U.S. Mortgage Index

Lien

Definition

A lien is a legal claim against property that secures a debt. A mortgage or deed of trust creates a lien. First lien and subordinate lien describe priority among those claims.

In plain English

If a lender can look to the house when a debt is not paid, the house has a lien on it. The everyday home loan creates that kind of claim. First and subordinate describe who stands in line, not whether a lien exists. This page is the general claim. It is not a foreclosure guide.

Technical definition

CFPB’s key-terms heading for a second mortgage or junior lien, together with the official security-interest page, is the official consumer basis for treating a mortgage as a lien on the home. The key-terms contrast is PRIMARY.

Why it matters

Title, refinance, and payoff questions all depend on what liens exist. Readers need the general word before the priority pages.

Sources reviewed