Lien
A legal claim against property that secures a debt; on a manufactured home it is often recorded on the certificate of title.
Published May 31, 2026
A lien is a legal claim against property that secures a debt or obligation. If the debt is not paid, a lienholder generally has rights against the property — which is why a lien must usually be paid off and released before the property can be sold free and clear.
On a manufactured home treated as personal property, a lender's lien is typically recorded on the home's certificate of title, much as an auto lender's lien appears on a car title. That is how a chattel loan is secured. When a home becomes real property through title retirement, a debt against it is instead secured as a mortgage or deed of trust recorded in the land records.
Liens are not only for loans. Other parties — for example, contractors or taxing authorities — can sometimes place liens as well, depending on state law.
This is general information, not legal advice.