My mortgage closing forms mention a “security interest.” What is a security interest?
The security interest is what lets the lender foreclose if you don’t pay back the money you borrowed.
A security interest means that if you don’t make the mortgage payments as agreed, or if you break your agreement with the lender, the lender can take your home and sell it to pay off the loan. You give the lender this right when you sign your closing forms. The document granting the security interest can be called by different names, but the most common names are “Mortgage” or “Deed of Trust.”
The content on this page provides general consumer information. It is not legal advice or regulatory guidance. The CFPB updates this information periodically. This information may include links or references to third-party resources or content. We do not endorse the third-party or guarantee the accuracy of this third-party information. There may be other resources that also serve your needs.