Definition of "Alienation clause"

The definition of alienation clause is the transfer or sale of a particular property or asset that can be applied once the owner has no more financial obligations to said property or asset. The most often use for the term alienation clause is in financial or insurance contracts as well as mortgage deals and property insurance contracts.

Sometimes, the possibility of a real estate Alienation can be stipulated in a contract, either allowing or forbidding it to happen. Whenever that happens, it’s referred to it by parties as “the alienation clause”. 

Alienation Clause in Mortgages

These can be quite common in the mortgage industry, and mortgage contracts usually have the clause stipulated, and lenders include them for residential and commercial properties. With the alienation clause, the lender can make sure that the payments are respected and fully repaid. The alienation clause covers the lender if the property is sold or transferred to someone else because the revenue from the sale will settle the mortgage balance.

If the alienation clause is not stipulated in the mortgage agreement the owner might transfer or sell the property along with the mortgage debt to a new owner in something that is called an assumable mortgage contract.

Alienation Clause in Insurance

Property insurance for both commercial and residential properties also have an alienation clause mentioned in their contracts. In the case of property insurance, the alienation clause absolves the account holder from any future payments in case the property is sold or transferred to someone else. Once the account holder, original owner, is acquitted of payments, the insurance is closed, and the new owner must purchase a new insurance in their own name for the property.

So, when you hear someone talking about a real estate alienation clause, know that person is mentioning the part of the contract that talks about the right to transfer property from one person to another.

Real Estate Tips:

Use our real estate Glossary Terms and get your knowledge up to date!

Want to find the best local agents? The OFFICIAL Real Estate Agent Directory® is the best way to go.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

An anticipatory breach of contract is the action that occurs when one party in the contract shows their intention to not fulfill their contractual obligations to the other party. The ...

Civil rights acts passed by the U.S. Congress includes those of 1866, 1870, 1871, 1875, 1964, and 1968. The first two acts gave blacks the rights to be treated as citizens in legal actions, ...

The right of a landowner to have lateral land support from adjacent properties. The right of lateral and subjacent support means that an adjacent land owner may not, for example, lower or ...

The return by owners of a property investment usually through a depreciation allowance. a clause in a contract permitting the prior owner of real estate to recover under certain ...

If you are involved with real estate, chances are you've come across the term "convey" or conveyance. But what does convey mean in real estate? This term is crucial whether you're buying, ...

The right to recover property taken away by foreclosure by paying the lender the total amount owed plus foreclosure costs. The right of a debtor in bankruptcy to recover personal ...

(1) Individual or business that is engaged to do some sort of construction work for another for a fee. There are basically three types of contracting: A general contractor enters into a ...

Divider made of plasterboard or plaster used to partition rooms. A room is created by the walls surrounding it. ...

The definition of a service fee or brokers fee in real estate is a flat fee paid to a real estate agent or broker in addition to the commission for the sale or purchase. This is to cover ...

Popular Real Estate Questions