AvvoGoogle Business

Trustee's Sale Articles & Resources

Information about Arizona Foreclosures, including Trustee's Sale

Trustee’s Sale Articles & LinksSite Producer2025-08-07T10:14:10-07:00

What is a foreclosure?

When a borrower doesn’t perform their financial obligations, a lender may legally seize and sell a home or other property. This method is called foreclosure. There are various types of foreclosures in Arizona.

  1. The trustee’s sale procedure is the most used in Arizona. When the lender decides to foreclose on the borrower’s property, there are laws governing the process. Normally the trustee’s sale, in comparison to other processes, is cheaper and quicker (at least 90 days). In this method, there is no court involvement.
  2. The second process is a judicial foreclosure. This is a court procedure. Therefore, it is more expensive and takes longer. The advantage for the lender is that a deficiency action could be brought against the borrower or guarantor. The homeowners’ association (“HOA”), or those who purchased back taxes may also use this court process.
    • The sheriff’s sale comes after the judicial foreclosure. As was already mentioned, the process begins in court. The task of selling the property is then given to the sheriff. Lenders, HOAs, and investors in back taxes normally use this.

The following will explain a few of the fundamentals of Trustee’s Sale.

If you fall behind on your mortgage payments in Arizona, the trustee’s sale is one of the things your lender can do.  A judicial foreclosure is the second option. The trustee’s sale is often chosen because it lets the lender move faster and costs less than the judicial foreclosure.

Quick Links to Articles & Resources

Learn more about the Trustee’s Sale process by clicking on the following link.

Visit “Trustee’s Sale Process”

Our frequently asked questions includes many questions about: foreclosure rescue scams, the trustee’s sale process, if you have a VA loan, living in the property and excess sale proceeds.

Visit Trustee Sale FAQs

Deficiency-Flow-Chart-8-7-25 re trustee sales and foreclosure.

(As of May 28, 2018 this became permanent Federal law. Also see links at bottom to Arizona Landlord Tenant Act)

by Attorney Janet Portman Protecting Tenants in Foreclosure Act – Federal legislation signed in May 2009 gives important rights to tenants whose landlords have lost their properties through foreclosure. The mortgage industry crisis that started in 2006 has resulted in thousands — no, make that millions — of foreclosed homes. Most of the occupants are the homeowners themselves, who must scramble to find alternate housing with very little notice. They’re being joined by scores of renters who discover, often with no warning, that their rented house or apartment is now owned by a bank, which wants them out.

Read More by visiting

Tenants and Trustee Sales (foreclosures)

Visit Arizona Trustee’s Sales and Bankruptcy by Diane Drain

Property which is pledged as collateral on a debt will sometimes be surrendered to the creditor if the debtor is unable to make payments.

The rise in incidents of foreclosure of homeowner mortgages across the nation is but one aspect of this. Repossessions of cars and mobile homes are also common occurrences in the current economic environment. This article explores the income tax consequences to the borrower which may ensue from surrendering property to satisfy a debt. In general there are two tax aspects to consider: (1) recognition of gain or loss on the transaction and (2) recognition of cancellation of indebtedness (COD) income.

Read More about this by visiting the link below

Tax Issues in short sales, trustee and sales and foreclosures, by Robert Ciancola

Visit Investing in Post-Trustee Sale Properties

Visit “Sue on the Note or Foreclose on the Property – what is the difference?” by Stephanie Monroe Wilson. An Arizona attorney

Visit “Buying Tax Liens: Not an Entirely Gold Plated Investment“, by Chris McNichol, an Arizona Attorney

“Tax Lien Sales Winner for County (but not investors)“, by Mike Fimea, Arizona Business Gazette, February 19, 2004, volume 124

When deciding whether to fight to keep your home or let the lender foreclose, it’s important to know what the lender’s processes are.

How long before my house has equity?

Find out by using the calculator below. This tool will allow you to calculate when you will have equity in your home.

The principal and interest make up the majority of your mortgage payment. The main is the amount borrowed, while the interest is the fee paid to the lender. Your lender may additionally collect an additional sum each month to place in escrow, which the lender (or servicer) normally pays directly to the local property tax collector and your insurance provider.

Clients from all across Arizona have put their trust in us

They provided a balance of head and heart combined with expertise

"They provided a balance of head and heart combined with expertise!" R.F. She and her team are responsive, knowledgeable, efficient, trustworthy, good communicators, detail-oriented, well-connected, caring and compassionate. They provided a balance of head and heart combined with expertise and appropriate action to get it done. Being a well-established [...]

I felt completely at ease

" I felt completely at ease." D.A. I was greatly relieved to find an attorney that I felt completely at ease with, confident in her professionalism and her staff; and to find someone I felt I could trust completely.

Again, thank you

"Again, thank you." D & J Again, thank you. You made this unpleasant experience very calming and reassuring for both me and my wife.

Diane and Jay are extremely attentive and thorough

“Diane and Jay are extremely attentive and thorough.”  W.R. I want to thank you so much for assisting us in getting this squared away. Diane and Jay are extremely attentive and thorough in getting things taken care of. Merry Christmas  W.R. […]

I do appreciate your kindness

"I do appreciate your kindness ." D. I do appreciate your kindness in helping us through this tedious process.

The absolute best Bankruptcy Attorney

"The absolute best Bankruptcy Attorney" W.Z. Diane and Jay were wonderful. I really appreciated their genuine compassion. I hired the absolute best for a fair price. Diane has an absolute mastery of the law and she explains everything in a easy to understand style. She will not [...]

An expert who gets the job done!

"An expert who gets the job done!" B.R. An expert who gets the job done! We hired Diane Drain to handle a complicated eviction / Lift of Stay on a tenant who filed bankruptcy. Not only did she answer my multitude of questions in a timely manner, [...]

Our situation was complicated by having moved here recently from another state, but that posed no problem for them

“Our situation was complicated by having moved here recently from another state, but that posed no problem for them” R.B. Diane and Jay did a great job for us. Diane is a very knowledgeable, experienced, and well-connected bankruptcy lawyer. She instructed us well, was invaluable in getting [...]

her greatest goal is her clients best interests

“her greatest goal is her clients best interests” R.M. Diane called me today and kindly took 45 minutes of here very valuable time to determine the best course of action for my financial problems. Turns out bankruptcy and her chance for a legal fee were ruled out [...]

This has made a huge difference in my life

“This has made a huge difference in my life” D.S. I approached Diane with a large debt problem. Although I was working with a company to pay down the debt, one of the credit card companies decided to sue me. This would have destroyed all my pay-back [...]

We can’t say enough good things about Diane Drain

"Great Team - Diane & Jay. If ever there is a question she is there to answer it." K & C GREAT TEAM – DIANE AND JAY.  We can’t say enough good things about Diane Drain. My wife and I were at a point that we were devastated [...]

Thank you so much for all your hard work

"Thank you so much for all your hard work" M.C. Thank you so much for all your hard work on my case. I appreciate all your support and compassion through a very difficult process.

My wife and I would highly recommend Diane Drain

"My wife and I would highly recommend Diane Drain." R. My wife and I would highly recommend Diane Drain to any one who is considering bankruptcy. She handled our case professionally and in a very timely manner. Diane and her team made a long, frustrating process pretty painless. Thank [...]

They provide hope and ease throughout a very stressful situation

“They provide hope and ease throughout a very stressful situation” C.G. Diane and Jay provide hope and ease throughout a very stressful situation. Diane is thorough, knowledgeable, experienced and trustworthy. She takes her time with each step ensuring she understands the story. They are both available when [...]

ow I can finally breathe easy and deep again

"I can finally breathe easy and deep again." J. Thank you so so much for all your help and understanding. Especially in the beginning when I had so many questions and you were so very patient with me. I felt that you were very upfront about everything, letting [...]

I couldn’t have done it — wouldn’t have dreamed of even trying — without you and Jay. You’re the very best!

"I couldn't have done it -- wouldn't have dreamed of even trying -- without you and Jay. You're the very best!” D.C. For a review I decided to do something a little different, which is to adapt my last email letter because it illustrates my elation and good [...]

They are compassionate truth-tellers who educate and empower

They are compassionate truth-tellers who educate and empower. M.R. Diane and Jay are caring and competent professionals who have helped so many people through difficult legal processes. They are compassionate truth-tellers who educate and empower as much as they provide legal assistance. Highly recommend. [...]

Diane and Jay are very knowledgeable, and they guided me from beginning to end.

“Diane and Jay are very knowledgeable, and they guided me from beginning to end.” M.M. Diane and Jay are very knowledgeable, and they guided me from beginning to end. They were so organized, that each step was calculated. They are very nice, compassionate and professional. Thank you, [...]

Beyond the Bankruptcy Paperwork: It’s Not Just Filling Out Forms, and Understanding The Attorney’s Role

Many people, including inexperienced attorneys, think that bankruptcy is simple. To quote a first-year law student on their first day in bankruptcy class, "It is [...]

Go to Top