In our July 15 post, we wrote that the San Diego Superior Courthouse was banning foreclosure sales on its premises. At the time, the ban was scheduled to go into effect on September 1. Recently, the ban was postponed by two months, and it will go into effect on November 1.

Foreclosure sales have happened at San Diego's downtown courthouse since the building was built in the 1960s, and the practice of having foreclosure sales at the courthouse dates back to the time when California courts were actively involved in conducting foreclosure sales.

However, California courts no longer conduct most foreclosures, and the people conducting foreclosure sales have essentially been conducting private business on public property for years. Additionally, the amount of foreclosure sales has increased rapidly over the last few years, and foreclosure sales drew ever-increasing crowds to the courthouse's steps.

With these factors in mind, court officials made the decision to abolish the practice of conducting foreclosure sales at the courthouse. When the court initially made its announcement, the people who conduct foreclosure sales complained that the move would cost them money. After all, they would have to republish their public sale notices. Delaying the foreclosure sale ban by two months appears to be the court's way of accommodating these complaints.

Just as foreclosure sales can overwhelm the San Diego courthouse, foreclosures can overwhelm homeowners and families. Thankfully, California families can stop or delay foreclosure by seeking bankruptcy protection. In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, a person's debt is restructured and the person can establish a repayment plan, which can stop foreclosure activity.

Source: SignOnSanDiego.com, "Ban postponed on foreclosure auctions in downtown S.D.," Lily Leung, Aug. 18, 2011