Mortgage Lien
A lien on the property of a mortgagor. In most states a mortgage gives the mortgagee a lien-as opposed to the common-law practice of granting conditional title-on the house or property as security for the loan. A mortgage lien secures the loan. In the event of a default, a mortgage lien holder can foreclosure on the property in order to satisfy the claim of the mortgagor. The priority of a mortgage lien depends on the number of previous liens on the property. If there are no other previous mortgage liens or other financial obligations against the property, then the mortgage lien is considered a first mortgage and takes priority over succeeding loan agreements. In case of foreclosure, the holder of a second mortgage lien can recover only after the first mortgage lien holder has been paid.
Popular Real Estate Terms
Type of ownership by husband and wife, recognized in 27 states, in which the rights of the deceased spouse pass to the survivor. It is the same as joint tenancy, except that one spouse ...
The depreciation method where an equal amount of depreciation expense is allocated to each full period of the asset's useful life. The amount of depreciation is computed as follows; Annual ...
Purchase of part of property or property rights when condemnation takes place. The owner must be justly reimbursed. ...
An increase in the income tax basis of a property that is a result of a tax-free exchange. As a result of an inheritance, for example, the basis of the inherited property was stepped up to ...
Don’t know what snowbirds mean? It’s not birds made of snow. Snowbirds is a nickname given to Canadians and American people that live in the colder northern states, that, ...
See accommodation endorser, maker, or party. ...
The "frost line" is a critical concept in real estate and construction, especially in regions with cold climates. But what exactly is the frost line, and why does it matter? Let’s ...
Any gain or loss from selling of capital assets. The gain or loss is the difference between the net selling price and cost basis. The two types of capital gains or losses for tax purposes ...
Personal income minus personal income tax payments and other government deductions. It is the personal income available for people to spend or save; also called take-home pay. It may be a ...

Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.