Foreclosure in Massachusetts: What to Know

One of my projects this fall has been writing for LexisNexis’s Practical Guidance series. LexisNexis, in my opinion, is the best source for legal research, and it is honor to be part of their team. My article, Residential Foreclosure in Massachusetts, is available on my website and included below.

This article provides a background on foreclosure in Massachusetts, for both lenders and borrowers. For the past seven years, I’ve helped homeowners and purchasers of foreclosed homes navigate this tricky area of law. I’ve help many homeowners avoid foreclosure, and have advised real estate professionals with some of the pitfalls that can occur when purchasing a foreclosed home.

Foreclosure law can arise in almost every area of real estate, including landlord-tenant law, title matters, and property disputes. Having an understanding of this process is critical when foreclosure arises in a legal dispute.

My article touches on some important areas of Massachusetts foreclosure law:

  • Pre-Foreclosure Requirements: Massachusetts is a non-judicial foreclosure state. This means that a lender doesn’t need a court case to foreclose. The caveat, however, is that a lender must strictly comply with Massachusetts’ detailed foreclosure requirements. Failure to do so can make the underlining foreclosure void.
  • Foreclosure Defenses: In certain cases, it is possible to defend against foreclosure, with the goal of working out a permanent solution to the problem. My article discusses what to consider when defending against foreclosure, and, importantly, the defenses that are not viable in these cases.
  • Post-Foreclosure Evictions: An eviction is required for any occupants who remain in a home following foreclosure. This is a entire topic on its own, as these types of evictions follow a slightly different process than a typical landlord-tenant eviction.

I hope this article is helpful . . . let me know what you think. If you need assistance with a foreclosure matter, contact me for assistance.

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