What is Foreclosure in El Monte, California?

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Foreclosure is the legal process by which the lender in a mortgage arrangement takes possession of the property (typically a house) that secured the loan. This is done when the El Monte, California debtor has repeatedly failed to make their payments. Foreclosure often requires the house to be sold at auction. Often, banks want to get rid of the property as soon as they can, in order to make as much money as possible, and move on.

In all states in the U.S., including California, there is an option to go through foreclosure via judicial sale, in which a court oversees the sale, and makes sure that the proceeds first go to the lender, and then to any other entities that might have a lien or other interest in the property (in order of priority), and, finally, to the borrower, if anything is left. In some states, original mortgages are "non-recourse loans," meaning that the lender can only recover ownership of the house in the event of default. If the house is now worth less than the balance of the mortgage, the lender has to take the loss. You should speak with an El Monte, California Lawyer to see if this state is one of them. However, it is almost always the case that this protection does not apply to loans which have been refinanced.

How Can I Avoid Foreclosure in California?

First, you should never ignore the matter. As unpleasant as it seems, it is essential to stay on top of the issue. Ignoring the problem will never make it go away. It is critical to remember that the bank does not really want your El Monte house - they expected to make a profit through the interest on your loan, and that's what they'd prefer to do. Accordingly, they will probably make reasonable accommodations to your financial situation if it means that you will be able to make some form of payment to them.

If no deal can be worked out, or the mortgage payments have become prohibitive, you might consider a "short sale". While the lender has to consent to it, many will take a moderate loss if it means avoiding foreclosure (which lenders usually treat as a last resort). This allows you to sell the house for whatever price it can fetch on the current market, and hand the proceeds over to the bank. If the sale nets less than the balance, some or all of the deficiency might be forgiven. You might also consider a "short refinance" which allows a chunk of the debt to be forgiven, and lets you refinance the rest.

How Can A El Monte, California Attorney Help?

If you are facing the possibility of foreclosure, a good El Monte, California real estate Attorney can help. At the very least, they will be able to inform you of your legal options.

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Life in El Monte

El Monte is near Los Angeles, California and home to approximately 113,475 residents. It is known as a friendly area that lies in the San Gabriel Valley region of east Los Angeles.

Popular attractions in El Monte are the American Heritage Park and Museum, Rose Hills Memorial Park, El Monte Historical Museum, Whittier Narrows Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, American Society of Military History, and The Rawhide Ponies.

Top employers in El Monte include Wells Fargo, Vons, Toyota, Lexus, Cathay Bank, and elementary and high school districts.

El Monte is home to many small law offices, with competent attorneys practicing in most areas of law. If need be, residents may look to larger firms located in Los Angeles as well. Overall, the legal force within and near El Monte, California is very strong and capable of handling all legal inquiries.