The mortgage note, also known as a promissory note, is a legal document that outlines the terms and conditions of a loan secured by a mortgage. It represents the borrower's promise to repay the loan amount to the lender along with the specified interest rate and any other applicable fees or charges. One type of mortgage note is the fixed-rate note. In this case, the interest rate remains constant throughout the loan term, ensuring predictable monthly payments for the borrower. For instance, a borrower may sign a mortgage note with a fixed interest rate of 3.5% for a 30-year loan term. Another type is the adjustable-rate note. With an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), the interest rate fluctuates based on market conditions, typically after an initial fixed-rate period. For instance, a borrower may sign a mortgage note with an ARM that has an initial fixed rate of 2.5% for five years, after which the interest rate adjusts annually based on an index such as the U.S. Prime Rate or the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Balloon mortgage notes are also common. They feature lower monthly payments initially but require a large lump sum payment, referred to as the balloon payment, at the end of the loan term. For example, a borrower may sign a mortgage note with a balloon payment of $50,000 after a five-year term. Furthermore, there are interest-only mortgage notes where the borrower pays only the interest for a specified period, typically between five and ten years. After this period, the borrower must begin paying both principal and interest. For instance, a borrower may sign a mortgage note with an interest-only period of seven years followed by principal and interest payments for the remaining 23 years. A mortgage note also includes details about the repayment schedule, late payment penalties, default terms, prepayment options, and any special agreements between the borrower and the lender. It is crucial for both parties to review and understand the contents of the mortgage note before signing, as it legally binds them to the stated terms and conditions.