Mortgages Flashcards
What is a mortgage?
A mtg is the conveyance of a security interest in LAND, intended by the parties to be COLLATERAL for the repmt of a debt Mortgagor = one who has title and right to possession (the debtor) Mortgagee = has a lien (the creditor)
What are2 types of mortgage?
Types of mortgage… 1) Legal (traditional) mortgage: in writing/signed (SOF) using property interest in land as collateral for loan 2) Equitable mortgage: as collateral for a debt, physical handover of a deed (absolute on its face) to creditor instead of executing a note or mtg; IF creditor sells to BFP, debtor can ONLY sue creditor for damages (BFP owns land) NOTE: parol evidence FREELY admissible in dispute to show intent
Once a mtg has been created, what are the parties’ rights?
Debtor mtg’r = UNLESS and UNTIL foreclosure, the debtor mtg’r has TITLE and RIGHT to possession Creditor mtg’ee = has a LIEN and the right to look to blackacre if there is a default
What are the 2 ways a creditor-mtg’ee can transfer his interest in the mtg?
The creditor-mtg’ee can tnfr his interest by… 1) ENDORSING the note and DELIVERING to the transferee; OR 2) by EXECUTING a separate document of assignment
*If the note is endorsed/delivered the transferee is eligible to become a holder in due course.
What is a holder in due course?
A transferee that takes the transferred note FREE of any personal defenses that could have been asserted against the ORGINAL creditor Thus, a HDC may foreclose the mtg DESPITE the presence of any such personal defenses against original creditor, like… Lack of consideration Fraud in inducement Unconsionability Waiver Estoppel
A HDC is STILL subject to “real” defenses: (M-A-D F-I-F-I4) Material Alteration
Duress
Fraud In the Factum Incapacity Illegality
Infancy Insolvancy
What is the criteria for being a aholder in due course of a note?
1) the note must be NEGOTIABLE, made payable to the named mtg’ee; 2) The original note must be ENDORSED and SIGNED by the named mtg’ee; 3) The original note must be DELIVERED to the tnfr’ee (NO photocopies!); 4) The tnfr’ee must take in GOOD FAITH(w/o notice of any illegality); AND 5) The tnfr’ee must pay VALUE for the note (more than nominal $)
What happens when a mtg’r sells land with a valid mtg in place?
The lien remains on the land SO LONG AS the mtg was properly recorded; the later buyer takes subject to a properly recorded lien. Recording statues apply - notice vs race notice jx
- If B “assumes the mtg” - BOTH seller/debtor (O) and B are personally liable to the creditor/mtg’ee, B is primarily liable and O is secondarily liable.
- If B takes “subject to the mtg” B assumes no personal liability, only O is liable. [BUT if O doesn’t pay, creditor will foreclose on land]
How does the mortgagee-creditor go about satisfying its debt with the land?
Mtg’ee must foreclose by proper judicial action. Sale proceeds go to satisfying debt (in order)…attorney fees, costs; each interest in priority; surplus back to debtor 2) When sale does NOT cover amount of loan, mtg’ee can bring a deficiency action against debtor for the shortfall 3) Once mortgage is foreclosed, all jr interests to the foreclosing interest are TERMINATED (i.e. once sr creditors foreclose,land cannot be looked to again for satisfaction of junior lienholders) BUT if jr forecloses, senior lienholders can STILL look to the land; land sold by junior lienholder at foreclosure sale taken subject to senior lienholders (buyer not liable, but land still has lien)
*Necessary parties (creditors w/ interests below foreclosing party; the debtor/mtg’r) MUST be joined in the action OR they preserve their claim despite the foreclosure sale
How is mtg priority determined?
Creditors MUST properly record interest to get priority. Std: 1st in time, first in right EXCEPTIONS: Purchase money mtg (loan for land acquisition): has superpriority against EXISTING non-PMM loanson property
What is equitable redemption?
PRIOR to foreclosure… 1) Mtg’r/debtor can redeem land and free from mortgage (but pre-payment penalty ok). Once foreclosed, the right to equitable redemption is GONE
- Redemption reqs: pmt of missed pmts+ interests+ costs. Acceleration cls are VALID→full balance due immediately if default
- NO WAIVER of redemption right is allowed (i.e. “clogging the equity of redemption”)
What is statutory redemption? NOTE: NY Distinction
Statutory redemption allows redemption AFTER foreclosure
NOTE: mtg’r ALWAYS retains right to possession w/in statutory grace period. Mtg’r pays foreclosure sale price to redeem rather than original debt owed
NY DISTINCTION: NO statutory right of redemption in NY
