Facing the Facts: An Empirical Study of the Fairness and Efficiency of Foreclosures and a Proposal for Reform

Lenders view real estate foreclosures as too expensive and time consuming a process which needlessly increases the costs of making loans. Others complain that the foreclosure process fails to adequately protect the borrower\u27s equity (the value of the property in excess of the debt secured by the property) in the mortgaged property. This article tests these views by gathering new data on the fairness and efficiency of the foreclosure process. Based on the data collected (which confirms some assumptions but disproves others), the author proposes a reform of the foreclosure process to promote the interest of both lenders and borrowers. Under the proposal, the foreclosure process should take less time and cost less money, yet provide borrowers with a more meaningful opportunity to prevent the forfeiture of their equity in the mortgaged property. The author recommends that Congress consider the data from this study and enact this reform proposal in place of the current draft legislation-legislation which would unnecessarily sacrifice the interests of defaulting borrowers in order to achieve a faster and cheaper foreclosure process