What is the primary purpose of a mortgage on real property?

The primary purpose of a mortgage on real property is to establish a lien that secures a loan for the purchase of the property. When a borrower takes a loan to buy real estate, they create a security interest in the property through the mortgage. This means that the lender has a legal claim to the property if the borrower fails to repay the loan, allowing the lender to potentially recover the outstanding loan amount by foreclosing on the property.

This process protects the lender's investment by ensuring that they have recourse to the property itself should the borrower default. The mortgage does not transfer ownership of the property; rather, it allows the borrower to retain ownership while ensuring the lender has a security interest in it. In contrast, the other options address unrelated concepts, such as vehicle loans, transferring ownership of personal property, or certifying document authenticity, which do not pertain to the function of a mortgage in the context of real property.