Power of Sale Foreclosure Guidelines

If the deed of trust or mortgage contains a power of sale clause and specifies the time, place and terms of sale, then the specified procedure must be followed. Otherwise, the non-judicial power of sale foreclosure is carried out as follows:

1. A foreclosure notice must be published once a week for four successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the premises are located.
   
   At least twenty-one days prior to the date set for sale, the lender must serve a written copy of the notice of foreclosure sale on the borrower and any lien holder whose interest in the property being foreclosed would be affected by the foreclosure.
   
   Said notice must contain the names of the borrower and lender, the mortgage date, the amount due, a description of the premises and the time and place of sale.
   
2. The sale must be made by the sheriff of such county, or his deputy, between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm to the highest bidder. Any person including the mortgagee (lender) may bid at the sale. The winning bidder will receive a certificate of sale.
   
   The sale may be postponed, from time to time, by inserting a notice of such postponement, as soon as possible, in the newspaper in which the original advertisement was published, and continuing such publication until the time when the postponed sale occurs.

If the property is 40 acres or less, and the mortgage contains a power of sale clause, then a 180-day period of redemption exists. If the property is abandoned, the time period is reduced to 60 days. Generally, unless special short-term redemption mortgage provisions apply, borrowers may redeem within one year of the date of sale.