Foreclosure is the legal process in which a bank or other
secured creditor sells or repossesses a parcel of real property
(immovable property) after the owner has failed to comply
with an agreement between the lender and borrower called a
"mortgage" or "deed of trust". Commonly,
the violation of the mortgage is a default in payment of a
promissory note, secured by a lien on the property. When the
process is complete, the lender can sell the property and
keep the proceeds to pay off its mortgage and any legal costs,
and it is typically said that "the lender has foreclosed
its mortgage or lien".