subdivisions 5, 6, and 7, if applicable.
3.17 Subd. 4. Small servicer requirements. A small servicer is not subject to this section,
3.18except that a small servicer shall not refer a mortgage loan to an attorney for foreclosure,
3.19record the notice of pendency or lis pendens, or conduct a foreclosure sale if a mortgagor is
3.20performing pursuant to the terms of a loan modification or other loss mitigation agreement.
3.21 Subd. 5. Loss mitigation. A servicer must:
3.22(1) notify a mortgagor in writing of available loss mitigation options offered by the
3.23servicer that are applicable to the mortgagor's loan before referring the mortgage loan to
3.24an attorney for foreclosure;
3.25(2) after receiving a request for a loan modification or other loss mitigation option,
3.26exercise reasonable diligence in obtaining documents and information from the mortgagor
3.27to complete a loss mitigation application, facilitate the submission and review of loss
3.28mitigation applications, and give the mortgagor a reasonable amount of time to provide
3.29the required documents;
3.30(3) upon the timely receipt of a loss mitigation application, evaluate the mortgagor
3.31for all available loss mitigation options prior to referring a mortgage loan to an attorney
3.32for foreclosure;
3.33(4) after review of the loss mitigation application, timely offer the mortgagor a loan
3.34modification if the mortgagor is eligible or, if not, timely offer the mortgagor any other
3.35loss mitigation option for which the mortgagor is eligible; and
4.1(5) comply with any applicable appeal period and procedures applicable to the
4.2specific loss mitigation option.
4.3 Subd. 6. Dual tracking. (a) If the servicer has received a loss mitigation application
4.4and the subject mortgage loan has not already been referred to an attorney for foreclosure,
4.5a servicer shall not refer the subject mortgage loan to an attorney for foreclosure while the
4.6mortgagor's application is pending, unless:
4.7(1) the servicer determines that the mortgagor is not eligible for any loss mitigation
4.8option, the servicer informs the mortgagor of the determination in writing, and the
4.9applicable appeal period has expired without an appeal or the appeal has been properly
4.10denied;
4.11(2) where a written offer is made and a written acceptance is required, the mortgagor
4.12fails to accept the loss mitigation offer within the time frame specified in the offer or
4.13within 14 days after the date of the offer, whichever is longer; or
4.14(3) the mortgagor declines the loss mitigation offer in writing.
4.15(b) If the servicer receives a loss mitigation application after the subject mortgage
4.16loan has been referred to an attorney for foreclosure, but before a foreclosure sale has
4.17been scheduled, a servicer shall not move for an order of foreclosure, seek a foreclosure
4.18judgment, or conduct a foreclosure sale unless:
4.19(1) the servicer determines that the mortgagor is not eligible for a loss mitigation
4.20option, the servicer informs the mortgagor of this determination in writing, and the
4.21applicable appeal period has expired without an appeal or the appeal has been properly
4.22denied;
4.23(2) where a written offer is made and a written acceptance is required, the mortgagor
4.24fails to accept the loss mitigation offer within the time frame specified in the offer or
4.25within 14 days after the date of the offer, whichever is longer; or
4.26(3) the mortgagor declines a loss mitigation offer in writing.
4.27(c) If the servicer receives a loss mitigation application after the foreclosure sale has
4.28been scheduled, but before midnight of the seventh business day prior to the foreclosure
4.29sale date, the servicer must halt the foreclosure sale and evaluate the application. If required
4.30to halt the foreclosure sale and evaluate the application, the servicer must not move for an
4.31order of foreclosure, seek a foreclosure judgment, or conduct a foreclosure sale unless:
4.32(1) the servicer determines that the mortgagor is not eligible for a loss mitigation
4.33option, the servicer informs the mortgagor of this determination in writing, and the
4.34applicable appeal period has expired without an appeal or the appeal has been properly
4.35denied;
5.1(2) where a written offer is made and a written acceptance is required, the mortgagor
5.2fails to accept the loss mitigation offer within the time frame specified in the offer or
5.3within 14 days after the date of the offer, whichever is longer; or
5.4(3) the mortgagor declines a loss mitigation offer in writing.
5.5(d) A servicer shall not move for an order of foreclosure or conduct a foreclosure
5.6sale under any of the following circumstances:
5.7(1) the mortgagor is in compliance with the terms of a trial or permanent loan
5.8modification, or other loss mitigation option; or
5.9(2) a short sale has been approved by all necessary parties and proof of funds or
5.10financing has been provided to the servicer.
5.11 Subd. 7. Relief. (a) A mortgagor has a cause of action, based on a violation of this
5.12section, to enjoin or set aside a sale. A mortgagor who prevails in an action to set aside or
5.13enjoin a sale, or who successfully defends a foreclosure by action, based on a violation of
5.14this section is entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs.
5.15(b) A lis pendens must be recorded prior to the expiration of the mortgagor's
5.16applicable redemption period under section 580.23 or 582.032 for an action taken under
5.17paragraph (a). The failure to record the lis pendens creates a conclusive presumption that
5.18the servicer has complied with this section.
5.19 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 582.25, is amended to read:
5.20582.25 MORTGAGES; VALIDATING FORECLOSURE SALES.
5.21Every mortgage foreclosure sale by advertisement in this state under power of sale
5.22contained in any mortgage duly executed and recorded in the office of the county recorder
5.23or registered with the registrar of titles of the proper county of this state, together with
5.24the record of such foreclosure sale, is, after expiration of the period specified in section
5.26against any or all of the following objections:
5.27(1) that the power of attorney, recorded or filed in the proper office provided for
5.28by section
5.29(a) did not definitely describe and identify the mortgage,
5.30(b) did not definitely describe and identify the mortgage, but instead described
5.31another mortgage between the same parties,
5.32(c) did not have the corporate seal affixed thereto, if executed by a corporation,
5.33(d) had not been executed and recorded or filed prior to sale, or had been executed
5.34prior to, but not recorded or filed until after such sale,
6.1(e) was executed subsequent to the date of the printed notice of sale or subsequent to
6.2the date of the first publication of such notice;
6.3(2) that no power of attorney to foreclose such mortgage as provided in section
6.5(3) that the notice of sale:
6.6(a) was published only three, four or five times, or that it was published six times but
6.7not for six weeks prior to the date of sale,
6.8(b) properly described the property to be sold in one or more of the publications
6.9thereof but failed to do so in the other publications thereof, the correct description having
6.10been contained in the copy of said notice served on the occupant of the premises,
6.11(c) correctly stated the date of the month and hour and place of sale but named a day
6.12of the week which did not fall on the date given for such sale, or failed to state or state
6.13correctly the year of such sale,
6.14(d) correctly described the real estate but omitted the county and state in which
6.15said real estate is located,
6.16(e) correctly described the land by government subdivision, township and range,
6.17but described it as being in a county other than that in which said mortgage foreclosure
6.18proceedings were pending, and other than that in which said government subdivision
6.19was actually located,
6.20(f) did not state the amount due or failed to state the correct amount due or claimed
6.21to be due,
6.22(g) incorrectly stated the municipal status of the place where the sale was to occur,
6.23(h) in one or more of the publications thereof, or in the notice served on the occupant
6.24or occupants designated either a place or a time of sale other than that stated in the
6.25certificate of sale,
6.26(i) failed to state the names of one or more of the assignees of the mortgage and
6.27described the subscriber thereof as mortgagee instead of assignee,
6.28(j) failed to state or incorrectly stated the name of the mortgagor, the mortgagee,
6.29or assignee of mortgagee,
6.30(k) was not served upon persons whose possession of the mortgaged premises was
6.31otherwise than by their personal presence thereon, if a return or affidavit was recorded
6.32or filed as a part of the foreclosure record that at a date at least four weeks prior to the
6.33sale the mortgaged premises were vacant and unoccupied,
6.34(l) was not served upon all of the parties in possession of the mortgaged premises,
6.35provided it was served upon one or more of such parties,
7.1(m) was not served upon the persons in possession of the mortgaged premises, if, at
7.2least two weeks before the sale was actually made, a copy of the notice was served upon
7.3the owner in the manner provided by law for service upon the occupants, or the owner
7.4received actual notice of the proposed sale,
7.5(n) gave the correct description at length, and an incorrect description by
7.6abbreviation or figures set off by the parentheses, or vice versa,
7.7(o) was served personally upon the occupants of the premises as such, but said
7.8service was less than four weeks prior to the appointed time of sale,
7.9(p) did not state the original principal amount secured, or failed to state the correct
7.10original principal amount secured;
7.11(4) that distinct and separate parcels of land were sold together as one parcel and to
7.12one bidder for one bid for the whole as one parcel;
7.13(5) that no authenticated copy of the order appointing, or letters issued to a foreign
7.14representative of the estate of the mortgagee or assignee, was properly filed or recorded,
7.15provided such order or letters have been filed or recorded in the proper office prior to one
7.16year after the last day of the redemption period of the mortgagor, the mortgagor's personal
7.17representatives or assigns;
7.18(6) that a holder of a mortgage was a representative appointed by a court of competent
7.19jurisdiction in another state or county in which before the foreclosure sale an authenticated
7.20copy of the representative's letters or other record of authority were filed for record in the
7.21office of the county recorder of the proper county but no certificate was filed and recorded
7.22therewith showing that said letters or other record of authority were still in force;
7.23(7)(a) that said mortgage was assigned by a decree of a court exercising probate
7.24jurisdiction in which decree the mortgage was not specifically or sufficiently described,
7.25(b) that the mortgage foreclosed had been assigned by the final decree of
7.26the court exercising probate jurisdiction to the heirs, devisees, or legatees of the
7.27deceased mortgagee, or the mortgagee's assigns, and subsequent thereto and before the
7.28representative of the estate had been discharged by order of the court, the representative
7.29had assigned the mortgage to one of the heirs, devisees, or legatees named in such final
7.30decree, and such assignment placed on record and the foreclosure proceedings conducted
7.31in the name of such assignee and without any assignment of the mortgage from the heirs,
7.32devisees, or legatees named in such final decree, and the mortgaged premises bid in at the
7.33sale by such assignee, and the sheriff's certificate of sale, with accompanying affidavits
7.34recorded in the office of the county recorder of the proper county,
7.35(c) that a mortgage owned by joint tenants or tenants in common was foreclosed
7.36by only one tenant;
8.1(8) that the sheriff's certificate of sale or the accompanying affidavits and return of
8.2service were not executed, filed or recorded within 20 days after the date of sale, but have
8.3been executed and filed or recorded prior to the last day of the redemption period of the
8.4mortgagor, the mortgagor's personal representatives or assigns;
8.5(9) that the year, or the month, or the day, or the hour of the sale is omitted or
8.6incorrectly or insufficiently stated in the notice of sale or the sheriff's certificate of sale;
8.7(10)(a) that prior to the foreclosure no registration tax was paid on the mortgage,
8.8provided such tax had been paid prior to one year after the last day of the redemption
8.9period of the mortgagor, the mortgagor's personal representatives or assigns,
8.10(b) that an insufficient registration tax has been paid on the mortgage;
8.11(11) that the date of the mortgage or any assignment thereof or the date, the
8.12month, the day, hour, book, and page, or document number of the record or filing of the
8.13mortgage or any assignment thereof, in the office of the county recorder or registrar of
8.14titles is omitted or incorrectly or insufficiently stated in the notice of sale or in any of the
8.15foreclosure papers, affidavits or instruments;
8.16(12) that the notice of mortgage foreclosure sale or sheriff's certificate of sale
8.17designated the place of sale as the office of a county official located in the court house of
8.18the county when such office was not located in such court house;
8.19(13) that no notice of the pendency of the proceedings to enforce or foreclose
8.20the mortgage as provided in section
8.21memorial thereof was entered on the register at the time of or prior to the commencement
8.22of such proceedings; or that when required by section
8.23foreclosure sale failed to state the fact of registration;
8.24(14) that the power of attorney to foreclose or the notice of sale was signed by the
8.25person who was the representative of an estate, but failed to state or correctly state the
8.26person's representative capacity;
8.27(15) that the complete description of the property foreclosed was not set forth in
8.28the sheriff's certificate of sale, if said certificate correctly refers to the mortgage by book
8.29and page numbers or document number and date of filing and the premises are accurately
8.30described in the printed notice of sale annexed to said foreclosure sale record containing
8.31said sheriff's certificate of sale;
8.32(16) that the date of recording of the mortgage was improperly stated in the sheriff's
8.33certificate of mortgage foreclosure sale, the mortgage being otherwise properly described
8.34in said sheriff's certificate of mortgage foreclosure sale and said certificate of mortgage
8.35foreclosure sale further referring to the printed notice of mortgage foreclosure sale
9.1attached to said sheriff's certificate of mortgage foreclosure sale in which printed notice
9.2the mortgage and its recording was properly described;
9.3(17) that prior to the first publication of the notice of sale in foreclosure of a
9.4mortgage by advertisement, an action or proceeding had been instituted for the foreclosure
9.5of said mortgage or the recovery of the debt secured thereby and such action or proceeding
9.6had not been discontinued;
9.7(18) that at the time and place of sale the sheriff considered and accepted a bid
9.8submitted prior to the date of the sale by the owner of the mortgage and sold the mortgaged
9.9premises for the amount of such bid, no other bid having been submitted, and no one
9.10representing the owner of the mortgage being present at the time and place of sale;
9.11(19) that such sale was postponed by the sheriff to a date or time subsequent to the
9.12one specified in the notice of sale but there was no publication or posting of a notice of
9.13such postponement;
9.14(20) that there was not recorded with letters or other record of authority issued to a
9.15representative appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction in another state or county, a
9.16certificate that said letters or other record of authority were still in force and effect;
9.17(21) that the sheriff's affidavit of sale correctly stated in words the sum for which
9.18said premises were bid in and purchased by the mortgagee, but incorrectly stated the same
9.19in figures immediately following the correct amount in words;
9.20(22) that the notice of pendency of the foreclosure as required by section
9.21was not filed for record before the first date of publication of the foreclosure notice, but
9.22was filed before the date of sale; and
9.23(23) that the servicer did not comply with the requirements of section 582.043.
9.24 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 582.27, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
9.25 Subdivision 1. Section
9.26section, the provisions of section
9.27to this section:
9.28(A) as to all of the provisions of section
9.29(23), one year after the last day of the redemption period of the mortgagor, the mortgagor's
9.30personal representatives or assigns;
9.31(B) as to clause (2), ten years after the date of the foreclosure sale.
9.32(C) as to clause (23), the expiration of the mortgagor's applicable redemption period
9.33as specified in sections 580.23 or 582.032.
9.34 Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
10.1Sections 1, 4, and 5, are effective August 1, 2013, for foreclosures with a notice of
10.2pendency under Minnesota Statutes, section 580.032, or a lis pendens for a foreclosure
10.3under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 581, recorded on or after August 1, 2013.
10.4Section 2 is effective August 1, 2013.
10.5Section 3 is effective August 1, 2013, for foreclosures with a notice of pendency
10.6under Minnesota Statutes, section 580.032, or a lis pendens for a foreclosure under
10.7Minnesota Statutes, chapter 581, recorded on or after August 1, 2013, except that
10.8subdivision 6 is effective October 31, 2013.
