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

Section of the Internal Revenue Code relating to depreciation. Capital improvements made to real property are depreciable. ...

Residence units owned by the government and available to low income families at a nominal cost. ...

Appraisal by summation is an Alias for Replacement Cost A.K.A. Cost Approach, which is one of the approaches an Appraiser can go through in order to assign a Market Value to a ...

Rental agreement directly between the landlord and tenant. If the tenant then rents it out to another, it is referred to as a sublease. The relationship takes the following form: ...

Structure built into the water from the land providing a facility for boats to tie up. A dock will often provide utility access ...

Expenditure to make a specific security or real estate transaction. Real estate transaction costs include survey costs, mortgage points and origination fees, recording fees, state transfer ...

Changing property ownership. An example is the sale of a home to another. ...

Individual who will receive an inheritance upon the death of another. The proceeds of an insurance policy may be in a lump sum annuity. Real estate also passes to the beneficiary. ...

The term developer’s profit is the actual profit generated by a developer’s project after the costs of the development have been covered. This profit can come from the sale of ...

Popular Real Estate Questions