Homeowner rights

Key parts of California’s foreclosure overhaul, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown and slated to go into effect Jan. 1, would:

* Restrict the lender practice of “dual tracking,” or pursuing a foreclosure even though the homeowner is negotiating to modify the mortgage loan.

* Outlaw “robo-signing,” or the improper or faulty processing of foreclosure documents by mortgage servicers, and would impose civil penalties.

* Allow homeowners and state agencies to sue financial institutions for economic and civil damages, under limited circumstances.

* Require banks and loan servicers to assign to each borrower a single representative who knows about the case and has access to decision-makers.