Which of the following is a financial claim against a property that must be paid off before the property can be sold?

A mortgage is a financial claim against a property that secures a loan used to purchase that property. When a property has a mortgage, the borrower is obligated to repay the loan, and until that loan is fully paid off, the lender typically holds a lien on the property. This means that if the property owner decides to sell, the mortgage must be satisfied—usually through payment of the remaining balance on the loan—before the sale can proceed. This requirement ensures that the lender's financial interest in the property is addressed prior to the transfer of ownership.

In contrast, easements, while they grant certain rights to use the property, do not impose a financial obligation that needs to be addressed prior to a sale. A cloud on title refers to a legal claim or encumbrance that may hinder the sale of the property, but resolving a cloud is not the same as paying off a financial obligation like a mortgage. Rights of entry involve certain conditional rights regarding the use of property but do not represent a financial claim that must be settled before selling the property.