Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California
I just found out that my home was sold to a third party at a Trustee Sale Auction on Friday, March 9. Is there anyway to rescind/reverse the Trustee Sale at this point? I may be able to come up with enough money to bring the loan current. I read somewhere that you can "challenge a Trustee Sale if you post a bond and tender back the amount owed on the debt - in this case the note." Is this true? What does it entail and how would I go about doing it if so?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Tender of the amount due (including the lender's expenses) is a prerequisite to a suit to set aside the trustee's sale, but not in itself sufficient. Indeed, few grounds exist to set aside a validly-conducted trustee's sale to a bona fide third-party purchaser.
A tender of the debt is required as a prerequisite to an action to set aside a voidable sale. A tender is not required to set aside a void sale.
There are generally two prongs to determine whether a sale is void. First, a sale is void where there is a defect in the manner of the sale for which the statutory scheme governing trustee's sales would be considered mandatory. Second, and more importantly, is whether there is a conclusive presumption of the regularity of the sale. This arises by a provision in the deed of trust, and by statute.
It takes more than just an offer of money to set aside a trustee's sale. If properly conducted, a trustee's sale terminates the borrower's interest in the property, and there is no right to redeem after a nonjudicial foreclosure sale.
I suggest speaking as soon as possible to a competent attorney who understands this area of law.