In comparison to regular mortgages, chattel mortgages come with shorter terms which means they're repaid within 10-15 years in most cases. With a residential mortgage, the lender can retain a lien on the property which may or may not be the case with a chattel property mortgage.
Chattel is personal property that can be moved. Chattel includes things such as furniture and jewelry. Mobile homes are chattel because they are not a permanent part of the land and can be moved. Chattel quickly depreciates and improvements typically do not increase its value.
By chattel mortgage, personal property is recorded in the Chattel Mortgage Register as a security for the performance of an obligation. If the movable, instead of being recorded, is delivered to the creditor or a third person, the contract is a pledge and not a chattel mortgage.
California Civil Civil Code section 765 defines a chattel real as an estate for years. (Civ. Code, § 765.) For example, a lease for a house would be considered a chattel real.
LTO MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 17 of the said manual of operations provides that “In all dealings or transactions on motor vehicles, a chattel mortgage or release thereof shall first be registered with the office of the Register of Deeds before any registration transaction is effected.”
The traditional mortgage is only for stationary property. It's suited for long-term real estate investments. Chattel loans are for property that can be easily moved. They're also an option for borrowers who want their loans approved faster and with shorter repayment times.