Associates Home Equity Services Co. v. Hunt , 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 9801 ( 2004 )

OPINION

DAVID GAULTNEY, Justice.

Mark D. Hunt and Kelly C. Hunt signed a promissory note, secured by a deed of trust, payable to Associates Home Equity Services Company, Inc. The Hunts claim Associates’ lien was subsequently extinguished by a tax sale, though the Hunts redeemed the property from the purchaser at the tax sale. Both the Hunts and Associates filed motions for summary judgment. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the Hunts. We conclude Associates’ deed of trust encumbers the property.

The Facts

Summary judgment is proper when the movant establishes there is no genuine issue of material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Tex.R. Civ. P. 166a(c); Swilley v. Hughes, 488 S.W.2d 64, 67 (Tex.1972). The parties stipulated to the applicable facts. The Hunts purchased real property in Montgomery County in 1996. To finance the purchase, the Hunts executed a promissory note, payable to Associates (f/k/a Ford Consumer Finance, n/k/a Citifinancial Mortgage Company, Inc.), in the amount of $155,093.25. The debt was secured by a deed of trust. The Hunts used the property as their homestead. The Hunts failed to pay property taxes. In 1998, Tomball Independent School District obtained a judgment against the Hunts for the delinquent property taxes. Associates was joined as a defendant, but did not pay the taxes. The property was sold at a tax sale to satisfy the school district’s tax lien.

A third party, Bobby Granger, purchased the property at the tax sale. The Hunts redeemed the property from Gran-ger pursuant to section 34.21(c) of the Texas Tax Code. See Act of May 30, 1999, 76th Leg., R.S., ch. 1481, § 33, sec. 34.21, 1999 Tex. Gen. Laws 5109 (current version at Tex. Tax Code Ann. § 34.21(c) (Vernon Supp.2004)). Associates then posted the property for a foreclosure sale pursuant to the terms of the deed of trust. The trial court enjoined Associates from foreclosing on the property.

In their motion for summary judgment, the Hunts argued Tomball’s tax lien was superior to Associates’ mortgage hen, and the tax foreclosure sale extinguished Associates’ hen. In its motion for summary judgment, Associates argued its hen should be “reinstated.” The trial court’s summary judgment declared Associates’ hen was “extinguished, discharged, and void” and the Hunts “shall hold such real property, fixtures and improvements, in fee, free from hen by [Associates] or any successor or assign of [Associates].” Associates filed this appeal.

Redemption

The redemption privilege was made available to delinquent taxpayers with the adoption of Article 8, § 13 of the Texas Constitution in 1876. See Tex Const, art. 8, § 13 interp. commentary (Vernon 1993). 22 David B. BROoks, Texas Practice: Municipal Law and Practice § 9.18 (2d ed.1999). The right of redemption is also set forth in chapter 34, subchapter B of the Tax Code. Act of May 30, 1999, 76th Leg., R.S., ch. 1481, § 33, sec. 34.21(c), 1999 Tex. Gen. Laws 5109 (current version at Tex. Tax Code Ann. § 34.21(c) (Vernon Supp.2004)). The applicable version of § 34.21(c) provides:

If real property that was used as the owner’s residence homestead ... when the suit or the apphcation for the warrant was filed has been resold by the taxing unit under Section 34.05, the owner of the property having a right of redemption may redeem the property on or before the second anniversary of the date on which the taxing unit files for record the deed from the sheriff or constable by paying the person who purchased the property from the taxing unit the amount the purchaser paid for the property, the amount of the fee for filing the purchaser’s deed for record, the amount paid by the purchaser as taxes, penalties, interest, and costs on the property, plus a redemption premium of 25 percent of the aggregate total if the property is redeemed in the first year of the redemption period or 50 percent of the aggregate total if the property is redeemed in the second year of the redemption period.

Id. “The right of redemption does not grant or reserve in the former owner of the real property the right to the use or possession of the property, or to receive rents, income, or other benefits from the property while the right of redemption exists.” Act of May 30, 1999, 76th Leg., R.S., ch. 1481, § 33, sec. 34.21(h), 1999 Tex. Gen. Laws 5111 (current version at Tex. Tax.Code Ann. § 34.21(h) (Vernon Supp.2004)).

A purchaser at a tax sale receives a conditional estate, which is subject to defeat upon “compliance with the redemption laws by those entitled to redeem.” See Reynolds v. Batchelor, 216 S.W.2d 663, 666 (Tex.Civ.App.-Fort Worth 1948, writ ref'd n.r.e.); see also O’Hanlon v. Morrison, 187 S.W. 692, 696 (Tex.Civ.App.-Amarillo 1916, no writ); see Act of May 27, 1995, 74th Leg., R.S., ch. 1017, § 1, sec. 33.95, 1995 Tex. Gen. Laws 5086 (amended 1997) (current version at Tex. Tax Code Ann. § 33.95 (Vernon 2001)). Redemption does not give new title. See Bente v. Sullivan, 52 Tex.Civ.App. 454, 462, 115 S.W. 350, 353 (1908, writ ref'd). In Reynolds v. Batchelor, the court said that one under an obligation to pay property taxes who “undertakes to purchase the tax title will be estopped to claim that he did anything other than redeem the property from the tax sale.” Reynolds, 216 S.W.2d at 667. The court stated as a general principle an owner who does not pay taxes should not be allowed to strengthen his title at a tax sale. Id. The court’s underlying assumption- appears to have been that an owner who redeems his property does not strengthen his title against other owners or lienholders. See id.

The Hunts did not purchase the property at the tax sale.¹ Rather, they are the former owners who exercised their right of redemption within the time permitted by statute. Their prior title to the property was restored by the exercise of their right of redemption as “the owner of the property” under § 34.21(c) of the Texas Tax Code.

The Hunts rely on cases holding foreclosure of a senior lien extinguishes junior liens, but we do not read the cases as determinative of the effect of redemption. Both Diversified Mortgage Investors v. Lloyd D. Blaylock General Contractor, Inc., 576 S.W.2d 794, 806 (Tex.1978) and National Western Life Ins. Co. v. Acreman, 425 S.W.2d 815, 816 (Tex.1968) addressed whether a mechanic’s lien or a prior-recorded deed of trust took priority. Redemption was not at issue in either case. Likewise, National Loan Investors, L.P. v. Spring Independent School Dist., No. 01-94-00659-CV, 1995 WL 489441 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, no pet.) (not designated for publication) did not involve redemption.²

Generally, a deed of trust is a mortgage with a power to sell on default. See Starcrest Trust v. Berry, 926 S.W.2d 343, 351 (Tex.App.-Austin 1996, no writ). The Hunts admit the debt still exists, but they argue it is now unsecured. But redemption merely relieves the property of the tax sale. When the Hunts redeemed the property, they restored the title to what it was before the tax sale, except the tax lien has been discharged. They did not discharge their agreement with Associates reflected in the deed of trust.³ The Hunts’ ownership of the property was subject to Associates’ deed of trust. That ownership is what they redeemed. The deed of trust is a valid lien on the property after the Hunts’ redemption. Associates’ issue is sustained.

1 . The Tax Code provides in part as follows: “A purchaser for value at or subsequent to the tax sale may conclusively presume the validity of the sale and takes free of any claim of a party with a prior interest in the property subject to the provisions of Section 16.002(b), Civil Practice and Remedies Code, and subject to applicable rights of redemption.” Act of May 24, 1995, 74th Leg., R.S., ch. 1017, § 1, sec. 33.95, 1995 Tex. Gen. Laws 5086 (current version at Tex. Tax Code Ann. § 33.95 (Vernon 2001)). See also Tex. Tax Code Ann. § 33.50(c) (Vernon 2001).

2 . Unpublished cases have no precedential value. See TexR.App. P. 47.7.

3 .Apparently, the deed of trust in the record is missing a page.