- Legal EditorHenry Dahut, J.D.
Henry Dahut, J.D.
Attorney - Legal Publisher - Educator
Henry Dahut is a licensed California trial attorney. Over the course of his 30-plus years practicing law, Henry has represented and counseled countless clients in legal trouble.
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Foreclosure Laws Subject To Change
The Massachusetts foreclosure summary below provides information on your state’s most common foreclosure rules. However, you should also know that your state’s foreclosure laws and procedures are subject to legislative, judicial, and local rule changes.
The information below is intended to provide you with a starting point for understanding the intricacies and complexity of your state’s foreclosure law.
You will also need to consult with a local foreclosure defense lawyer to obtain a complete and current understanding of your state’s foreclosure laws and how they may apply to your specific legal and financial situation.
Quick Facts
– Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes
– Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes
– Primary Security Instruments: Deed of Trust, Mortgage
– Timeline: Typically 90 days
– Right of Redemption: No
– Deficiency Judgments Allowed: No
In Massachusetts, lenders may foreclose on deeds of trusts or mortgages in default using either an entry by possession or non-judicial foreclosure process.
Foreclosure by Possession
After the borrower defaults on the mortgage, the lender may recover possession of the property by 1) obtaining a court order, 2) entering the property peaceably, and 3) by proper consent of the buyer. If the lender maintains possession peaceably for three years from the date of possession, the borrower loses all redemption rights.
Non-Judicial Foreclosure
The non-judicial process of foreclosure is used when a power of sale clause exists in a mortgage or deed of trust. A “power of sale” clause is the clause in a deed of trust or mortgage, in which the borrower pre-authorizes the sale of the property to pay off the balance on the loan in the event of their default. In deeds of trust or mortgages where a power of sale exists, the power given to the lender to sell the property may be executed by the lender or their representative, typically referred to as the trustee. Regulations for this type of foreclosure process are outlined below in the “Power of Sale Foreclosure Guidelines.”
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 foreclosure may proceed as follows:
Notice Of Sale Mailed And Published
A notice of sale must be recorded in the county where the property is located. The notice must also: 1) be sent, by registered mail, to the borrower at his last known address at least fourteen (14) days prior to the foreclosure sale; 2) published once a week for three (3) weeks, with the first publication being at least twenty one (21) days before the sale, in a newspaper of general circulation within the county where the property is located.
Said notice must contain the place, time, and date of the foreclosure hearing, the date the mortgage was recorded, the borrower’s name, the amount of the default, and the sale terms.
Sale By Public Auction
The sale must be conducted at a public auction on the date, time, and place specified in the notice of sale. The property will be sold to the highest bidder.
