Which of the following may become a cloud on a title?

Deed restrictions are limitations placed on the use of property, typically imposed by a previous owner or developer. While they affect how the property can be utilized, they do not create an encumbrance that clouds the title in the same way a mortgage does. They are more about usage than ownership rights and do not signify a claim against the property.

External obsolescence refers to a reduction in property value due to external factors such as neighborhood decline or environmental issues. It is an economic concept rather than a legal claim against the property, meaning it does not affect the title itself or create a cloud on it.

A zoning variance is a special permission granted by local government to deviate from current zoning laws. While it may affect the use of the property, it does not create a legal claim against the property in a way that would cloud the title. Variances are administrative tools, not encumbrances.