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Massachusetts Foreclosure Laws

Summary:

Judicial Foreclosure	Yes
Non-Judicial Foreclosure	Yes
Security Instruments	Deed of Trust, Mortgage
Right of Redemption	Yes, in foreclosure by possession
Deficiency Judgments	No
Time Frame	Usually 90 days

Judicial foreclosure: In Massachusetts, in the absence of a power of sale clause in the loan document requires the lender to first obtain a court order to foreclose and then take possession of the property peaceably with the proper consent of the borrower. If the lender maintains possession for three years, the borrower’s right of redemption is exhausted at that point.

Non-judicial foreclosure requires that a power of sale authorizing the lender to sell the property to satisfy the loan balance exists in the loan document, and that a notice of sale be served upon the borrower via registered mail at least 30 days prior to the date of sale, and be published weekly in a newspaper of general circulation in the town where the property is located for three consecutive weeks beginning at least 21 days prior to the date of sale.

The sale is conducted as a public auction at the place and time designated. The borrower has no right of redemption in non-judicial foreclosure.

Attorney General's Office
One Ashburton Place, Room 2010
Boston, MA 02108
Ph: (617) 727-2200
Fax: (617) 727-5768

This information is to give a general idea of the foreclosure laws in each state. The information is not guaranteed to be correct. State laws can change or some errors may have been made. Please use this only as a guide.