Finance & Mortgages

Due-on-Sale Clause (Alienation Clause)

A mortgage clause that lets the lender call the full balance due if the borrower transfers the property without paying off the loan.

Quick flashcard

What does Due-on-Sale Clause (Alienation Clause) mean on the Texas real estate exam?

Answer: A mortgage clause that lets the lender call the full balance due if the borrower transfers the property without paying off the loan.

Read the explanation below, then return to the full flashcard deck and try it again from memory.

Due-on-Sale Clause (Alienation Clause) definition

A due-on-sale clause, also called an alienation clause, lets the lender demand full repayment when the borrower sells or transfers the property without the lender's consent. It prevents a buyer from quietly taking over the seller's existing loan.

It is a specific trigger of the lender's acceleration power, aimed at transfers rather than missed payments.

Source basis

Definition checked against the official sources below on .

On the exam

If the trigger is sale or transfer of the property, the clause is due-on-sale (alienation), not a general acceleration on default.

Exam trap

Do not confuse this with a prepayment penalty. The due-on-sale clause is about transfer; a prepayment penalty is about paying the loan off early.

Tested in

Financing & Settlement (7 of 80 National)

From definition to recall

See this term inside a real exam question.

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This definition is Texas real estate exam-prep education, not legal, tax, or professional advice. Verify current rules against the official source before relying on them for a real transaction. Back to the full glossary.