Real Estate

 
 

Areas of Expertise

The Liu Law Group has experience in the following areas of real estate law:

  • Civil litigation and dispute resolution in all courts, government hearings, arbitrations
    and mediations
  • Disputes regarding the sale of residential and commercial real property on the behalf of purchasers and sellers
  • Real estate fraud, nondisclosure, and rescission of purchase contracts
  • Disputes regarding escrows
  • Disputes and litigation among joint owners of real property concerning the ownership, management, control, and title of real property
  • Representation of financial institutions and private lenders
  • Judicial and non-judicial foreclosure, appointment of receivers, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, and priority disputes
  • Workouts, loan modifications, and management of troubled real estate assets and
    loan portfolios
  • Lender liability claims
  • Specific performance of purchase contracts to compel the sale of property
  • Breach of contract
  • Title insurance and disputes, including: easement and boundary disputes, missed recorded documents, forgery of documents, fraudulent conveyances, improperly executed or recorded documents, lien priority disputes, fraud, and coverage issues
  • Landlord and tenant disputes, including evictions and unlawful detainer actions
  • Commercial and residential leases
  • Disputes involving real estate agents and brokers
  • Boundary disputes
  • Easements
  • Nuisance and trespass
  • Claims against lenders and government regulatory agencies
  • Real property tax assessments and appeals
  • Condominium law and homeowner associations
  • Adverse possession and prescriptive easement claims
  • Partition actions
  • Quiet title actions
  • Usury claims concerning loans
  • Neighbor disputes

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Commercial Real Estate

The Liu Law Group has the experience to provide dependable advice regarding the negotiation and documentation of a commercial real estate transaction of any scale. We have years of experience with:

  • Lease transactions
  • Purchase and sale contracts
  • Development projects

Our knowledge of the practical demands of the real estate industry and California law can help you accurately define your involvement in the industry and protect your investments. Additionally, our background in real estate litigation can help you anticipate and avoid risk while managing your own potential liability. Please contact us for a free consultation.

Our commercial real estate clients include buyers, sellers, lessors, lessees, property managers, real estate brokers, and overseas corporations and partnerships who are interested in establishing a presence in the San Gabriel Valley. Among the real estate transactions we handle are the following:

  • Commercial lease agreements, including the negotiation of options, renewal terms and rights of assignment
  • Purchase agreements for commercial or industrial properties, or land suitable for residential subdivision development
  • Condominium declarations and conversions, and tenants-in-common formations
  • Construction defect claims and defense
  • Formation and registration of corporations, LLCs, general partnerships and
    limited partnerships
  • Resolution of zoning, land use or conditional use problems before local agencies
  • Rent control issues on behalf of residential landlords
  • Negotiations with lenders in initial financing, refinancing and workout situations
  • Construction contracts on behalf of owners, developers, contractors or other
    project participants
  • Professional malpractice on the part of real estate agents, brokers or commercial mortgage officers

Our commercial real estate clients range in size, experience and sophistication, and our lawyers have the experience and understanding of California real estate law necessary to help any client succeed.

At the Liu Law Group, our extensive experience in business and commercial litigation means that we can enforce your rights and protect your interests, either in court or arbitration. For additional information about the scope of our firm's commercial real estate practice in light of your business's needs, please contact us at our San Gabriel Office.

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Foreclosures

In the current economy, foreclosure has become increasingly common. Here at the Liu Law Group we are prepared to meet your foreclosure needs. In California, there are two types of foreclosures:

  • Judicial Foreclosure
    The judicial process of foreclosure, which involves filing a lawsuit to obtain a court order to foreclose, is used when no power of sale is present in the mortgage or deed of trust. Generally, after the court declares a foreclosure, your home will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Using this type of foreclosure process, lenders may seek a deficiency judgment and under certain circumstances, the borrower may have up to one (1) year to redeem the property.

  • Non-Judicial Foreclosure
    The non-judicial process of foreclosure is used when a power of sale clause exists in a mortgage or deed of trust. A "power of sale" clause is the clause in a deed of trust or mortgage, in which the borrower pre-authorizes the sale of property to pay off the balance on a loan in the event of the their default. In deeds of trust or mortgages where a power of sale exists, the power given to the lender to sell the property may be executed by the lender or their representative, typically referred to as the trustee. Regulations for this type of foreclosure process are outlined below in the "Power of Sale Foreclosure Guidelines".

In California, lenders may foreclose on deeds of trusts or mortgages in default using either a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure process.

Power of Sale Foreclosure Guidelines

If the deed of trust or mortgage contains a power of sale clause and specifies the time, place and terms of sale, then the specified procedure must be followed. Otherwise, the non-judicial power of sale foreclosure is carried out as follows: A notice of sale must be: 1) recorded in the county where the property is located at least fourteen (14) days prior to the sale; 2) mailed by certified, return receipt requested, to the borrower at least twenty (20) days before the sale; 3) posted on the property itself at least twenty (20) days before the sale; and 4) posted in one (1) public place in the county where the property is to be sold.

The notice of sale must contain the time and location of the foreclosure sale, as well as the property address, the trustee's name, address and phone number, and a statement that the property will be sold at auction. The borrower has up until five days before the foreclosure sale to cure the default and stop the process. The sale may be held on any business day between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm and must take place at the location specified in the notice of sale. The trustee may require proof of the bidders ability to pay their full bid amount. Anyone may bid at the sale, which must be made at public auction to the highest bidder. If necessary, the sale may be postponed by announcement at the time and location of the original foreclosure sale.

Lenders may not seek a deficiency judgment after a non-judicial foreclosure sale and the borrower has no rights of redemption.

Foreclosure Timeline

  • Redemption Period (Day 1-90)
    • Lasts the 90 days from recordation of the Notice of Default
  • Publication Period (Day 90-Day 120)
    • Lasts 30 days from day of Redemption
  • Trustee’s Sale (Day 120-141)
    • Held 21 days after first publication

Redemption Period

Once the Notice of Default records, the foreclosure time frame begins. California foreclosure law states that within 10 business days a copy of the recorded Notice of Default is sent by certified and regular mail to the borrowers at all addresses provided and any recorded special requests. Within 30 days a copy of the Notice of Default is sent by certified and regular mail to new owners and all junior lien holders to the Deed of Trust being foreclosed. A Trustee's Sale Guarantee Report is ordered from the title company providing all title information. The foreclosure remains dormant for the next 60 days unless the borrower makes contact to cure.

Publication Period

California foreclosure law states that the publication period begins once the redemption period has expired. A Notice of Trustee's Sale is prepared and published in an adjudicated paper of general circulation in the city in which the property is located. The Notice of Trustee's Sale is published one time per week for three weeks. The actual Sale is established by adding at least 20 days to the date that the Notice of Trustee's Sale was first published in the newspaper. The Notice of Trustee's Sale is posted on the property and in a public place. At least 14 days period to Sale date the Notice of Trustee's Sale must be recorded in the county in which the property is located.

Trustee's Sale

California foreclosure law states that on the day that was established for sale of the property, and only after all publication period requirements have been met, the property is sold to the highest bidder for cash for the full amount of the debt plus foreclosure fee and expenses. If no one bids at the Trustee's Sale, the property automatically reverts back to the beneficiary for the debt. A Trustee's Deed Upon Sale is recorded in the county in which the property is located transferring title to the foreclosing beneficiary allowing the marketing of the property to recover their debt.
All sales under a power of sale in a deed of trust will be made between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on any business day, Monday through Friday, at the time specified in the notice of trustee sale. The sale must be made a public auction to the highest bidder. The trustee has the right to require every bidder to show evidence of ability to pay the full bid in cash, cashier’s check or certain bank checks. Each bid is by law an irrevocable offer to purchase. However, a higher bid cancels an earlier bid. It is unlawful and a criminal offense (a fine of $10,000 or up to one year in jail) to offer anyone consideration not to bid, or to fix or restrain the bidding process in any manner. Debtors may reinstate up to five days before non-judicial foreclosure sale.

Junior lien holders may no longer redeem, so they may try to protect themselves by (1) advancing funds to bring the senior loan payments current, then foreclosing for the sums advanced; (2) bidding at the foreclosure sale so the price will be sufficient to pay off the senior and the junior liens; or (3) acquire the property by bidding at the foreclosure. If the debtor has a right to redeem and does so, the junior who purchased the home must be reimbursed. Junior liens do not reattach the property if a borrower redeems a senior lien whose foreclosure extinguished the junior. This helps borrowers by encouraging the junior to bid up to the property to fair market value at the foreclosure sale, or else lose out, giving borrowers closer to fair value at sale.

Lenders may not seek a deficiency judgment if (1) the foreclosure is non-judicial or if (2) foreclosure is on a purchase money obligation. The same rules do not apply to guarantee or later lien holders. The lenders may seize alternative collateral. If the lender forecloses by filing a lawsuit, then the lender can obtain both a foreclosure sale order and a judgment against the borrower for a deficiency after the court-ordered sale, but only for the difference between the judgment and the fair value of the security.

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VA and FHA Loans

VA Loans

An appraisal should be ordered through an authorized VA appraiser 60 days from the recording of the Notice of Default. A completed VA567 from should be sent to the local VA office with a copy of the Notice of Trustee's Sale and Trustee's Sale Guarantee once publication of the Notice of Trustee's Sale has begun. A Corporation Grant Deed should be prepared conveying title from the foreclosing beneficiary to the proper governmental agency.

FHA Loans

A Notice to Occupant of Pending Acquisition should be mailed to mortgagee with a copy of the cover letter to the local FHA office. A Corporation Grant Deed should be prepared conveying title from the foreclosing beneficiary to the proper governmental agency. If the property is occupied, an eviction process must be started to convey the title to FHA unoccupied. Once eviction complete, record Corporation Grant Deed and issue title package to FHA for Title Approval Record Corporation Grant Deed and issue FHA 27011 Part A.

 

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