Property Lien Search
Look up liens, ownership records, current residents, deeds, and more with one simple search.
Results Include:
OwnershipDetails
PropertyDetails
DeedInformation
SalesHistory
Look up liens, ownership records, current residents, deeds, and more with one simple search.
Results Include:
Ownership
Property
Deed
SalesKnowing how to find liens on a property is crucial. With NeighborWho, we can help you check for mortgages and HOA liens attached to a specific property. All you need is an address to start your next property lien search.
In short, a property lien means the homeowner has an outstanding debt on a house or another type of property. By placing a lien on the property, the creditor ensures the owner can't sell the property without satisfying the debt first. They can even force the sale of the property in some cases.
This is why it's important to check liens on a property—imagine putting an offer on a dream home only to find out you can’t possess the title until the seller clears their debt.
Voluntary liens are willingly entered by the property owner to secure a loan. A common example of a voluntary lien is a mortgage. Involuntary liens are placed on a property without the owner's consent by an external party. Common examples of involuntary liens include tax liens, judgment liens and mechanic's liens.
There are several types of liens. They all operate in more or less the same way; the difference is to whom the owner owes the money. Some property liens include:
A mortgage lien is a voluntary lien placed on a property by a lender as security for a mortgage loan. The lien gives the lender the right to foreclose on the property if the borrower fails to make mortgage payments. Mortgages are voluntary liens because the property owner willingly enters the lien agreement in order to provide the property as collateral for the debt.
A tax lien is an involuntary lien placed on a property by a government authority, such as the IRS or a local tax agency, for unpaid taxes. The lien gives the government the right to seize and sell the property to satisfy the tax debt.
A judgment lien is an involuntary lien placed on a property by a court as a result of a lawsuit. The lien gives the plaintiff the right to collect a judgment amount from the proceeds of the property sale.
A mechanic's lien is an involuntary lien placed on a property by a contractor or subcontractor who has not been paid for work done on the property. The lien gives the contractor the right to force the sale of the property to collect the unpaid debt.
A homeowners association (HOA) lien is an involuntary lien placed on a property by an HOA for unpaid fees or assessments. The lien gives the HOA the right to force the sale of the property to collect the unpaid debt.
Yes, it is possible to buy a property that has a lien on it. The lien will usually need to be paid off as part of the purchase process. In most cases, the lien holder will have the right to demand payment of the outstanding debt before the property can be sold or transferred to a new owner.
This highlights the importance of running a property or title lien search. Ordinarily, sellers are aware of liens and understand that paying them off will mean a smaller return on the sale of the property. But without a search, it's possible that a lien isn't discovered until it's time to close. At best, closing may be delayed while the seller makes arrangements. At worst, the buyer's lender will deny financing and the deal will fall through.
Buying a property with a lien on it can be a good idea, depending on the circumstances. In general, if you're looking for a bargain or an investment property, one with a lien on it may lead to a lower sale price. Because the seller needs to pay off the lien, they have less leverage to negotiate—as long as the offer may help pay off the lien, the seller may be incentivized to consider it.
The risk to buyers when considering a property with a lien is typically low. That's because in most cases, lenders won't provide a loan for a property with a lien on it—it must be paid off, and that's the seller's responsibility. However, if you are somehow able to get the deed to a property with a lien on it (for example, via auction), it's possible that you could then be responsible for the lien.
Otherwise, if you're just looking for land or a home to purchase, you'll likely have a more straightforward experience limiting your search to properties with free and clear titles.
So you ran a property lien search and discovered a local, state or federal tax agency has placed a lien on your property due to a failure to pay the correct amount of property tax. Here are some options you may have to move forward.
