Albany Foreclosure Lawyers

Find the right Foreclosure attorney in Albany, CA

Foreclosure Law in California

In Albany, California, foreclosure is a legal process through which an entity which has issued a mortgage takes possession and/or ownership of the property that secured the mortgage, because the individual who took out the mortgage has consistently failed to make payments on it. The property in question is usually a house.

Foreclosure most commonly is a forced sale of a house at auction, since those are the most common types of property bought through a mortgage. Banks will normally try to get rid of the property as quickly as they can, selling it for as much money as they can get in a short period of time.

In all states in the U.S., including California, borrowers have the option of foreclosure by judicial sale. This permits a court to oversee the sale of the property by the bank. The purpose of this is to get the house to sell for the highest price possible. While this might seem like something that would only benefit the bank, it is also a great benefit to the borrower, since it increases the likelihood that the sale will encompass the full balance of the mortgage, preventing them from having to pay it.

Some states treat mortgages as "non-recourse loans." A non-recourse loan is one that is secured by the borrower's property, but for which the borrower is not personally liable. Essentially, this means that a lender in a foreclosure can take the house that was mortgaged, but nothing else. If the house sells for less than the lender is owed, it cannot go after the borrower.

How to Possibly Avoid Foreclosure in Albany, California

It is absolutely necessary that you maintain a line of communication with your lender. Your can't expect your lender to accommodate your altered financial situation if they don't know about it. Ignoring the issue and hoping it will go away is the worst possible solution.

Bear in mind that banks aren't in the business of real estate speculation - they're in the business of lending money, and making profits through interest on their loans. In short, the bank doesn't really want your house - they'd much rather have you continue making your mortgage payments. For banks, foreclosing on a home is a last resort. Essentially, nobody likes foreclosures, and everyone wants to prevent them.

Because banks don't specifically enjoy foreclosing, they will probably be willing to work out an alternative payment plan with you, if necessary. Nonetheless, if you think that this might be needed in the near future, you should contact your lender immediately. The sooner they know about it, the more options you have.

Lastly, there is the "short sale." Normally considered a last resort, a short sale results in the borrower losing their home, but discharges almost all of their remaining mortgage debt. If the house is worth far less than the balance of the mortgage, this might be a good choice. In California, when a house is sold in a short sale, the proceeds go to the lender. If it sells for less than the mortgage balance, whatever's leftover is forgiven. If it sells for more, the surplus goes to the homeowner.

Can a Albany, California real estate attorney help?

If you are worried that your Albany, California house is going to be foreclosed, and want to try and stop this, a seasoned real estate lawyer can help.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Albany

Albany, California is a city in Alameda County. It has a population of about 18,500 people.

The town of Albany was incorporated in 1909, when residents became fed up with the larger nearby city of Berkeley dumping its garbage in Albany. The residents voted to incorporate to give the town more territorial autonomy, allowing them to legally bar other cities from dumping garbage there without permission.

The city was named after Albany, New York, which was the birthplace of the town's first mayor.

Modernly, Albany is a quiet residential community, whose local economy is largely based around retail and services. Many professionals, such as lawyers, who practice in nearby larger cities, live in Albany, California.

There are also many lawyers who live, as well as practice, in Albany, California. So, if you need legal advice, it's very likely that there's an Albany, California attorney who will be able to help.

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