Definition
A mortgage deed (or mortgage security deed) is the legal document pledging your property as security for the loan. It's recorded in county records and creates a lien. If you default, the lender can foreclose to recover the debt.
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The mortgage deed (also called a mortgage or security deed) is recorded in the county land records and creates a lien on the property. If the borrower defaults, the lender can foreclose on the property to recover the debt. Unlike a deed of trust, mortgage states typically require judicial foreclosure.
Pro Tip
Ensure your mortgage is properly recorded in the county records; without recording, the lender's security interest may not be properly documented.
Example
A mortgage deed is signed at closing and recorded in the county recorder's office, creating a public record that the lender has a security interest in the home.