Existing law prohibits a deficiency judgment if real property or an estate for years has been sold by the mortgagee or trustee under power of sale in the mortgage or deed of trust. Existing law also prohibits a deficiency judgment under a note secured by a first deed of trust or first mortgage for a dwelling of not more than 4 units in any case in which the trustor or mortgagor sells the dwelling for less than the remaining amount of the indebtedness due at the time of sale with the written consent of the holder of the first deed of trust or first mortgage, and provides that written consent of the holder of the first deed of trust or first mortgage to that sale obligates the holder to accept the sale proceeds as full payment and to fully discharge the remaining amount of the indebtedness on the first deed of trust or first mortgage.

This bill would delete the provisions regarding written consent of the holder of the deed of trust or mortgage obligating the holder to accept the sale proceeds as full payment, as described above. The bill would expand the provisions described above to prohibit a deficiency judgment upon a note secured solely by a deed of trust or mortgage for a dwelling of not more than 4 units in any case in which the trustor or mortgagor sells the dwelling for a sale price less than the remaining amount of the indebtedness outstanding at the time of sale, in accordance with the written consent of the holder of the deed of trust or mortgage if the title has been voluntarily transferred to a buyer by grant deed or by other document that has been recorded and the proceeds of the sale are tendered as agreed. The bill would also provide that, in other circumstances, when the note is not secured solely by a deed of trust or mortgage for a dwelling of not more than 4 units, no judgment shall be rendered for any deficiency upon a note secured by a deed of trust or mortgage for a dwelling of not more than 4 units, if the trustor or mortgagor sells the dwelling for a sale price less than the remaining amount of the indebtedness, in accordance with the written consent of the holder of the deed of trust or mortgage. The bill would provide, following the sale, in accordance with the written consent, the voluntary transfer of title to a buyer, as specified, and the tender of the sale proceeds, the rights, remedies, and obligations of any holder, beneficiary, mortgagee, trustor, mortgagor, obligor, obligee, or guarantor of the note, deed of trust, or mortgage, and with respect to any other property that secures the note, shall be treated and determined as if the dwelling had been sold through foreclosure under a power of sale, as specified. The bill would except certain parties from the application of these provisions, including if the trustor or mortgagor is a limited liability company or partnership or if a public utility, as specified, made the mortgage or deed of trust. The bill would require that any waiver of these provisions is void and against public policy.