Definition
Lien
A lien is a legal claim against a property securing a debt — a mortgage, unpaid taxes, a court judgment, association dues, or a contractor's bill. Liens attach to the property itself, survive the owner's death, and generally must be paid or resolved before or at a sale.
Liens don't usually block a sale; they redirect its proceeds. At closing, the title company pays lienholders from the purchase price before the seller sees anything, in an order set by priority rules. Trouble starts only when the liens exceed the price — then the sale needs negotiation, payoff discounts, or (for mortgages) a short sale.
Some liens grow: property-tax liens accrue interest and can lead to tax deed sales, and code-enforcement fines in some jurisdictions compound daily. Finding out exactly what's attached — via a title search — is step one in any plan.
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