Legal Definition
A mortgage is a legal agreement where a borrower obtains a loan from a lender to purchase real property, typically a residential or commercial building. It establishes the terms under which the borrower receives the loan, including the principal amount borrowed and the repayment schedule.
Plain-English Translation
Imagine a big loan for a house or land. A mortgage is the paper that says, 'Here's how much money you need to borrow, and here's when you have to pay it back.'