Which document contains the legal description of the property being mortgaged?

The document that contains the legal description of the property being mortgaged is the deed of trust. A deed of trust serves not only as a security instrument that outlines the agreement between the borrower and the lender, but it also includes a legal description of the property. This description typically specifies the boundaries and specific characteristics of the property, ensuring that there is no ambiguity about the exact land that is being used as collateral for the loan.

While a title deed establishes ownership of the property, it may not always provide a detailed legal description. The mortgage note focuses on the borrower's promise to repay the loan and the terms of the loan itself rather than detailing the property. A property appraisal provides an estimate of the property's value based on various factors but does not serve to legally delineate the property in question. In contrast, the deed of trust explicitly incorporates a legal description, making it the primary document that fulfills this purpose in a mortgage context.