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Judicial Foreclosure

 
Investment Dictionary: Judicial Foreclosure

Foreclosure proceedings in which a mortgage lacks the power of sale clause. In such an instance, many states require the foreclosure to be processed through the state's courts. If the court confirms that the debt is in default, an auction is held for the sale of the property in order to acquire funds to repay the lender.

This differs from non-judicial foreclosures, which are processed without court intervention.

Investopedia Says:
Many states require judicial foreclosure to protect equity the debtor may have in the property. Judicial foreclosure also serves to prevent "strategic disclosures" by unscrupulous lenders.

In instances where the sale of the property through the auction does not generate enough funds to repay the mortgage lender, the former homeowner will still be held liable for the remaining balance.

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Real Estate Dictionary: Judicial Foreclosure
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Having a defaulted debtor's property sold where the court ratifies the price paid.
Example: Happy Mortgage Company is owed $50,000 on a first mortgage by Mr. Baker. At judicial foreclosure, Happy Mortgage Company Bids $30,000 for the property, which is more than anyone else bids. They then claim the property and are awarded a $20,000 Deficiency Judgment against Mr. Baker.

 
 

 

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Investment Dictionary. Copyright ©2000, Investopedia.com - Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Real Estate Dictionary. Dictionary of Real Estate Terms. Copyright © 2004 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more