Hannah signs a deed of trust with the lender to purchase a house. Who acts as the trustee?

In the context of a deed of trust, the trustee plays a crucial role as an impartial third party who holds the legal title of the property until the borrower (Hannah, in this case) fully pays back the loan to the lender. This neutral party ensures that both the lender's and borrower's interests are protected, providing an unbiased mechanism for managing the transaction.

The trustee is responsible for carrying out the terms outlined in the deed of trust, which includes the authority to initiate a foreclosure if the borrower defaults on the loan. Because the trustee is not directly involved in the lending process, their neutrality helps maintain fairness in the handling of the loan and property.

The incorrect options clarify the roles of each party involved: Hannah herself cannot act as the trustee since that would create a conflict of interest, and the lender assumes the role of a mortgagee rather than a trustee. Furthermore, while Hannah could designate a specific third party to serve as the trustee, the correct understanding is that a neutral third party typically fulfills this role by default to maintain objectivity. Thus, recognizing the usual practice of involving a neutral third party clarifies the correct choice.