Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California
If I am a private investor and I acquire a mortgage note from a lender and I restructure the debt with the current homeowner, Can I be on title with them and have a quick claim in place incase of default I can have the asset quickly without forcing foreclosure?
2 Answers from Attorneys
This is generally not considered to be a good plan. There are well-developed, quick and easy ways to handle foreclosure and eviction using conventional deeds of trust. Co-ownership and "shelf" deeds result in problems, including a possibility that the quitclaim deed will be regarded in court as a disguised mortgage and you'll be forced to do a judicial foreclosure. There are many California cases on point. Smart private investors avoid trying short-cuts like this and stick to the time-tested procedures.
I agree with Mr. Whipple. It is not illegal, but it will create more problems than it solves.