California · ForeclosureCalifornia trustee's sale: a recorded notice of default, three months, then the notice of sale

Before a power of sale in a California mortgage or deed of trust can be exercised, the trustee, mortgagee or beneficiary must record a notice of default in each county where the property lies, identifying the deed of trust and stating the breach and the election to sell (Civil Code §2924(a)(1)). Not less than three months must pass from recording of the notice of default (§2924(a)(2)); after that, notice of sale is given stating the time and place, in the manner and for the time set in §2924f (§2924(a)(3)). The notice of sale may be recorded up to 5 days before the three months end, provided the sale date is no earlier than three months and 20 days after the notice of default was recorded (§2924(a)(4)). A monetary default may be reinstated at any time from recording of the notice of default until five business days before the sale date in the initial recorded notice of sale (§2924c(e)).