In real estate transactions, a trust deed transfers the legal title of a property to a third party until the borrower repays their debt to the lender. Deeds of trust are used in conjunction with promissory notes.A deed of trust agreement obligates the borrower to repay a home loan, with the home serving as collateral if they default. A deed of trust is a document that pledges real property to secure a loan. A Deed of Trust conveys the interest of a property to a third party, who is designated as the trustee. A deed of trust is a security instrument, just like a mortgage. You would have to complete a full title search to be sure. Also, current loan balance may be different than amount listed on deed of trust. Essentially, both state that the borrower will repay the loan. A deed of trust, or security deed, as it is known in some jurisdictions, is a form of mortgage.