Some Tips For Indiana Receivers
June 16, 2016
On occasion I represent receivers in commercial mortgage foreclosure cases. Since I've been unable to create a new post this week, I thought re-share, with some updates, some of my tips here today related to receiverships over mortgaged real estate:
1. Review and understand the proposed order appointing receiver before signing on. Ask an attorney (like me) to review and help negotiate terms, as needed.
2. Ensure your compensation is fair and profitable from the outset. See #1.
3. Before the receivership hearing, eyeball the property – drive by and/or inspect if possible. Understand the lay of the land.
4. Determine the plaintiff lender’s objectives with regard to the case and the property from the beginning: babysit the property only, improve the property, sell the property, etc.? Get a feel for the lender’s cost tolerance. As a practical matter, the plaintiff lender is the captain of the ship.
5. Once appointed:
a. Secure rents ASAP.
b. Ensure that hazard insurance is current.
c. Determine the status of real estate taxes and confer with the lender regarding any delinquency. Develop a plan with the lender as to how and when taxes should be paid, if at all. Send a confirming email and record the status/plan in court-filed reports.
d. Investigate the status of utilities and consider action.
e. Evaluate whether there is any non-real estate (personal property) collateral of value and, if so, learn what the lender wants you to do with it. Ensure that the action is covered by prior court order, or obtain order authorizing the action.
6. Hire an attorney unless (a) you have prior experience with, and trust in, lender’s counsel and (b) there is no apparent adversity with the lender. Some lawyers have the view that receivers should always retain independent counsel. I don’t necessarily share that opinion and tend to assess the issue on a case-by-case basis. Having said that, the recent trend is for receiver's to have independent counsel, which probably is best.
7. Report, report, report. Inundate the lender’s representative and/or lender’s counsel with emails regarding significant issues and action. Timely file all reports required by the order appointing receiver. Full disclosure of operations is the best practice, especially if there are other creditors involved and/or an interested owner/borrower.
8. As to major decisions affecting the property, including significant expenditures, obtain prior written approval from the lender or lender’s counsel. See #7. Emails are easy. Use them. Archive them for your file.
Potential receivers are free to call or email me with any questions. And for more information on Indiana receiverships, please click on the category “Receiverships” and the "Receivership" statute to your right.