Illinois Real Estate Practice Exam

Which clause gives the lender the right to demand the entire mortgage balance if any payment default occurs?

1. Acceleration Clause

2. Alienation Clause

3. Equitable Title

4. Prepayment Penalty Clause

The correct answer is: Acceleration Clause

The correct answer is the acceleration clause. This clause is crucial in a mortgage agreement because it allows the lender to take swift action if the borrower defaults on their payments. When a borrower misses a payment or breaches some other term of the mortgage, the acceleration clause can be invoked, which means the lender can demand that the entire remaining balance of the loan be paid immediately, rather than allowing the borrower to continue making regular monthly payments. The other options relate to different aspects of mortgage agreements and do not pertain directly to the lender's rights in the event of a payment default. For instance, an alienation clause is designed to protect the lender if the borrower sells the property before the mortgage is paid off. Equitable title refers to the rights of a buyer in a real estate transaction, while a prepayment penalty clause imposes a fee if the borrower pays off the loan early. Each of these serves a different function within a mortgage agreement but does not grant the lender the authority to demand the entire balance upon default like the acceleration clause does.