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What is the difference between a mortgage and a deed of trust?
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The primary difference between a mortgage and a deed of trust is the security instrument used to grant the lender a lien on the borrower's property. A mortgage is a loan agreement between the borrower and the lender where the borrower gives the lender a lien on their property as collateral for the loan. A deed of trust is also a loan agreement between the borrower and the lender, but in this case, the borrower transfers the title of their property to a third party trustee acting as a middleman in the loan agreement. The trustee holds the title until the loan is paid in full, and then the title is transferred back to the borrower.