Property will be sold at foreclosure due to unpaid debt.

26-123NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE UNDER POWERLAURENS COUNTY, GEORGIAUnder and by virtue of the Power of Sale contained in a Security Deed given by James Smith Jr and Penny Smith, husband and wife, as joint tenants with right of survivorship, grantors, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc., as grantee, as nominee for Top Flite Financial, Inc., its successors and assigns , grantee, dated April 25, 2024, and recorded on May 3, 2024 in Book 03475, Page 00009, Laurens County, Georgia Records, conveying the after-described property to secure a Note in the original principal amount of $138,380.00 dollars, with interest thereon as set forth therein, there will be sold at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash before the courthouse door of Laurens County, Georgia, within the legal hours of sale on May 5, 2026   the following described property:REAL PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF MONTROSE, COUNTY OF LAURENS, STATE OF GEORGIA, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:BEING IN LAND LOT 293, IN THE 22ND LAND DISTRICT OF SAID COUNTY, BEING IMPROVED WITH A DWELLING HOUSE FORMERLY OCCUPIED BY T. G. WADE, DECEASED, AND SHOWN ON A PLAT OF SURVEY MADE BY DANIEL R. RIGGS, SURVEYOR, DATED OCTOBER 10, 1981. SAID PLAT DESCRIBES THE PROPERTY HEREIN CONVEYED, TRACTS "A" AND "C", CONTAINING 0.77 ACRES AND 4.03 ACRES, RESPECTIVELY, MORE OR LESS. SAID REAL ESTATE FRONTS ON THE NORTHEASTERLY MARGIN OF U. S. HIGHWAY 80. REFERENCE TO SAID PLAT OF SURVEY IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE LAND HEREIN CONVEYED.LESS AND EXCEPT: 1.79 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, SHOWN ON A PLAT RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 9, PAGE 126B, AND A DEED RECORDED IN` DEED BOOK-1856, PAGE 45, LAURENS COUNTY RECORDSCOMMONLY KNOWN AS: 4249 US HIGHWAY 80 W, MONTROSE, GA 31065The debt secured by said Security Deed has been and is hereby declared due because of, among other possible events of default, failure to pay the indebtedness as and when due and in the manner provided in the Note and Security Deed. The debt remaining in default, this sale will be made for the purpose of paying the same and all expenses of this sale, as provided in Security Deed and by law, including attorney's fees (notice of intent to collect attorney's fees having been given).The entity having full authority to negotiate, amend or modify all terms of the loan (although not required by law to do so) is: ESSEX MORTGAGE can be contacted at 1-888-892-0881  for Loss Mitigation Dept, or by writing to 1417 N. Magnolia Ave, Ocala, FL 34475, to discuss possible alternatives to avoid foreclosure.Said property will be sold subject to any outstanding ad valorem taxes (including taxes which are a lien, but not yet due and payable), any matters which might be disclosed by an accurate survey and inspection of the property, any assessments, liens, encumbrances, zoning ordinances, restrictions, covenants, and matters of record superior to the Security Deed first set out above.To the best knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the party in possession of the property is Penny Smith and James Smith Jr or tenant(s); and said property is more commonly known as: 4249 US Highway 80 W, Montrose, GA 31065-3232 .The sale will be conducted subject to: (1) confirmation that the sale is not prohibited under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code;  (2) final confirmation and audit of the status of the loan with the holder of the security deed; and, (3) any right of redemption or other lien not extinguished by foreclosure.DATA MORTGAGE INC., DBA ESSEX MORTGAGE as Attorney in Fact for James Smith Jr and Penny Smith, husband and wife, as joint tenants with right of survivorship.Bonial & Associates, P.C.12400 Olive BlvdSuite 555St. Louis, MO 63141314-991-0255Ref: SMIJAESSMarch 28, April 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2, 2026