33-807. Sale of trust property; power of trustee; foreclosure of trust deed

A. By virtue of his position, a power of sale is conferred upon the trustee of a trust deed under which the trust property may be sold, in the manner provided in this chapter, after a breach or default in performance of the contract or contracts, for which the trust property is conveyed as security, or a breach or default of the trust deed. At the option of the beneficiary a trust deed may be foreclosed in the manner provided by law for the foreclosure of mortgages on real property in which event the provisions of chapter 6 of this title govern the proceedings. The beneficiary or trustee shall constitute the proper and complete party plaintiff in any action to foreclose a deed of trust. The power of sale may be exercised by the trustee without express provision therefore in the trust deed.

B. The trustee or beneficiary may file and maintain an action to foreclose a deed of trust at any time before the trust property has been sold under the power of sale. A sale of trust property under the power of sale shall not be held after an action to foreclose the deed of trust has been filed unless the foreclosure action has been dismissed.

C. The trustee or beneficiary may file an action for the appointment of a receiver according to sections 12-1241 and 33-702. The right to appointment of a receiver shall be independent of and may precede the exercise of any other right or remedy.

D. The power of sale of trust property conferred upon the trustee shall not be exercised before the expiration of ninety days from the recording of the notice of the sale.

E. The trustee need only be joined as a party in legal actions pertaining to a breach of the trustee's obligation under this chapter or under the deed of trust. Any order of the court entered against the beneficiary is binding upon the trustee with respect to any actions which the trustee is authorized to take by the trust deed or by this chapter. If the trustee is joined as a party in any other action, the trustee is entitled to be immediately dismissed and to recover costs and reasonable attorney fees from the person joining the trustee. 

33-808. Notice of trustee's sale

A. The trustee shall give written notice of the time and place of sale legally describing the trust property to be sold by each of the following methods:

1. Recording a notice in the office of the recorder of each county where the trust property is situated.

2. Giving notice as provided in section 33-809 to the extent applicable.

3. Posting a notice, at least twenty days before the date of sale in some conspicuous place on the trust property to be sold, if posting can be accomplished without a breach of the peace. If access to the trust property is denied because a common entrance to the property is restricted by a limited access gate or similar impediment, the property shall be posted by posting notice at that gate or impediment. Notice shall also be posted at one of the places provided for posting public notices at any building that serves as a location of the superior court in the county where the trust property is to be sold. Posting is deemed completed on the date the first notice is posted.

4. Publication of sale notice in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in which trust property to be sold is situated. Sale notice shall be published at least once a week for four consecutive weeks. The last date of publication shall not be less than ten days prior to the date of sale. Publication is deemed completed on the date of the first publication of notice pursuant to this paragraph.

B. The sale shall be held at the time and place designated in the notice of sale on a day other than a Saturday or legal holiday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at a specified place on the trust property, at a specified place at any building that serves as a location of the superior court or at a specified place at a place of business of the trustee, in any county in which part of the trust property to be sold is situated.

C. The notice of sale shall contain:

1. The date, time and place of the sale. This date shall be at least ninety days after the date that the notice of sale was recorded.

2. The street address, if any, or identifiable location as well as the legal description of the trust property.

3. The county assessor's tax parcel number for the trust property or the tax parcel number of a larger parcel of which the trust property is a part.

4. The original principal balance as shown on the deed of trust. If the amount is not shown on the deed of trust, it shall be listed as "unspecified".

5. The names and addresses, as of the date the notice of sale is recorded, of the beneficiary and the trustee, the name and address of the original trustor as stated in the deed of trust, the signature of the trustee and the basis for the trustee's qualification pursuant to section 33-803, subsection A. The address of the beneficiary shall not be in care of the trustee or trustee's agent.

6. The telephone number of the trustee.

D. The notice of sale shall be sufficient if made in substantially the following form:

Notice of Trustee's Sale

The following legally described trust property will be sold, pursuant to the power of sale under that certain trust deed recorded in docket or book _______________________ at page __________ records of ______________ county, Arizona, at public auction to the highest bidder at (specific place of sale as permitted by law) _______________, in _______________ county, in or near _______________, Arizona, on ________, ____, at ___________ o'clock ___m. of said day:

(street address if any, or identifiable location of trust property)

(legal description of trust property)

Tax parcel number _______________

Original principal balance $________________________

Name and address of beneficiary_______________________________
______________________________
______________________________

Name and address of original trustor__________________________
_________________________
_________________________

Name and address of trustee___________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________

Signature of trustee _____________________________

Manner of trustee qualification ___________________________

Dated this _____________ day of ______________, ____.

(Acknowledgement)

E. Any error or omission in the information required by subsection C or D of this section, other than an error in the legal description of the trust property or an error in the date, time or place of sale, shall not invalidate a trustee's sale. Any error in the legal description of the trust property shall not invalidate a trustee's sale if considered as a whole the information provided is sufficient to identify the trust property being sold. The trustee or any person furnishing information to the trustee shall not be subject to liability for any error or omission in the information required by subsection C of this section except for the willful and intentional failure to provide such information. This subsection does not apply to claims made by an insured under any policy of title insurance.

33-809. Request for copies of notice of sale; mailing by trustee or beneficiary; disclosure of information regarding trustee sale

A. A person desiring a copy of a notice of sale under a trust deed, at any time subsequent to the recording of the trust deed and prior to the recording of a notice of sale pursuant thereto, shall record in the office of the county recorder in any county in which part of the trust property is situated a duly acknowledged request for a copy of any such notice of sale. The request shall set forth the name and address of the person or persons requesting a copy of such notice and shall identify the trust deed by setting forth the county, docket or book and page of the recording data thereof and by stating the names of the original parties to such deed, the date the deed was recorded and the legal description of the entire trust property and shall be in substantially the following form:

Request for Notice

Request is hereby made that a copy of any notice of sale under the trust deed recorded in docket or book ___________ at page ________, records of ______________ county, Arizona, ___________, ____,

(legal description of trust property)

Executed by _____________________ as trustor, in which ________________ is named as beneficiary and ___________________ as trustee, be mailed to _________________ at ___________________.

Dated this _______________ day of ___________, ____.

___________________
Signature

(Acknowledgement)

B. Not later than thirty days after recording the notice of sale, the trustee or beneficiary shall mail by certified or registered mail, with postage prepaid, a copy of the sale notice which reflects the recording date together with any notice required to be given by subsection C of this section, addressed as follows:

1. To each person whose name and address are set forth in a request for notice, which has been recorded prior to the recording of the notice of sale, directed to the address designated in such request.

2. To each person who, at the time of recording of the notice of sale, appears on the records of the county recorder in the county in which any part of the trust property is situated to have an interest in any of the trust property. The copy of the notice sent pursuant to this paragraph shall be addressed to the person whose interest appears of record at the address set forth in the document. If no address for the person is set forth in the document, the copy of the notice may be addressed in care of the person to whom the recorded document evidencing such interest was directed to be mailed at the time of its recording or to any other address of the person known or ascertained by the trustee. If the interest which appears on the records of the county recorder is a deed of trust, a copy of the notice only needs to be mailed to the beneficiary under the deed of trust. If any person having an interest of record or the trustor, or any person who has recorded a request for notice, desires to change the address to which notice shall be mailed, the change shall be accomplished by a request as provided under this section.

C. The trustee or beneficiary, within five business days after the recordation of a notice of sale, shall mail by certified or registered mail, with postage prepaid, a copy of any notice of sale to each of the persons who were parties to the trust deed except the trustee. The copy of the notice mailed to the parties need not show the recording date of the notice. The notice sent pursuant to this subsection shall be addressed to the mailing address specified in the trust deed. In addition, notice to each party shall contain a statement that a breach or nonperformance of the trust deed or the contract or contracts secured by the trust deed, or both, has occurred, and setting forth the nature of such breach or nonperformance and of the beneficiary's election to sell or cause to be sold the trust property under the trust deed and the additional notice shall be signed by the beneficiary or the beneficiary's agent. A copy of the additional notice shall also be sent with the notice provided for in subsection B, paragraph 2 of this section to all persons whose interest in the trust property is subordinate in priority to that of the deed of trust along with a written statement that the interest may be subject to being terminated by the trustee's sale. The written statement may be contained in the statement of breach or nonperformance.

D. No request for a copy of a notice recorded pursuant to this section, nor any statement or allegation in any request, nor any record of request, shall affect the title to the trust property or be deemed notice to any person that a person requesting a copy of notice of sale has or claims any interest in, or claim upon the trust property.

E. At any time that the trust deed is subject to reinstatement pursuant to section 33-813, but not sooner than thirty days after recordation of the notice of trustee's sale, the trustee shall upon receipt of a written request, provide, if actually known to the trustee, the following information relating to the trustee's sale and the trust property:

1. The unpaid principal balance of the note or other obligation which is secured by the deed of trust.

2. The name and address of record of the owner of the trust property as of the date of recordation of the notice of trustee's sale.

3. A list of the liens and encumbrances upon the trust property as of the date of recordation of the notice of trustee's sale, excluding those matters set forth in section 33-438, subsection A.

If the trustee elects to charge a fee for providing the information requested, the fee shall not exceed one-twentieth of the amount the trustee may charge pursuant to section 33-813, subsection B, paragraph 4, except that the trustee shall not be required to accept a fee less than twenty dollars but may accept a lesser fee at the trustee's discretion. The trustee, or any other person furnishing information pursuant to this subsection to the trustee, shall not be subject to liability for any error or omission in providing the information requested, except for the willful and intentional failure to provide information in the trustee's actual possession.

F. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. and continuing until 5:00 p.m. on the last business day preceding the day of sale and beginning at 9:00 a.m. and continuing until the time of sale on the day of the sale, the trustee shall provide to any person who requests it the actual bid or credit bid the beneficiary is entitled to make at the sale. If the trustee is unable to provide the credit bid during the prescribed time period, the trustee shall postpone the sale until the trustee is able to comply with this subsection.

G. In providing information pursuant to subsections E and F of this section, the trustee may, without obligation or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information, respond to oral requests, respond orally or in writing or provide additional information not required by such subsections. With respect to property which is the subject of a trustee's sale, the beneficiary of such deed of trust or the holder of any prior lien may, but shall not be required to, provide information concerning such deed of trust or any prior lien which is not required by subsection E or F of this section and may charge a reasonable fee for providing the information. The providing of such information by any beneficiary or holder of a prior lien shall be without obligation or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information. 

33-810. Sale by public auction; postponement of sale

A. On the date and at the time and place designated in the notice of sale, the trustee shall offer to sell the trust property at public auction for cash to the highest bidder. The attorney or agent for the trustee may conduct the sale and act at such sale as the auctioneer for the trustee. Any person, including the trustee or beneficiary, may bid at the sale. Only the beneficiary may make a credit bid in lieu of cash at sale. The trustee shall require every bidder except the beneficiary to provide a one thousand dollar deposit in cash or in any other form that is satisfactory to the trustee as a condition of entering a bid. The trustee shall not refuse cash as a form of payment of the bidder's deposit. Every bid shall be deemed an irrevocable offer until the sale is completed, except that a subsequent bid by the same bidder for a higher amount shall cancel that bidder's lower bid. To determine the highest price bid, the trustor or beneficiary present at the sale may recommend the manner in which the known lots, parcels or divisions of the trust property be sold. The trustee shall conditionally sell the trust property under each recommendation, and, in addition, shall conditionally sell the trust property as a whole. The trustee shall determine which conditional sale or sales result in the highest total price bid for all of the trust property. The trustee shall return deposits to all but the bidder or bidders whose bid or bids result in the highest bid price. The sale shall be completed on payment by the purchaser of the price bid in a form satisfactory to the trustee. The subsequent execution, delivery and recordation of the trustee's deed as prescribed by section 33-811 are ministerial acts. If the trustee's deed is recorded in the county in which the trust property is located within fifteen business days after the date of the sale, the trustee's sale is deemed perfected at the appointed date and time of the trustee's sale.

B. The person conducting the sale may, for any cause deemed in the interest of the beneficiary or trustor, or both, postpone or continue the sale from time to time or change the place of the sale to any other location authorized pursuant to this chapter by giving notice of the new date, time and place by public declaration at the time and place last appointed for the sale. Any new sale date shall be a fixed date within ninety calendar days of the date of the declaration. No other notice of the postponed, continued or relocated sale is required except as provided in subsection C of this section.

C. A sale shall not be complete if the sale as held is contrary to or in violation of any federal statute in effect because of an unknown or undisclosed bankruptcy. A sale so held shall be deemed to be continued to a date, time and place announced by the trustee at the sale and shall comply with subsection B of this section or, if not announced, shall be continued to the same place and at the same time twenty-eight days later, unless the twenty-eighth day falls on a Saturday or legal holiday, in which event it shall be continued to the first business day thereafter. In the event a sale is continued because of an unknown or undisclosed bankruptcy, the trustee shall notify by registered or certified mail, with postage prepaid, all bidders who provide their names, addresses and telephone numbers in writing to the party conducting the sale of the continuation of the sale.

33-811. Payment of bid; trustee's deed

A. The highest bidder at the sale, other than the beneficiary to the extent of the credit bid, shall pay the price bid by no later than 5:00 p.m. of the following day, other than a Saturday or legal holiday. If the highest bidder fails to pay the amount bid for the property struck off to the bidder at the sale, the trustee, in the trustee's sole discretion, shall either continue the sale to reopen bidding or immediately offer the trust property to the second highest bidder who may purchase the trust property at that bidder's bid price. The deposit of the highest bidder who fails to pay the amount bid shall be forfeited and shall be treated as additional sale proceeds to be applied in accordance with section 33-812, subsection A. If the second highest bidder does not pay that bidder's bid price by 5:00 p.m. of the next day excluding Saturdays and legal holidays after the property has been offered to that bidder by the trustee, the trustee shall either continue the sale to reopen bidding or offer the trust property to each of the prior bidders on successive days excluding Saturdays and legal holidays in order of their highest bid, until a bid price is paid, or if there is no other bidder, the sale shall be deemed to be continued to a time and place designated by the trustee, or if not designated, the sale shall be continued to the same place and at the same time twenty-eight days after the last scheduled sale date. If the twenty-eighth day is a Saturday or legal holiday, the sale shall be continued to the next business day. If the sale is continued, the trustee shall provide notice of the continuation of the sale by registered or certified mail, with postage prepaid, to all bidders who provide their names, addresses and telephone numbers in writing to the party conducting the sale. In addition to the forfeit of deposit, a highest bidder who fails to pay the amount bid by that bidder is liable to any person who suffers loss or expenses as a result, including attorney fees. In any subsequent sale of trust property, the trustee may reject any bid of that person. In any sale that is continued pursuant to this subsection, the trustee shall reject the bid from any previous bidder who elected not to pay that bidder's bid price. 

B. The price bid shall be paid at the office of the trustee or the trustee's agent, or any other reasonable place designated by the trustee. The payment of the bid price may be made at a later time if agreed upon in writing by the trustee. The trustee shall execute and deliver the trustee's deed to the purchaser within seven business days after receipt of payment by the trustee or the trustee's agent made in a form that is satisfactory to the trustee. The trustee's deed shall raise the presumption of compliance with the requirements of the deed of trust and this chapter relating to the exercise of the power of sale and the sale of the trust property, including recording, mailing, publishing and posting of notice of sale and the conduct of the sale. A trustee's deed shall constitute conclusive evidence of the meeting of those requirements in favor of purchasers or encumbrancers for value and without actual notice. Knowledge of the trustee shall not be imputed to the beneficiary.

C. The trustee's deed shall operate to convey to the purchaser the title, interest and claim of the trustee, the trustor, the beneficiary, their respective successors in interest and all persons claiming the trust property sold by or through them, including all interest or claim in the trust property acquired subsequent to the recording of the deed of trust and prior to delivery of the trustee's deed. That conveyance shall be absolute without right of redemption and clear of all liens, claims or interests that have a priority subordinate to the deed of trust and shall be subject to all liens, claims or interests that have a priority senior to the deed of trust.

33-812. Disposition of proceeds of sale

A. The trustee shall apply the proceeds of the trustee's sale in the following order of priority:

1. To the costs and expenses of exercising the power of sale and the sale, including the payment of the trustee's fees and reasonable attorney's fees actually incurred.

2. To the payment of the contract or contracts secured by the trust deed.

3. To the payment of all other obligations provided in or secured by the trust deed.

4. To the junior lienholders or encumbrancers in order of their priority as they existed at the time of the sale. After payment in full to all junior lienholders and encumbrancers payment shall be made to the trustor.

B. The trustee may, in his discretion, instead of any one or more of the applications specified in subsection A of this section, elect to deposit the balance of such proceeds with the county treasurer in the county in which the sale took place pending an order of the superior court of the county. Upon deposit of the balance of such monies and after giving notice of the deposit as prescribed by subsection C of this section, the trustee shall be discharged from all responsibility for acts performed in good faith according to the provisions of this chapter.

C. If the trustee elects to deposit the balance of the sale proceeds as prescribed by subsection B of this section, the trustee shall mail by certified or registered mail, with postage prepaid, written notice of the deposit to all parties other than the beneficiary who are entitled to notice pursuant to section 33-809 and any other party with an interest of record in the property at the time of the sale. The notice shall include a list of the liens and encumbrances on the trust property that are known to the trustee and a list of the parties and the addresses to which the notice was mailed. The trustee may withhold from the proceeds of the sale the costs of depositing the proceeds and mailing the notices and a reasonable fee.

D. Any party who has an interest in the proceeds that are deposited pursuant to subsection B of this section may apply for the release of the proceeds by filing a civil action in the superior court in the county in which the proceeds are deposited. The action shall name the applicable county treasurer as the defendant. An applicant shall mail copies of the application to all parties who were mailed a notice of deposit. Any party who claims a right to the proceeds shall file a response to the application within twenty days of the mailing of the application and shall mail copies of the response to all parties. The applicant may file and mail a reply to the response within ten calendar days of the mailing of the response. After the expiration of the time for filing a reply, the court may hold a hearing and shall issue an order directing the county treasurer to release the proceeds to the person who is entitled to receive them.

E. The trustee shall dispose of the proceeds of the sale pursuant to this section within ninety days after completion of the sale. 

33-813. Default in performance of contract secured; reinstatement; cancellation of recorded notice of sale

A. If, prior to the maturity date fixed by the contract or contracts, all or a portion of a principal sum or interest of the contract or contracts secured by a trust deed becomes due or is declared due by reason of a breach or default in the performance of the contract or contracts or of the trust deed, the trustor or the trustor's successor in interest, any person having a subordinate lien or encumbrance of record thereon or any beneficiary under a subordinate trust deed may, before 5:00 p.m. on the last day other than a Saturday or legal holiday before the date of sale or the filing of an action to foreclose the trust deed, reinstate by paying to the beneficiary, the trustee or the trustee's agent in a form acceptable to the beneficiary or the trustee the entire amount then due under the terms of the contract or contracts or trust deed, other than the portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred, by curing all other defaults and by paying the amounts due under subsection B of this section.

B. The beneficiary shall notify the trustee in writing of the performance and the name of the person who performed the conditions. The proceedings shall be cancelled and the contract or contracts and trust deed shall be deemed reinstated and in force as if no breach or default had occurred upon performance of those of the following which may be applicable:

1. Payment of the entire amount then due.

2. Payment of costs and expenses incurred in enforcing the terms of such contract or trust deed.

3. Payment of the recording fee for a cancellation of notice of sale.

4. Payment of the trustee's fees, in an amount not to exceed six hundred dollars or one-half of one per cent of the entire unpaid principal sum secured, whichever is greater.

5. Payment of expenses and reasonable attorney fees that are not otherwise provided for in this section and that are incurred in protecting and preserving the beneficiary's interest in the trust property.

C. Upon request, the trustee shall provide to the trustor, or any person entitled to notice pursuant to section 33-809, subsection B, at any time that the trust deed is subject to reinstatement, a good faith estimate of the sums which appear necessary to reinstate the trust deed, separately specifying costs, fees, accrued interest, unpaid principal balance and any other amounts which are required to be paid as a condition to reinstatement of the trust deed.

D. If the trust deed is reinstated as provided in subsection B of this section, the trustee shall have a cancellation of the notice of sale recorded in the same county recorder's office where the notice of sale was recorded. A trustee who, for thirty days after reinstatement, fails to have proper notice of the cancellation of the notice of sale recorded is liable to the person who performed the conditions resulting in reinstatement for all actual damages resulting from such failure.

E. If the trust deed is paid in full or if the sale is not held or is not properly postponed pursuant to this chapter, the trustee shall record a cancellation of the notice of sale. The cancellation of the notice of sale shall be recorded in the office of the county recorder in which the notice of sale was recorded.

F. An acknowledged recorded cancellation of a recorded notice of sale under a trust deed shall be sufficient if it is in substantially the following form:

Cancellation of Notice of Sale

The undersigned hereby cancels the notice of sale recorded _______________, ____, on trust property legally described as:

(legal description of trust property)

which notice of sale refers to a trust deed executed by ________________ as trustor, in which ____________ is named as beneficiary and ____________ as trustee, and recorded ___________, ____, in docket or book ________, at page __________, records of ______________ county, Arizona.

Dated this _____________ day of __________, ____.
_____________________________

Signature of trustee

(Acknowledgement)

33-814. Action to recover balance after sale or foreclosure on property under trust deed

A. Except as provided in subsections F and G of this section, within ninety days after the date of sale of trust property under a trust deed pursuant to section 33-807, an action may be maintained to recover a deficiency judgment against any person directly, indirectly or contingently liable on the contract for which the trust deed was given as security including any guarantor of or surety for the contract and any partner of a trustor or other obligor which is a partnership. In any such action against such a person, the deficiency judgment shall be for an amount equal to the sum of the total amount owed the beneficiary as of the date of the sale, as determined by the court less the fair market value of the trust property on the date of the sale as determined by the court or the sale price at the trustee's sale, whichever is higher. A written application for determination of the fair market value of the real property may be filed by a judgment debtor with the court in the action for a deficiency judgment or in any other action on the contract which has been maintained. Notice of the filing of an application and the hearing shall be given to all parties to the action. The fair market value shall be determined by the court at a priority hearing upon such evidence as the court may allow. The court shall issue an order crediting the amount due on the judgment with the greater of the sales price or the fair market value of the real property. "Fair market value" shall mean the most probable price, as of the date of the execution sale, in cash, or in terms equivalent to cash, or in other precisely revealed terms, after deduction of prior liens and encumbrances with interest to the date of sale, for which the real property or interest therein would sell after reasonable exposure in the market under conditions requisite to fair sale, with the buyer and seller each acting prudently, knowledgeably and for self-interest, and assuming that neither is under duress. Any deficiency judgment recovered shall include interest on the amount of the deficiency from the date of the sale at the rate provided in the deed of trust or in any of the contracts evidencing the debt, together with any costs and disbursements of the action.

B. If a trustee's sale is a sale of less than all of the trust property or is a sale pursuant to one of two or more trust deeds securing the same obligation, the ninety day time limitations of subsection A of this section shall begin on either the date of the trustee's sale of the last of the trust property to be sold or the date of sale under the last trust deed securing the obligation, whichever occurs last.

C. The obligation of a person who is not a trustor to pay, satisfy or purchase all or a part of the balance due on a contract secured by a trust deed may be enforced, if the person has so agreed, in an action regardless of whether a trustee's sale is held. If, however, a trustee's sale is held, the liability of a person who is not a trustor for the deficiency is determined pursuant to subsection A of this section and any judgment for the deficiency against the person shall be reduced in accordance with subsection A of this section. If any such action is commenced after a trustee's sale has been held, it is subject, in addition, to the ninety day time limitations of subsections A and B of this section.

D. If no action is maintained for a deficiency judgment within the time period prescribed in subsections A and B of this section, the proceeds of the sale, regardless of amount, shall be deemed to be in full satisfaction of the obligation and no right to recover a deficiency in any action shall exist.

E. Except as provided in subsection F of this section, the provisions of this chapter do not preclude a beneficiary from foreclosing a deed of trust in the same manner as a real property mortgage. In an action for the foreclosure of a deed of trust as a real property mortgage the provisions of chapter 6, article 2 of this title are applicable.

F. A deed of trust may, by express language, validly prohibit the recovery of any balance due after trust property is sold pursuant to the trustee's power of sale, or the trust deed is foreclosed in the manner provided by law for the foreclosure of mortgages on real property.

G. If trust property of two and one-half acres or less which is limited to and utilized for either a single one-family or a single two-family dwelling is sold pursuant to the trustee's power of sale, no action may be maintained to recover any difference between the amount obtained by sale and the amount of the indebtedness and any interest, costs and expenses.  

last updated 5/1/2001