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<section article="grp" article_name="Real Property" number="7-105.14" title_number="7" title_name="Mortgages, Deeds of Trust, and Vendor's Liens" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Mortgages and Deeds of Trust">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Foreclosed Property Registry” means the Foreclosed Property Registry established by the Commissioner of Financial Regulation under subsection (b) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Foreclosure purchaser” means the person identified as the purchaser on the report of sale required by Maryland Rule 14–305 for a foreclosure sale of residential property.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Fund” means the Foreclosed Property Registry Fund established by the Commissioner of Financial Regulation under subsection (i) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>“Local jurisdiction” means:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A county; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A municipal corporation.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>“Residential property” means real property improved by four or fewer dwelling units that are designed principally and are intended for human habitation.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Commissioner of Financial Regulation shall establish and maintain an Internet–based Foreclosed Property Registry for information relating to foreclosure sales of residential property.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>At the time of a foreclosure sale of residential property, the person responsible for conducting the foreclosure shall obtain from the foreclosure purchaser a written acknowledgment of the requirements of this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Within 30 days after a foreclosure sale of residential property, a foreclosure purchaser shall submit an initial registration to the Foreclosed Property Registry.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The initial registration shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Be in the form the Commissioner of Financial Regulation requires; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Contain the following information:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The name, telephone number, and address of the foreclosure purchaser;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The street address of the property that is the subject of the foreclosure sale;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>The date of the foreclosure sale;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>Whether the property is a single–family or multifamily property;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>The name and address of the person, including a substitute purchaser, who is authorized to accept legal service for the foreclosure purchaser;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>To the best of the foreclosure purchaser’s knowledge at the time of registration:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>Whether the residential property is vacant; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>The name, telephone number, and street address of the person who is responsible for the maintenance of the property; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="7">
          <text>Whether the foreclosure purchaser has possession of the property.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Within 30 days after a deed transferring title to the residential property has been recorded, the foreclosure purchaser shall submit a final registration to the Foreclosed Property Registry.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The final registration shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Be in the form the Commissioner of Financial Regulation requires; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Contain the following information as of the date of final registration:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The name, telephone number, and address of the owner on the deed;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The date of the ratification of the sale; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>The date the deed was recorded.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>The Commissioner of Financial Regulation shall establish procedures that require a foreclosure purchaser, after submitting an initial registration, to submit to the Foreclosed Property Registry any change to the information required under paragraph (2)(ii)5 through 7 of this subsection within 21 business days after the change is known to the purchaser.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>On receipt through the Foreclosed Property Registry of an initial registration or any change submitted under paragraph (5) of this subsection, the Commissioner of Financial Regulation shall promptly notify, by electronic means, authorized users from the county and, if appropriate, the municipal corporation in which the property is located.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The filing fees for registering a residential property are:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>$50 for an initial registration filed within the time period required under subsection (d)(1) of this section; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>$100 for an initial registration filed after the time period required under subsection (d)(1) of this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>There is no fee for a final registration.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A filing fee paid under paragraph (1) of this subsection is nonrefundable.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A local jurisdiction may enact a local law that imposes a civil penalty for failure to register under this section in an amount not exceeding $1,000.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a local jurisdiction that, in accordance with any applicable building code or local ordinance, abates a nuisance on a residential property registered under this section or takes action to maintain a residential property registered under this section may collect the cost associated with the abatement or other action as a charge included on the residential property’s property tax bill.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The cost associated with an abatement or other action taken under paragraph (1) of this subsection may not be included as a charge on the residential property’s property tax bill unless the local jurisdiction provides advance written notice in accordance with subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph to:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The person identified in the registry who is authorized to accept legal service for the foreclosure purchaser; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The person identified in the registry who is responsible for the maintenance of the property.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The notice described in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Describe the intended abatement or other action the local jurisdiction intends to take; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Be provided:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>In accordance with the notice provisions of the applicable building code or local ordinance; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>If the applicable building code or local ordinance does not provide for notice, at least 30 days before the local jurisdiction abates the nuisance or takes action to maintain the property.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Foreclosed Property Registry:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Is not a public record as defined by § 4–101 of the General Provisions Article; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Is not subject to Title 4 of the General Provisions Article.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Commissioner of Financial Regulation may authorize access to the Foreclosed Property Registry only to local jurisdictions, their agencies, and representatives and State agencies.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, the Commissioner of Financial Regulation or a local jurisdiction may provide information for a specific property in the Foreclosed Property Registry to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A person who owns property on the same block; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A homeowners association or condominium in which the property is located.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>Revenue collected from the filing fees required under subsection (e)(1) of this section shall be distributed to the Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <level label="1">
      <text>There is a Foreclosed Property Registry Fund in the Office of Financial Regulation.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The purpose of the Fund is to support the development, administration, and maintenance of the Foreclosed Property Registry established under this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Commissioner of Financial Regulation shall administer the Fund.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>The Fund consists of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Revenue distributed to the Fund under subsection (h) of this section;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Investment earnings of the Fund;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be paid into the Fund.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
