June 4, 2013, Introduced by Reps. Schor and Abed and referred to the Committee on Financial Services.
A bill to amend 1961 PA 236, entitled
"Revised judicature act of 1961,"
by amending sections 3201 and 3240 (MCL 600.3201 and 600.3240),
section 3201 as amended by 1981 PA 172 and section 3240 as amended
by 2011 PA 303, and by adding sections 3117 and 3118.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 3117. (1) In an action under this chapter to foreclose a
mortgage of 1- to 4-unit residential property that is occupied by
the owner, the court may modify the mortgage or grant other relief
to the mortgagor that the court determines is appropriate if the
mortgagee has engaged in 1 or more of the following practices:
(a) Purposely failing to record mortgages or assignments of
mortgages.
(b) Advising mortgagors not to make payments on mortgages.
(c) Placing false signatures on mortgage foreclosure
documents.
(2) A court shall not modify a mortgage or grant other relief
under this section if doing so would affect the rights of tenants
or other legal occupants of the property.
Sec. 3118. If a defendant prevails in an action under this
chapter, the court shall award the defendant actual costs and
attorney fees.
Sec.
3201. Every A mortgage of real estate ,
which that
contains
a power of sale, upon on a
default being made in any
condition
of such the mortgage, may be foreclosed by advertisement
,
in the cases and in the manner specified in under this chapter.
However,
the procedures set forth in this chapter shall does not
apply to the following mortgages:
(a) A mortgage of real estate held by the Michigan state
housing development authority.
(b) A mortgage of 1- to 4-unit residential property that is
occupied by the owner if the mortgagee has engaged in 1 or more of
the following practices:
(i) Purposely failing to record mortgages or assignments of
mortgages.
(ii) Advising mortgagors not to make payments on mortgages.
(iii) Placing false signatures on mortgage foreclosure
documents.
Sec. 3240. (1) A purchaser's deed is void if the mortgagor,
the mortgagor's heirs or personal representative, or any person
lawfully claiming under the mortgagor or the mortgagor's heirs or
personal representative redeems the entire premises sold by paying
the amount required under subsection (2) and any amount required
under subsection (4), within the applicable time limit prescribed
in subsections (7) to (13), to the purchaser or the purchaser's
personal representative or assigns, or to the register of deeds in
whose office the deed is deposited for the benefit of the
purchaser.
(2) The amount required to be paid under subsection (1) is the
sum that was bid for the entire premises sold, with interest from
the date of the sale at the interest rate provided for by the
mortgage, together with the amount of the sheriff's fee paid by the
purchaser under section 2558(2)(q), and an additional $5.00 as a
fee for the care and custody of the redemption money if the payment
is made to the register of deeds. Except as provided in subsection
(15), the register of deeds shall not determine the amount
necessary for redemption. The purchaser shall attach an affidavit
with the deed to be recorded under this section that states the
exact amount required to redeem the property under this subsection,
including any daily per diem amounts, and the date by which the
property must be redeemed shall be stated on the certificate of
sale. The purchaser may include in the affidavit the name of a
designee responsible on behalf of the purchaser to assist the
person redeeming the property in computing the exact amount
required to redeem the property. The designee may charge a fee as
stated in the affidavit and may be authorized by the purchaser to
receive redemption funds. The purchaser shall accept the amount
computed by the designee.
(3) If a distinct lot or parcel separately sold is redeemed,
leaving a portion of the premises unredeemed, the deed shall be
void only to the redeemed parcel or parcels.
(4) If, after the sale, the purchaser, the purchaser's heirs
or personal representative, or any person lawfully claiming under
the purchaser or the purchaser's heirs or personal representative
pays taxes assessed against the property, amounts necessary to
redeem senior liens from foreclosure, condominium assessments,
homeowner association assessments, community association
assessments, or premiums on an insurance policy covering any
buildings located on the property that under the terms of the
mortgage it would have been the duty of the mortgagor to pay if the
mortgage had not been foreclosed and that are necessary to keep the
policy in force until the expiration of the period of redemption,
redemption shall be made only upon payment of the sum specified in
subsection (2) plus the amounts specified in this subsection with
interest on the amounts specified in this subsection from the date
of the payment to the date of redemption at the interest rate
specified in the mortgage. This subsection does not apply unless
all of the following are filed with the register of deeds with whom
the deed is deposited:
(a) An affidavit by the purchaser or someone in his or her
behalf who has knowledge of the facts of the payment showing the
amount and items paid.
(b) The receipt or copy of the canceled check evidencing the
payment of the taxes, amounts necessary to redeem senior liens from
foreclosure, condominium assessments, homeowner association
assessments, community association assessments, or insurance
premiums.
(c) An affidavit of an insurance agent of the insurance
company stating that the payment was made and what portion of the
payment covers the premium for the period before the expiration of
the period of redemption.
(5) If the redemption payment in subsection (4) includes an
amount used to redeem a senior lien from a nonjudicial foreclosure,
the mortgagor shall have the same defenses against the purchaser
with respect to the amount used to redeem the senior lien as the
mortgagor would have had against the senior lien.
(6) The register of deeds shall indorse on the documents filed
under subsection (4) the time they are received. The register of
deeds shall record the affidavit of the purchaser only and shall
preserve in his or her files the recorded affidavit, receipts,
insurance receipts, and insurance agent's affidavit until
expiration of the period of redemption.
(7) For a mortgage executed on or after January 1, 1965, of
commercial or industrial property, or multifamily residential
property in excess of 4 units, the redemption period is 6 months
from the date of the sale.
(8) Subject to subsections (9) to (12), for a mortgage
executed on or after January 1, 1965, of residential property not
exceeding 4 units to which section 3201(b) does not apply, if the
amount claimed to be due on the mortgage at the date of the notice
of foreclosure is more than 66-2/3% of the original indebtedness
secured by the mortgage, the redemption period is 6 months.
(9) Subject to subsection (10), for a mortgage of residential
property not exceeding 4 units, if the property is abandoned as
determined under section 3241, the redemption period is 3 months.
(10) For a mortgage of residential property not exceeding 4
units, if the amount claimed to be due on the mortgage at the date
of the notice of foreclosure is more than 66-2/3% of the original
indebtedness secured by the mortgage and the property is abandoned
as determined under section 3241, the redemption period is 1 month.
(11) If the property is abandoned as determined under section
3241a, the redemption period is 30 days or until the time to
provide the notice required by section 3241a(c) expires, whichever
is later.
(12) For a mortgage of property that is used for agricultural
purposes, the redemption period is 1 year from the date of the
sale.
(13) If subsections (7) to (12) do not apply, the redemption
period is 1 year from the date of the sale.
(14) The amount stated in any affidavits recorded under this
section shall be the amount necessary to satisfy the requirements
for redemption under this section.
(15) The register of deeds of a county having a population of
more than 750,000 and less than 1,500,000, at the request of a
person entitled to redeem the property under this section, shall
determine the amount necessary for redemption. In determining the
amount, the register of deeds shall consider only the affidavits
recorded under subsections (2) and (4). A county, register of
deeds, or employee of a county or register of deeds is not liable
for damages proximately caused by an incorrect determination of an
amount necessary for redemption under subsection (2).
(16) A register of deeds may charge not more than $50.00 for
determining the amount necessary for redemption under this section.
(17) For purposes of this section, there is a presumption that
the property is used for agricultural purposes if, before the
foreclosure sale under this chapter, the mortgagor provides the
party foreclosing the mortgage and the foreclosing party's attorney
proof that the mortgagor filed a schedule F to the mortgagor's
federal income tax form 1040 for the year preceding the year in
which the proceedings to foreclose the mortgage were commenced and
records an affidavit with the register of deeds for the county in
which the property is located stating that the proof has been
delivered. If the mortgagor fails to provide proof and record an
affidavit as required by this subsection before the foreclosure
sale, there is a presumption that the property is not used for
agricultural purposes. The party foreclosing the mortgage or the
mortgagor may file a civil action to produce evidence to rebut a
presumption created by this subsection. An action under this
section shall be filed before the expiration of the redemption
period that would apply if the property is determined not to be
used for agricultural purposes.