What Is The Alienation Clause In Real Estate? (2024)

Victoria Araj4-minute read

May 01, 2023

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If you’re researching what your mortgage will involve for your next home or property, one factor that could indicate whether a mortgage is right for you is the existence of a due-on-sale clause, also known as an alienation clause.

Most lenders include an alienation clause in their mortgage contracts to protect their interests in the event that you hand off the title of your home to someone else. Here are the main points you should know about the alienation clause, including what it is, how it works, when it applies and when it doesn’t.

What Is An Alienation Clause?

An alienation clause, also known as a due-on-sale clause, is a real estate agreement that requires a borrower to pay the remainder of their mortgage loan balance off immediately during the sale or transfer of a property title and before a new buyer can take ownership. It goes into effect regardless of whether the transfer is voluntary or not. This clause is standard in most mortgage agreements today.

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What Is The Alienation Clause In Real Estate? (2)

How Does The Alienation Clause Work?

Typically, when a mortgaged property transfers ownership, an alienation clause requires the previous owner to repay the loan’s remaining balance right away. Any proceeds from the sale go to the lender first to cover the leftover principal and accrued interest of unpaid mortgage.

Also, a crucial component of the due-on-sale clause is that the homeowner cannot transfer their existing mortgage loan to the new buyer. Instead, the new owner must obtain a new mortgage and financing with current terms. It’s up to the lender to decide if they’ll enforce the alienation clause.

Alienation Vs. Acceleration Clause

Both alienation clauses and acceleration clauses give lenders the authority and discretion to demand that a mortgage balance be immediately paid off in full.

However, while alienation clauses generally apply to instances of transfer or sale, an acceleration clause is applied when you fail to meet the terms of your loan agreement. For example, if you miss regularly scheduled loan payments, your lender can initiate an acceleration clause that acts as a demand for immediate repayment. If you fail to do so, the property may go into foreclosure.

Why Do Lenders Use The Alienation Clause?

Your mortgage lender uses both the property title and mortgage clauses – such as the alienation clause – to ensure their interests are secure. For example, your lender provides you a loan in exchange for the title, which the lender then uses as collateral while you repay the loan.

Similarly, your lender uses the alienation clause to ensure that they make back the money you borrowed even when you sell or transfer ownership of your home.

The 1982 Garn-St. Germain Act made alienation clauses enforceable following the 1970s, in which lenders could only enforce due-on-sales clauses when they could prove the transfer demonstrably harmed the lender’s security in the property.

Since then, lenders have used the clause as insurance that borrowers will repay the money owed to them. An alienation clause also prevents new buyers from assuming the previous owner’s interest rate, which would likely be lower than current mortgage rates.

However, because many lenders don’t actively enforce the due-on-sale clause when the property hasn’t been actually sold yet, many borrowers don’t look for permission when they deed the property elsewhere, like to a trust.


While some situations may not require permission from your lender to transfer your property, others will. For example, some scenarios may require a deed for you to alter the title of your home or property to fit a new situation. Be sure to check with your lender before making any decisions.

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What Are The Exceptions?

While alienation clauses are standard in most mortgage contracts, they’re not in each one nor are they always enforceable.

Here are a few situations where a due-on-sale clause is not enforceable:

  • Assumable mortgages: Loans that predate the 1970s and lack alienation clauses are called assumable mortgages. An assumable mortgage allows a new buyer to take over the previous owner’s old mortgage. The new owner does not have to immediately pay off the mortgage.
  • Transfer to a living trust: The Garn-St. Germain Act of 1982 allows the original borrower to transfer the property into a living trust as long as they’re the occupant and trust beneficiary.
  • Divorce: Lenders cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers as part of a divorce.
  • Death: The alienation clause is unenforceable when the title, through a life estate, is left to – or is inherited by – a spouse, child or relative already occupying or intending to occupy the property.
  • Joint tenancy: A lender cannot take advantage of the clause if a joint tenant (like a surviving spouse) takes over the mortgage.

The Bottom Line: Don’t Be Afraid Of Alienation Clauses

While alienation clauses may sound daunting, they are a normal provision in almost every mortgage contract. In fact, you’re much more likely to see them than any type of assumable mortgage that wouldn’t include them.

However, like many other clauses, an alienation clause is designed to protect your lender. So it’s important for any current or future home buyer to understand how these policies work before they decide on their next home purchase.

You don’t have to take on the world of real estate on your own, though. Explore our mortgage basics resources to learn more about navigating mortgage clauses and the home buying process as a whole.

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What Is The Alienation Clause In Real Estate? (2024)

FAQs

What Is The Alienation Clause In Real Estate? ›

An alienation clause, also known as a due-on-sale clause, is a real estate agreement that requires a borrower to pay the remainder of their mortgage loan balance off immediately during the sale or transfer of a property title and before a new buyer can take ownership.

What is an alienation clause quizlet? ›

Alienation clause. This clause allows the lender to demand the entire loan balance due when title to the property is transferred or in some cases, upon change of possession.

Where can an alienation clause be found? ›

In real estate, the alienation clause is typically included in the mortgage or trust deed written by the lender and signed by the person receiving the loan. The alienation clause will allow the lender to call the loan due if the homeowner sells or transfer the property.

What does alienation mean in contract? ›

An alienation clause voids certain contractual obligations to an asset if that asset is sold or if ownership is transferred to another entity. These clauses are common in mortgage loans, which release borrowers from the lender once the property has been transferred to a new owner.

What does alienation mean sale? ›

Alienation refers to the process of a property owner voluntarily giving or selling the title of their property to another party. When property is considered alienable, that means the property is able to be sold or transferred to another party without restriction.

What is alienation a clause in a real estate security agreement that allows for? ›

What is an alienation clause? The alienation clause in a mortgage contract gives a mortgage lender the right to request the full and immediate repayment of the loan, including principal and interest, when the borrower sells or transfers their home.

What's alienation with regard to real estate quizlet? ›

The ownership a person has over a property. What is Alienation? The process of transferring ownership to real estate from one party to another.

What type of alienation takes place when a deed is used? ›

Voluntary alienation, either as a sale or a gift, must be executed by the use of a deed to transfer title. The deed is a written document that conveys transfer of title in real estate.

What is the opposite of alienation in real estate? ›

The opposite of an alienation clause in real estate is an assumable mortgage. Here's how it works: The buyer takes over the seller's existing mortgage with all the terms intact. The buyer begins making monthly payments on the mortgage. The seller is released from any obligation or liability regarding the loan.

Is an alienation clause enforceable in a transfer of title? ›

Germain Depository Institutions Act put an end to that and has left alienation clauses mostly enforceable. There are still a few exceptions, however, including: Transfer to a joint owner or relative upon the death of the owner. Transfer of ownership to the owner's spouse or children.

What is alienation examples? ›

feeling removed from established values. isolation. having a sense of loneliness or exclusion, such as being a minority in a group. meaninglessness. being unable to see meaning in actions, relationships, or world affairs, or having a sense that life has no purpose.

What are 3 types of alienation? ›

The four dimensions of alienation identified by Marx are alienation from: (1) the product of labor, (2) the process of labor, (3) others, and (4) self. Class experiences usually fit easily into these categories.

What does in alienation mean? ›

: a withdrawing or separation of a person or a person's affections from an object or position of former attachment : estrangement. alienation … from the values of one's society and family S. L. Halleck. : a conveyance of property to another.

What are the key terms of alienation? ›

The definitions of alienation given above—powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, cultural estrangement, social isolation, and self-estrangement—can serve only as a rough guide because there can be radically different conceptions of the idea within any one of the categories.

What are the two forms of alienation? ›

People are subjectively alienated in two cases: 1) when the world they inhabit is a home but they fail to understand this; 2) when the world they inhabit is not a home, yet they believe it to be. Hegel believes the first of these two cases to be the most common cause of alienation.

What is the method of alienation? ›

It involves the use of techniques designed to distance the audience from emotional involvement in the play through jolting reminders of the artificiality of the theatrical performance.

What is a restraint on alienation clause? ›

Restraint on alienation is a restriction in a deed or will conveying real property on future conveyance of that real property. Restraints on alienation may be indefinite or extend for a fixed amount of time.

What clause pledges property as security for a loan without giving up possession of it? ›

Hypothecation is the pledging of an asset as collateral for a loan, without transferring the property's title to the lender. In a mortgage, the property purchased is used to secure the loan, but the lender holds the title.

What is an involuntary alienation common law doctrine which transfers the property? ›

Involuntary Alienation. Real estate can also be transferred by what is called involuntary alienation, which is a transfer of property without owner consent. This can happen when a person dies intestate (without a valid will), causing the courts to determine who receives the property.

What are issues of alienation? ›

In social psychology, alienation refers to a sense of self-estrangement, an absence of social support, or meaningful social connectedness. The sense of alienation generally consists of three dimensions: social isolation, powerlessness, and normlessness.

What are the grounds of alienation? ›

According to Vijnaneshwara, under 3 exceptional circ*mstances, the alienation of the joint family property by an individual is possible: Apatkale, i.e. during distress; Kutumbarthe, i.e. for the sake of the family; Dharmarthe, i.e. for disposing of indispensable duties.

Which of the following is an example of a voluntary alienation of the property? ›

A home sale, a relocation upon the termination of a rent contract, and gifting of property to a friend or relative all can be defined as voluntary alienation. To better understand the term, let's look at an example of voluntary alienation in real estate.

Which four types of alienation can be distinguished? ›

Karl Marx discussed four forms of alienation:
  • Alienation from the product of labour: ...
  • Alienation from the process of labour: ...
  • Alienation from humanity: ...
  • Alienation from society:
Feb 1, 2023

What does alienation look like? ›

Alienated children typically appear rude, ungrateful, spiteful, and cold toward the targeted parent, and they appear to be impervious to feelings of guilt about their harsh treatment. Gratitude for gifts, favors, or child support provided by the targeted parent is nonexistent.

Is alienation a transfer of land ownership True False? ›

Alienation is the act of transferring ownership, title, or an interest in real property from one person to another. The statement is TRUE.

How do you avoid due-on-sale clause? ›

There are exceptions to the due-on-sale clause, including the transfer of the mortgaged property into an asset protection trust. This means if you transfer ownership from your name and into a trust, your lender will not be able to demand payment of the entire note.

What is the ownership right that allows for alienation or disposal of a thing? ›

Introduction: Ownership of Property

Ownership of property consists of 3 real rights: usus, abusus, and fructus. Usus is the right to use a thing. Abusus is the right to dispose of a thing as long as it is not infringing upon health, safety and welfare.

What is the opposite of alienation? ›

What is the opposite of alienation?
reconcilementreconciliation
goodwillfriendship
amitywarmth
friendlinessaffection
approvalcordiality
11 more rows

What is a simple sentence for alienation? ›

— alienation

Her position on this issue has caused the alienation of many former supporters. His alienation from his parents stems from his drug problems.

Why is alienation important? ›

Alienation is the objective structure of experience and activity in capitalist society. Capitalist society cannot exist without it. Capitalist society, in its very essence, requires that people be placed into such a structure and, even better, that they come to believe and accept that it is natural and just.

What is alienation in real estate? ›

An alienation clause, also known as a due-on-sale clause, is a real estate agreement that requires a borrower to pay the remainder of their mortgage loan balance off immediately during the sale or transfer of a property title and before a new buyer can take ownership.

What are the 4 factors of alienation? ›

According to the four-factor model of parental alienation, in order for alienation to be present there must be: (1) a prior positive relationship between the child and the now rejected parent; (2) absence of maltreat- ment by the rejected parent; (3) use of alienating behaviours by the fa- voured parent; and (4) ...

Is alienation still relevant today? ›

Alienation at work was described by Marx in the 1840s,but continues to be relevant today.

Who used the term alienation? ›

Alienation is a theoretical concept developed by Karl Marx that describes the isolating, dehumanizing, and disenchanting effects of working within a capitalist system of production.

What does alienation mean in a legal sense quizlet? ›

Alienation is a general term that refers to all of the different methods by which real property can be transferred from one person to another. Whether accomplished by means of a deed, a will, foreclosure, or in any other way, a transfer of ownership is a form of alienation.

What does alienation mean in law? ›

In property law, alienation is the voluntary act of an owner of some property to dispose of the property, while alienability, or being alienable, is the capacity for a piece of property or a property right to be sold or otherwise transferred from one party to another.

What did Marx mean by alienation quizlet? ›

Marx's account of alienation draws explicitly and directly on Hegel's work. He uses the term to refer to a situation in which our own activities and products take on an independent existence and become hostile powers working against us.

What is alienation in sociology Marx? ›

Definition: Alienation. ALIENATION (Marx) : the process whereby the worker is made to feel foreign to the products of his/her own labor.

What does alienation mean in real estate? ›

An alienation clause, also known as a due-on-sale clause, is a real estate agreement that requires a borrower to pay the remainder of their mortgage loan balance off immediately during the sale or transfer of a property title and before a new buyer can take ownership.

What is one example of alienation? ›

Feeling distanced from work, family, and friends is a common symptom of alienation. Other symptoms include: feeling helpless. feeling that the world is empty or meaningless.

What is another word for alienation definition? ›

The words disaffect and estrange are common synonyms of alienate. While all three words mean "to cause one to break a bond of affection or loyalty," alienate may or may not suggest separation but always implies loss of affection or interest.

What is alienation effect examples? ›

Examples of such techniques include explanatory captions or illustrations projected on a screen; actors stepping out of character to lecture, summarize, or sing songs; and stage designs that do not represent any locality but that, by exposing the lights and ropes, keep the spectators aware of being in a theatre.

What is the power of alienation? ›

The power of alienation is the power to convey to another an absolute fee in possession of land, or full ownership of personalty. The permissible period is within twenty-one (21) years after the death of an individual or individuals then alive.

What is alienation by Karl Marx short note? ›

Karl Marx's theory of alienation describes the estrangement (German: Entfremdung) of people from aspects of their human nature (Gattungswesen, 'species-being') as a consequence of the division of labor and living in a society of stratified social classes.

What are the main points of Marx theory of alienation? ›

In alienated labour, Marx claims, humans are reduced to the level of an animal, working only for the purpose of filling a physical gap, producing under the compulsion of direct physical need. Alienation from my life-activity also means that my life-activity is directed by another.

What is an example of alienation Marx? ›

According to Marx, the product of a worker's labor under a capitalist system results in feeling alienated. The production of labor is felt to belong to someone else and is simply a way for the worker to meet the needs of physical life – purely for wages.

Why does alienation occur? ›

Alienation in capitalist societies occurs because in work each contributes to the common wealth but they can only express this fundamentally social aspect of individuality through a production system that is not publicly social but privately owned, for which each individual functions as an instrument, not as a social ...

Does alienation exist today? ›

Alienation at work was described by Marx in the 1840s,but continues to be relevant today.

What are the effects of alienation? ›

Feelings of alienation are an important indicator of mental well-being and have been associated with depressed mood, anxiety symptoms, alcohol use disorders, psychological distress, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and increased risk of suicide.

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