Murrieta · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in Murrieta

Murrieta requires the beneficiary or trustee to register a property within 10 days of an inspection, before a notice of default is recorded, that finds it vacant or showing signs of vacancy. Foreclosure steps and auctions follow state law.

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Key points

Registration: Beneficiary or trustee registers within 10 days of the inspection, before a notice of default is recorded, that finds the property vacant.
Foreclosed property: Registration is also required when a property sold at foreclosure goes to the beneficiary, or transfers by deed in lieu.
Fee: The city council sets the registration fee for abandoned residential property by resolution.
Local manager: Corporate or out-of-area owners must contract a local property management company for monthly inspections and post its name and 24-hour phone number.
Securing: Registered property must be secured: windows, doors, gates and openings a child could enter closed and locked, and broken windows reglazed or boarded.
State timeline: State law: at least 3 months pass from the recorded notice of default to notice of sale, posted at least 20 days before sale.

Each rule below is marked Murrieta code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Registering vacant and foreclosed homes

Murrieta code What Murrieta's code adds
Local contact	Name the local property management company responsible for the security, maintenance and marketing of the property. Applies: Applies to a corporation, entity, or out-of-area beneficiary or trustee. § 8.44.050 · code text in the case of a corporation, entity, or out-of-area beneficiary/trustee, the local property management company responsible for the security, maintenance, and marketing of the property. Contract a local property management company. Monthly inspections are required. Applies: Applies when a corporation, entity, or out-of-area beneficiary, trustee or owner owns the property. § 8.44.070 · code text A local property management company shall be contracted to perform, at a minimum, monthly inspections to verify that the requirements of this section, and any other applicable laws, are being met. Post the local property management company's name and 24-hour contact phone number. Applies: Applies when a corporation, entity, or out-of-area beneficiary, trustee or owner owns the property. § 8.44.070 · code text The property shall be posted with the name and 24-hour contact phone number of the local property management company.
Upkeep duties	Secure the property: close and lock windows, doors, gates and openings a child could enter. Reglaze or board broken windows. Applies: Applies to property that must register (vacant after default or foreclosure). § 8.44.070 · code text The property shall be maintained in a secure manner so as not to be accessible to unauthorized persons.
Deadline to register	Register within ten days of the inspection. Applies: Applies to the beneficiary or trustee, when the inspection before a notice of default is recorded finds the property vacant or showing signs of vacancy. § 8.44.050 · code text the beneficiary/trustee shall, within ten (10) days of the inspection, register the property with the chief of police or his or her designee on forms provided by the city. Register within ten days of that inspection. Applies: Applies to the trustee of an occupied property in default, when a monthly inspection finds it vacant or showing signs of vacancy. § 8.44.050 · code text the trustee shall, within ten (10) days of that inspection, register the property with the chief of police or his or her designee on forms provided by the city.
Registration fee	Set by resolution of the city council. Applies: Applies to abandoned residential property. § 8.44.100 · code text The fee for registering an abandoned residential property shall be set by resolution of the city council.
Registration	Required. Applies: Applies to the beneficiary or trustee, when the inspection before a notice of default is recorded finds the property vacant or showing signs of vacancy. § 8.44.050 · code text If the property is found to be vacant or shows evidence of vacancy, it is, by this chapter, deemed abandoned and the beneficiary/trustee shall, within ten (10) days of the inspection, register the property Required. Applies: Applies to the trustee of an occupied property in default, when a monthly inspection finds it vacant or showing signs of vacancy. § 8.44.050 · code text at which time it is deemed abandoned and the trustee shall, within ten (10) days of that inspection, register the property with the chief of police or his or her designee Required. Applies: Applies to the beneficiary or trustee, when the property was sold at foreclosure with title going to the beneficiary, or transferred by deed in lieu. § 8.44.050 · code text This section shall also apply to properties that have been the subject of a foreclosure sale where the title was transferred to the beneficiary of a deed of trust involved in the foreclosure and any properties transferred under a deed in lieu of foreclosure or sale.

Foreclosure steps and deadlines

CA state law California law sets this statewide. Time between notice of default and sale: At least three months after the notice of default is recorded before notice of sale; the sale itself no earlier than three months and 20 days after the notice of default (Civ. Code § 2924(a)(2), (a)(4)). Notice of trustee's sale: Posted, published and recorded at least 20 days before the sale (Civ. Code § 2924f(b)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

Homeowner protections

CA state law California law sets this statewide. No foreclosure while a loan modification is pending: If a complete first-lien modification application is submitted at least five business days before a sale, the servicer may not record a notice of default or sale, or hold the sale, while it is pending (Civ. Code § 2923.6(c)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

The trustee's sale (auction)

CA state law California law sets this statewide. When and where sales are held: At public auction in the county where the property is, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on a business day (Civ. Code § 2924g(a)(1)). Tenant and owner-occupant priority after a sale (SB 1079): On 1–4 unit property, a trustee's sale is not final for 15 days; eligible tenant buyers and eligible bidders who give notice of intent may bid within 45 days (Civ. Code § 2924m(c)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

Tenants in a foreclosed home

CA state law California law sets this statewide. Tenants in a foreclosed property: A month-to-month tenant must get at least 90 days' written notice to quit; a tenant with a fixed-term lease signed before the sale may stay to the end of the lease (Code Civ. Proc. § 1161b(a), (b)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

Debt after the sale

CA state law California law sets this statewide. No deficiency after a trustee's sale: After a nonjudicial trustee's sale, the lender cannot collect any shortfall from the borrower (Code Civ. Proc. § 580d(a)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

Who this affects

Homeowners behind on a loanBuyers of bank-owned homesLenders and servicers

Frequently asked questions

Must a lender or owner register a vacant or foreclosed home in Murrieta?

Beneficiary or trustee registers within 10 days of the inspection, before a notice of default is recorded, that finds the property vacant. Registration is also required when a property sold at foreclosure goes to the beneficiary, or transfers by deed in lieu. The city council sets the registration fee for abandoned residential property by resolution. Corporate or out-of-area owners must contract a local property management company for monthly inspections and post its name and 24-hour phone number. Registered property must be secured: windows, doors, gates and openings a child could enter closed and locked, and broken windows reglazed or boarded.

General information, not legal advice.

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