Arizona Foreclosures – Well-defined Process
Most basic … in Arizona nearly all home financing is based on a trust deed, not a mortgage. With a trust deed foreclosure activities are relatively simple, consistent and quick – just 91 days if the lender chooses to act promptly.
Lender Non-recourse
Arizona is “non-recourse” for loans on residential real estate, which means that, irrespective of what the loan note or other documents may declare, the borrower is likely NOT liable for any deficiency between the debt amount and the amount the lender receives as a result of a short sale or foreclosure.
The Arizona attitude is that the lender is the “expert” regarding real estate values, got a professional appraisal, and agreed that the property was the collateral for the loan … so, in the event of default, the property is all that the lender deserves to get.
BUT WATCH OUT … there are exceptions, plus get help in reviewing the settlement documents coming from the lender to be sure all of your Arizona rights are inherent.
If the market value for your home is sufficient to cover the debt, take action and get the the property sold – do NOT allow it to go to foreclosure. The costs “assigned” to the debt for the foreclosure process are going to be more than if you manage that process yourself.
Default Documents
Just below are links to several resources relevant to loan default in Arizona. This list is just the unique real estate transaction documents, and far from exhaustive.
The Purchase Contract “Short Sale Addendum” is an Arizona Association of Realtors form (AAR) that will be part of the Purchase Contract for a short sale property. Of particular note is the content of lines 9 to 25. As indicated there, (1) a short sale can be “hung up” by the lender for months; and (2) there really is no “contract” with the buyer until the lender and seller come to an agreement on the debt settlement terms.
The Listing Agreement Short-sale Addendum is between the owner/seller and the Listing Broker that details the issues and difficulties that are going to be involved for a successful short-sale effort.
The Short-sale Agreement Notice is by the buyer to the seller to communicate that an agreement was reached with the buyer’s lender so that the short-sale may proceed.
Purchase-Contract-Short-Sale-Addendum
Listing-Agreement-Short-Sale-Addendum
The Arizona Foreclosure Law Summary
Effect of Foreclosure on Credit Score
Lenders should report to credit bureaus a foreclosed loan as “charged off” after a foreclosure is completed where the borrower has no ongoing liability, as in Arizona for a home loan. But some lenders continue to report a foreclosed loan as “late”, particularly second-lien lenders. The borrower’s credit score is NOT healing as long as this is being done and there is little chance of another home loan as long as this is the case.
Within a couple of months after the foreclosure, borrowers should check their credit report to determine how their lenders are reporting their accounts. A borrower can obtain a free credit report once per year from www.annualcreditreport.com.
If a lender is reporting to the credit bureaus incorrectly, a borrower can take the simple approach and call the lender and request a reporting correction. If that doesn’t work, follow the formal written notice requirements. If that doesn’t work, contact an attorney.
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