Which of the following is a type of private encumbrance that can affect fee simple ownership?

A mortgage is a type of private encumbrance because it involves a contractual agreement between the borrower and lender that provides the lender with a security interest in the property. When a mortgage is placed on a property, it affects the full enjoyment of the fee simple ownership, as the owner must adhere to the terms of the mortgage and is subject to the lender’s rights regarding the property. Specifically, if the homeowner defaults on the mortgage, the lender has the right to foreclose on the property, which would ultimately limit or extinguish the owner's rights.

In contrast, zoning regulations are typically public laws established by governmental authorities that dictate how land can be used. They do not constitute a private encumbrance since they are not imposed by any individual or entity with a private interest in the property. Property taxes represent governmental claims based on ownership but are also not private encumbrances; they are statutory obligations rather than constraints of a private nature. Eminent domain involves government taking private property for public use but again does not pertain to private encumbrances affecting fee simple ownership directly.