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was the recording of the Trustee’s Deed. That brings the court to the issues: first, did the debtor
have any interest in her residence after the foreclosure sale but before the Trustee’s Deed was
recorded? Second, if her interest was terminated, did she revive it by confirmation of a plan that
proposed to make maintenance payments and cure the arrearage on the Note?
1. The Debtor’s Interest in the Residence as of Filing, May 2, 2013
Judge Stair in In re Williams reviewed Tennessee law on this issue:
In In re Johnson, 213 B.R. 134 (Bankr. W.D. Tenn. 1997), modified after reh'g,
215 B.R. 988 (Bankr. W.D. Tenn.1997), the court analyzed the finality of a
foreclosure sale in Tennessee. The court explained that “[f]or the last 175 years,
Tennessee has consistently required the exchange of consideration and the
satisfaction of the statute of frauds before a foreclosure sale is deemed final.”
Under Tennessee law, “the fall of the auctioneer's hammer is not alone sufficient
to satisfy the statute of frauds requirement.” Id. Satisfaction of the statute of
frauds, as is necessary under Tenn. Code Ann. § 29–2–101 (Supp.1999), requires
a writing which evidences “ ‘an existing and binding contract.’ ” Id. at 136. When
the writing takes the form of a deed, the “deed must be executed before the statute
may be deemed satisfied.” Id.
In re Williams, 247 B.R. 449, 451 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 2000) (internal citations omitted).
The first requirement for a completed foreclosure sale is exchange of consideration. That
requirement has been met in this case. The Trustee’s Deed recites that “the highest and best
bidder” was FNMA and that it became the purchaser of the property for the sum of $63,270.00.
The Trustee’s Deed goes on to recite that
WHEREAS, the purchaser, being the holder of the indebtedness, has
complied with the terms of the sale by paying into the hands of the undersigned
Substitute Trustee the expenses of the sale, the balance being applied upon said
indebtedness for which property was sold.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and payment by
Federal National Mortgage Association of the sum of money so paid, receipt of
which payment is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned, Arnold M. Weiss, as
Substitute Trustee, does hereby grant, bargain, sell and convey to the said Federal
National Mortgage Association, it successors and assigns in fee simple forever,
the property above mentioned . . . .
Tr. Ex. G, Trustee’s Deed. The recitations reflect that the consideration was exchanged.
Case 4:13-bk-12148 Doc 79 Filed 03/10/14 Entered 03/10/14 10:40:07 Desc Main
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