California Real Estate SalespersonFinancingHard

A lender forecloses judicially on a defaulted deed of trust and successfully obtains a deficiency judgment against the borrower. Under California Code of Civil Procedure, how long does the borrower have to redeem the property after the judicial foreclosure sale?

  1. A3 months
  2. B3 years
  3. C1 year
  4. DNo redemption period; the sale is final immediately
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C. 1 year

Under CCP §729.030, when a lender pursues judicial foreclosure and obtains a deficiency judgment, the borrower's statutory right of redemption extends for one year after the sale. (If the lender waives the deficiency judgment, the redemption period shortens to 3 months.) Nonjudicial trustee's sales, by contrast, carry no statutory redemption right at all.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. 3 months applies only when the lender waives its right to a deficiency judgment.
  • B. 3 years is not a recognized redemption period under California foreclosure law.
  • D. No redemption applies to nonjudicial trustee's sales, not judicial foreclosure sales.

Judicial Foreclosure Redemption Period

California law grants a borrower a statutory right to redeem property after a judicial foreclosure sale: one year if a deficiency judgment is sought, or three months if the lender waives it.

  • Only applies to judicial foreclosures, not nonjudicial trustee's sales
  • 1 year if deficiency judgment is obtained (CCP §729.030)
  • 3 months if lender waives the deficiency judgment

Memory trick: Deficiency demanded? A full year granted.

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