What is the function of a promissory note or bond when used in conjunction with a mortgage?
Correct answer:
B
In Massachusetts real estate law and as covered in the Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson Study Guide, a promissory note (sometimes called a bond) is a written promise by the borrower to repay a specific amount of money to the lender under agreed terms. The note functions as evidence of the debt and creates a personal obligation for the borrower to pay the debt according to the specified schedule. This personal obligation is what differentiates the note from the mortgage document itself.
While the mortgage creates a lien against the property and provides security for the loan (giving the lender rights to the property in case of default), the promissory note represents the actual debt and the borrower's promise to repay it. Without the note, the mortgage lien alone is insufficient because it only secures the loan; it does not obligate repayment.
The promissory note generally contains the principal amount, interest rate, payment schedule, maturity date, and any penalties for default. If the borrower defaults on payments, the lender can take legal action based on the note. The mortgage provides the lender the right to foreclose on the property if the note is not paid, but the note itself establishes the borrower's personal liability.
This is explicitly stated in official Massachusetts real estate law references and study guides:
''The note is the borrower's personal promise to pay the debt.''
''The mortgage is the security instrument that pledges the property as collateral.''