Mortgages Flashcards
What is a mortgage?
A mortgage is the conveyance of a security interest in land, intended by the parties to be collateral for the repayment of a debt.
A mortgage is the union of…
- A debt
2. A voluntary lien in the debtor’s land to secure the debt.
Vocabulary: debtor =
Mortgagor.
Vocabulary: creditor =
Mortgagee.
Legal mortgage
An encumbrance evidenced by an appropriate writing (e.g., “the note,” “the mortgage deed,” “a deed of trust,” “a sale lease-back,” “a security interest in land”).
Mortgages typically must be in writing to satisfy the Statute of Frauds. This is the legal mortgage.
Equitable mortgage
Instead of executing a note or mortgage deed, debtor hands creditor a deed to Blackacre that is absolute on its face. This is called an equitable mortgage.
Between debtor and creditor, parol evidence is admissible to show the parties’ intent to have a mortgage.
- But if creditor sells Blackacre to a BFP, the BPF owns the land. Debtor’s only recourse is to sue the creditor for fraud (but the sale proceeds).
Who can transfer mortgage interests?
All parties to a mortgage can transfer their interests.
- The mortgage automatically follows a properly transferred note.
How does a creditor-mortgagee transfer her interest?
- By endorsing the note and delivering it to the transferee.
OR - By executing a separate document of assignment.
Holder in due course: result
If a creditor-mortgagee endorses and delivers the note, the transferee is eligible to become a holder in due course.
This means that he takes the note FREE OF ANY PERSONAL DEFENSES that could have been raised against the original mortgagee. (I.e., can foreclose the mortgage despite such personal defenses.)
- But still subject to any real defenses.
Personal defenses
Include:
- Lack of consideration
- Fraud in the inducement
- Unconscionability
- Waiver
- Estoppel
Real defenses
- Material alteration
- Duress
- Fraud in the factum
- Incapacity
- Illegality
- Infancy
- Insolvency
Holder in due course: criteria
To be a holder in due course:
- The note must be negotiable (made payable to the named mortagee).
- The original note must be endorsed (signed by the named mortgagee).
- The original note must be delivered to the transferee (photocopy is not ok).
- The transferee must take the note in good faith, without notice of any illegality.
AND - The transferee must pay value for the note (some amount that is more than nominal).
Fraud in the factum
A lie about the instrument.
E.g., the debtor who doesn’t speak english was told he was signing a credit card application.
Recording statutes…
Recording statutes apply to mortgages.
If debtor-mortgagor sells Blackacre (which is mortgaged)…
The lien remains on the land, so long as the mortgage was recorded.
“Assumed the mortgage”
O, the debtor-mortgagor, sells Blackacre to B.
If B has “assumed the mortgage,” BOTH O and B are personally liable.
– B is primarily liable.
– O remains secondarily liable.
“Takes subject to the mortgage”
O, the debtor-mortgagor, sells Blackacre to B.
If B takes “subject to the mortgage,” B assumes NO personal liability. Only O is personally liable.
- But if recorded, the mortgage sticks with the land. Thus, if O does not pay, the mortgage may be foreclosed.
How is a mortgage foreclosed?
The mortgagee must foreclose by proper judicial action.
At foreclosure, the land is sold. The sale proceeds go to satisfying the debt.
What happens if, after foreclosure, the proceeds from the sale of Blackacre are less than the amount owed?
The mortgagee must bring a deficiency action against the debtor.
What happens if, after foreclosure, the proceeds from the sale of Blackacre are more than the amount owed?
- Junior liens are paid off in order of priority.
- Remaining surplus goes to debtor.
- Fees are first taken off the top (e.g., attorney’s fees, foreclosure expenses, and any accrued interest on the the primary mortgage lien).
Effect of foreclosure on junior interests
Foreclosure will terminate interests junior to the mortgage being foreclosed but will not affect senior interest.
- This means that junior lienholders will be paid in descending order with the proceeds from the sale (assuming funds are left over after full satisfaction of superior claims).
- Junior lienholders should be able to proceed for a deficiency judgment. But once foreclosure of a superior claim has occurred, with the proceeds distributed appropriately, junior lienholders can no longer look to Blackacre for satisfaction.
Necessary parties to foreclosure actions.
- Junior lienholders: those with interests subordinate to those of the foreclosing party.
- Debtor-mortgagor (especially if creditor wants a personal deficiency judgment).
- Failure to join a necessary party results in the preservation of that party’s claim, despite the foreclosure and sale. Thus, if a necessary party is not joined, his mortgage remains on the land.
Effect of foreclosure on senior interests
Foreclosure does not affect any interest senior to the mortgage being foreclosed.
- The buyer at a foreclosure sale takes subject to such senior interests.
– This means that the buyer is not personally liable on the senior debt.
– But as a practical matter, if the senior mortgage is not paid, sooner or later, the senior creditor will foreclose on the land. - Best for buyer to pay off the senior mortgage (bid up the the fair market value MINUS the amount of debt).
Priority of creditors (general rules)
- Creditors must properly record their mortgage to have priority.
- Once recorded, priority is first in time, first in right.
- Purchase money mortgages have “superpriority.”
- Subordination agreements are permissible.
