(a) Service on Borrower and Record Owner by Personal Delivery. When an action to foreclose a lien on residential property is filed, the plaintiff shall serve on the borrower and the record owner a copy of all papers filed to commence the action, accompanied (1) by the documents required by Code, Real Property Article, § 7-105.1 (h) and (2) if the action to foreclose is based on a certificate of vacancy or a certificate of property unfit for human habitation issued pursuant to Code, Real Property Article, § 7-105.13, by a copy of the certificate and a description of the procedure to challenge the certificate. Except as otherwise provided by section (b) of this Rule, service shall be by personal delivery of the papers or by leaving the papers with a resident of suitable age and discretion at the dwelling house or usual place of abode of each person served.

Cross reference: For the required form and sequence of documents, see Code, Real Property Article, § 7-105.1 (h)(1) and COMAR 09.03.12.01 et seq.

(b) Service on Borrower and Record Owner by Mailing and Posting. If on at least two different days a good faith effort to serve a borrower or record owner pursuant to section (a) of this Rule was not successful, the plaintiff shall effect service by (1) mailing, by certified and first-class mail, a copy of all papers filed to commence the action, accompanied by the documents required by Code, Real Property Article, § 7-105.1 (h), to the last known address of each borrower and record owner and, if the person's last known address is not the address of the residential property, also to that person at the address of the property; and (2) posting a copy of the papers in a conspicuous place on the residential property. Service is complete when the property has been posted and the mailings have been made in accordance with this section.

Cross reference: For the required form and sequence of documents, see Code, Real Property Article, § 7-105.1 (h)(1) and COMAR 09.03.12.01 et seq.

(c) Notice to All Occupants by First-Class Mail. When an action to foreclose on residential property is filed, the plaintiff shall send by first-class mail addressed to “All Occupants” at the address of the property the notice required by Code, Real Property Article, § 7-105.11 (b).

(d) If Notice Required by Local Law. When an action to foreclose on residential property is filed with respect to a property located within a county or a municipal corporation that, under the authority of Code, Real Property Article, § 7-105.3 (c), has enacted a local law that was in effect as of October 1, 2012 requiring notice of the commencement of a foreclosure action, the plaintiff shall give the notice in the form and manner required by the local law. If the local law does not provide for the manner of giving notice, the notice shall be sent by first-class mail.