It shall be
requisite to a trustee's sale:
(1) That the deed of trust contains a power of sale;
(2) That the deed of trust contains a statement that the
real property conveyed is not used principally for agricultural
purposes; provided, if the statement is false on the date the
deed of trust was granted or amended to include that statement,
and false on the date of the trustee's sale, then the deed of
trust must be foreclosed judicially. Real property is used for
agricultural purposes if it is used in an operation that produces
crops, livestock, or aquatic goods;
(3) That a default has occurred in the obligation secured or
a covenant of the grantor, which by the terms of the deed of
trust makes operative the power to sell;
(4) That no action commenced by the beneficiary of the deed
of trust is now pending to seek satisfaction of an obligation
secured by the deed of trust in any court by reason of the
grantor's default on the obligation secured: PROVIDED, That (a)
the seeking of the appointment of a receiver shall not constitute
an action for purposes of this chapter; and (b) if a receiver is
appointed, the grantor shall be entitled to any rents or profits
derived from property subject to a homestead as defined in RCW 6.13.010. If the deed of trust was granted to secure a
commercial loan, this subsection shall not apply to actions
brought to enforce any other lien or security interest granted to
secure the obligation secured by the deed of trust being
foreclosed;
(5) That the deed of trust has been recorded in each county
in which the land or some part thereof is situated;
(6) That prior to the date of the notice of trustee's sale
and continuing thereafter through the date of the trustee's sale,
the trustee must maintain a street address in this state where
personal service of process may be made, and the trustee must
maintain a physical presence and have telephone service at such
address;
(7)(a) That, for residential real property, before the
notice of trustee's sale is recorded, transmitted, or served, the
trustee shall have proof that the beneficiary is the owner of any
promissory note or other obligation secured by the deed of trust.
A declaration by the beneficiary made under the penalty of
perjury stating that the beneficiary is the actual holder of the
promissory note or other obligation secured by the deed of trust
shall be sufficient proof as required under this subsection.
(b) Unless the trustee has violated his or her duty under
RCW 61.24.010(4), the trustee is entitled to rely on the
beneficiary's declaration as evidence of proof required under
this subsection.
(c) This subsection (7) does not apply to association
beneficiaries subject to chapter 64.32, 64.34, or 64.38 RCW; and
(8) That at least thirty days before notice of sale shall be
recorded, transmitted or served, written notice of default shall
be transmitted by the beneficiary or trustee to the borrower and
grantor at their last known addresses by both first-class and
either registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
and the beneficiary or trustee shall cause to be posted in a
conspicuous place on the premises, a copy of the notice, or
personally served on the borrower and grantor. This notice shall
contain the following information:
(a) A description of the property which is then subject to
the deed of trust;
(b) A statement identifying each county in which the deed of
trust is recorded and the document number given to the deed of
trust upon recording by each county auditor or recording officer;
(c) A statement that the beneficiary has declared the
borrower or grantor to be in default, and a concise statement of
the default alleged;
(d) An itemized account of the amount or amounts in arrears
if the default alleged is failure to make payments;
(e) An itemized account of all other specific charges,
costs, or fees that the borrower, grantor, or any guarantor is or
may be obliged to pay to reinstate the deed of trust before the
recording of the notice of sale;
(f) A statement showing the total of (d) and (e) of this
subsection, designated clearly and conspicuously as the amount
necessary to reinstate the note and deed of trust before the
recording of the notice of sale;
(g) A statement that failure to cure the alleged default
within thirty days of the date of mailing of the notice, or if
personally served, within thirty days of the date of personal
service thereof, may lead to recordation, transmittal, and
publication of a notice of sale, and that the property described
in (a) of this subsection may be sold at public auction at a date
no less than one hundred twenty days in the future;
(h) A statement that the effect of the recordation,
transmittal, and publication of a notice of sale will be to (i)
increase the costs and fees and (ii) publicize the default and
advertise the grantor's property for sale;
(i) A statement that the effect of the sale of the grantor's
property by the trustee will be to deprive the grantor of all
their interest in the property described in (a) of this
subsection;
(j) A statement that the borrower, grantor, and any
guarantor has recourse to the courts pursuant to RCW 61.24.130 to
contest the alleged default on any proper ground;
(k) In the event the property secured by the deed of trust
is owner-occupied residential real property, a statement,
prominently set out at the beginning of the notice, which shall
state as follows:
"You should take care to protect your interest in your home.
This notice of default (your failure to pay) is the first step in
a process that could result in you losing your home. You should
carefully review your options. For example:
Can you pay and stop the foreclosure process?
Do you dispute the failure to pay?
Can you sell your property to preserve your equity?
Are you able to refinance this loan or obligation with a new
loan or obligation from another lender with payments, terms, and
fees that are more affordable?
Do you qualify for any government or private homeowner
assistance programs?
Do you know if filing for bankruptcy is an option? What are
the pros and cons of doing so?
Do not ignore this notice; because if you do nothing, you
could lose your home at a foreclosure sale. (No foreclosure sale
can be held any sooner than ninety days after a notice of sale is
issued and a notice of sale cannot be issued until thirty days
after this notice.) Also, if you do nothing to pay what you owe,
be careful of people who claim they can help you. There are many
individuals and businesses that watch for the notices of sale in
order to unfairly profit as a result of borrowers' distress.
You may feel you need help understanding what to do. There
are a number of professional resources available, including home
loan counselors and attorneys, who may assist you. Many legal
services are lower-cost or even free, depending on your ability
to pay. If you desire legal help in understanding your options
or handling this default, you may obtain a referral (at no
charge) by contacting the county bar association in the county
where your home is located. These legal referral services also
provide information about lower-cost or free legal services for
those who qualify. You may contact the Department of Financial
Institutions or the statewide civil legal aid hotline for
possible assistance or referrals; and
(l) In the event the property secured by the deed of trust
is residential real property, the name and address of the owner
of any promissory notes or other obligations secured by the deed
of trust and the name, address, and telephone number of a party
acting as a servicer of the obligations secured by the deed of
trust."
[2009 c 292 § 8. Prior: 2008 c 153 § 2; 2008 c 108 § 22; 1998 c 295 § 4; 1990 c 111 § 1; 1987 c 352 § 2; 1985 c 193 § 3; 1975 1st ex.s. c 129 § 3; 1965 c 74 § 3.]
NOTES:
Findings -- 2008 c 108: See RCW 19.144.005.
Application -- 1985 c 193: See note following RCW 61.24.020.