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FinancingDeeds_of_trust_vs_mortgagesHARD

Patricia and her husband David own their Boise home as community property. They took out a deed of trust loan five years ago. David has since died, and Patricia has now defaulted on the loan. The lender initiates a trustee's sale. After the sale is completed, the sale proceeds are insufficient to cover the outstanding loan balance. Which of the following most accurately describes the lender's legal position regarding a deficiency under Idaho law?

Correct Answer

C) The lender is barred from seeking a deficiency judgment because it elected to proceed with the non-judicial trustee's sale

Under I.C. § 45-1512, when a lender proceeds with a non-judicial trustee's sale under the Idaho Trust Deeds Act, the lender waives the right to seek a deficiency judgment against the grantor or any other party. This anti-deficiency protection applies regardless of the community property status of the loan or the death of one spouse. By electing the speed and simplicity of the trustee's sale, the lender forfeits the ability to pursue any deficiency — against Patricia, David's estate, or any other party. The community property and probate dimensions of this scenario are red herrings designed to distract from the core anti-deficiency rule.

Answer Options
A
The lender may seek a deficiency judgment against Patricia because community property debts survive the death of one spouse
B
The lender may seek a deficiency judgment against David's estate because the loan was a community debt incurred during marriage
C
The lender is barred from seeking a deficiency judgment because it elected to proceed with the non-judicial trustee's sale
D
The lender may seek a deficiency judgment only if it first obtains probate court approval within six months of David's death

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

anti_deficiencytrustees_salecommunity_propertydeficiency_judgmentidaho_trust_deeds_actexpert_trap

Related Concepts

The secondary mortgage market is where existing mortgage loans are bought and sold between lenders, investors, and government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae.

TILA is a federal law that requires lenders to disclose the true cost of credit to borrowers, including the annual percentage rate (APR), total finance charges, and loan terms. It is implemented by Regulation Z.

A trustee sale is a type of foreclosure where a trustee, appointed under a deed of trust, sells the property at auction to satisfy the debt.

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