Florida Deficiency Foreclosure Claims: Now, One Year Statute of Limitations Deadline on Banks to Pursue the Deficiency
Posted By Larry Tolchinsky on June 18, 2013
In Florida, when the mortgage balance is more than the sales price on the home in foreclosure, there is a “deficiency” amount left when the sales proceeds are deducted from the home loan balance due.
That “deficiency” can be the basis for further litigation by the lender against the borrower, and for many years the home owner who had already lost their property to foreclosure had to deal with the real possibility that the bank wasn’t done with him or her.
In fact, many Florida families were shocked to find that years later, after dealing with the financial crisis of foreclosure as well as the emotional burdens that foreclosure places on every family member, the story wasn’t finished. Lenders had up to FIVE years to try and get that deficiency balance — and a Florida borrower might well have years literally pass before the deficiency claim was demanded by the bank.
We’ve posted on what deficiency claims can do to Florida home owners, for further information see:
- Deficiency Judgments and Past Due Condo Association Payments
- Florida Strategic Defaults: Attitudes Are Changing and Strategic Defaults on Underwater Mortgages May be On the Rise in Florida – Why You Need a Lawyer in a Strategic Default
- Florida Deficiency Judgment Overturned by Florida Court: Bank Loses Deficiency Because it Fails to Provide Valid Evidence of Fair Market Value
Florida Deficiency Statute Changed in HB 87: The Five Year Window Is Gone
When Florida Governor Rick Scott signed the Florida Foreclosure Reform bill into law, many were (and are) of the opinion that the law is unconstitutional and that the courts will find it to be in violation of state and federal constitutional protections against ex post facto (retroactive application) laws.
Today and for the foreseeable future, however, this is a new, valid, recognized statute on the Florida books. Which means that banks must abide by it, just like home owners.
Under the new law, deficiency claims are addressed as follows:
95.11 Limitations other than for the recovery of real property.—Actions other than for recovery of real property shall be commenced as follows:
(2) WITHIN FIVE YEARS.—
(b) A legal or equitable action on a contract, obligation, or liability founded on a written instrument, except for an action to enforce a claim against a payment bond, which shall be governed by the applicable provisions of paragraph (5)(e), s. 255.05(10), s. 337.18(1), or s. 713.23(1)(e), and except for an action for a deficiency judgment governed by paragraph (5)(h).
(5) WITHIN ONE YEAR.—
(h) An action to enforce a claim of a deficiency related to a note secured by a mortgage against a residential property that is a one-family to four-familydwelling unit. The limitations period shall commence on the day after the certificate is issued by the clerk of court or the day after the mortgagee accepts a deed in lieu of foreclosure.
Section 2. The amendments made by this act to s. 95.11, Florida Statutes, apply to any action commenced on or after July 1, 2013, regardless of when the cause of action accrued. However, any action that would not have been barred under s. 95.11(2)(b), Florida Statutes 2012, before the effective date of this act must be commenced within 5 years after the action accrued or by July 1, 2014, whichever occurs first.
One Year Statute of Limitations on Deficiency Judgments in Florida
What this means is that banks and mortgage lenders in Florida now have much less time to go after borrowers for any amount left due and owing on the home loan if the sale of the foreclosure property does not cover the balance due on the home loan.
Larry Tolchinsky’s Tip:
The new Foreclosure Reform law (HB 87) changes the Florida Statutes so now the Florida statute of limitations period for a mortgage lender to enforce a deficiency judgment that the bank has obtained as part of the foreclosure lawsuit is down from 5 years to 1 year. However, this only applies to certain foreclosures:
- the limitations deadline of 12 months applies to Florida foreclosure judgments involving real estate defined as 1-family to 4-family dwelling units; and
- it only applies to any deficiency actions from July 1, 2013 forward — doesn’t matter when the foreclosure claim began.
This is good news for Florida home owners. However, even better news for a Florida home owner would be to negotiate away that deficiency with the lender, as part of a loan modification, short sale, or foreclosure defense strategy.
Do you have questions or comments? Then please feel free to Chat with Larry in the comments below, at info@hallandalelaw.com, or (954) 458-8655. If you have a specific or personal situation, please call or email Larry because he can’t answer specific fact questions in general comments.
“I’m happy to take your call.”




