Question Whether Loan At Issue Was a “Home Loan” Requiring a Settlement Conference, Hearing Ordered

The Second Department found that a hearing was required to determine whether the loan at issue was a “home loan” such that a settlement conference pursuant to CPLR 3408 was required. The court explained the analytical factors:

“CPLR 3408 does not apply to every residential foreclosure action” … . CPLR 3408 only mandates a settlement conference in a residential foreclosure action involving a “home loan” as that term is defined by RPAPL 1304, and when the “defendant is a resident of the property subject to foreclosure” (see CPLR 3408…).

RPAPL 1304(5)(a)(i)-(iv) defines a qualifying home loan as one in which, inter alia, the borrower is a natural person; the borrower incurs the debt primarily for personal, family, or household purposes; and the loan is secured by a mortgage on real property in this state “used or occupied, or intended to be used or occupied wholly or partly, as the home or [the] residence of one or more persons and which is or will be occupied by the borrower as the borrower’s principal dwelling” … .

Here, the conflicting affidavits submitted by the parties reveal a sharp factual dispute, inter alia, as to whether the subject loan was made for the defendant’s personal, family, or household use, and whether the mortgaged premises was to be occupied as the defendant’s principal dwelling. Richlew Real Estate Venture v Grant, 2015 NY Slip Op 07018, 2nd Dept 9-30-15