Washington Real Estate Law
Lesson 4:
Interests in Real
Property
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Introduction
In this lesson:
 estates in land (freehold and leasehold),
 encumbrances,
 easements, and
 liens.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Estates
Estate: Interest in land that is (or may become)
possessory.
Estate may be:
 freehold, or
 leasehold.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Estates
Freehold estates
Freehold estate: Possessory interest in real
property of indefinite duration.
Two types of freehold estates:
 fee simple estate, and
 life estate.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Freehold Estates
Fee simple
Fee simple estate: The most complete type of
ownership interest in land.
Fee simple estates are:
 inheritable,
 transferable, and
 perpetual.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Fee Simple
Types of fee simple estates
There are two types of fee simple estates:
 fee simple absolute, and
 fee simple defeasible.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Types of Fee Simple Estates
Fee simple absolute
Unless purchase and sale agreement specifies
another estate, a fee simple absolute is assumed.
 The fee simple absolute is the most common
type of estate.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Types of Fee Simple Estates
Fee simple defeasible
Fee simple defeasible estate: Ownership will
terminate if certain event specified in deed occurs
(such as failure to use land in particular manner).
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Fee Simple Defeasible
Types of fee simple defeasible
There are two types of fee simple defeasible
estates:
 fee simple determinable (a.k.a. qualified fee),
and
 fee simple subject to condition subsequent
(a.k.a. conditional fee).
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Types of Fee Simple Defeasible
Fee simple determinable
Fee simple determinable estate: Property will
automatically revert back to grantor if certain
conditions aren’t met.
This estate is created by words such as “so long
as” or “until such time as.”
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Types of Fee Simple Defeasible
Fee simple determinable
Example: Grantor gives land to city “so long as it
is used for school purposes.” Eventually city no
longer needs the land for a school. Property
automatically reverts back to grantor or her heirs.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Types of Fee Simple Defeasible
Subject to condition subsequent
Fee simple subject to condition subsequent:
Estate may revert back to the grantor if certain
conditions aren’t met.
Unlike determinable estate, grantor or her heirs
must take legal steps to recover property if
condition isn’t met—reversion doesn’t occur
automatically.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Freehold Estates
Life estate
Life estate: An estate owned for the length of
someone’s lifetime.
Example: Ken dies, leaving land to charity, but
grants life estate in land to his sister. Sister may
live on land for the rest of her life. On her death,
land automatically passes to the charity.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Life Estates
Future possessory interest
Future possessory interest: The interest held by
the person who gets the property when the life
estate ends.
There are two types of future possessory
interests:
 estates in remainder, and
 estates in reversion.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Future Possessory Interest
Estate in remainder
Estate in remainder: A future interest held by
someone other than the grantor of the life estate.
Example: George leaves his second wife, Wilma,
a life estate in the family home, with the remainder
interest to his children from his first marriage.
Wilma can use and possess the property for the
rest of her life. On her death, the property will
pass automatically to the children, who are known
as remaindermen.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Future Possessory Interest
Estate in reversion
Estate in reversion: A future interest held by the
grantor of the life estate.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Future Possessory Interest
Waste
Waste: The destruction or damage of property by
a life tenant.
Life tenants are prohibited from committing waste.
(Those with future possessory interests are
entitled to receive the property in reasonable
condition.)
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Life Estates
Trusts
Trusts provide the same benefits as life estates,
with the additional safety of a trustee who looks
out for the interests of the parties.
 Thus, life estates are rarely used these days.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Life Estates
Trusts
When trust is used like a life estate, trustee holds
title to property for the life of beneficiary. When
beneficiary dies, property passes to whoever
grantor has named in the trust.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Estates
Leasehold estates
A leasehold estate is a more limited interest in
property than freehold estate.
 The holder of the leasehold (the tenant) doesn’t
own the property, just has exclusive right of
possession for a time.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Leasehold Estates
Types of leasehold estates
There are three types of leasehold estates in
Washington:
 tenancy for a specific term (a.k.a. estate for
years or term tenancy),
 periodic tenancy, and
 tenancy at will.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Types of Leasehold Estates
Estate for years
The estate for years lasts for a fixed term,
specified by a start and end date.
 Despite name, term may be for any length of
time—three months or two years.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Types of Leasehold Estates
Estate for years
Example: Ramon is a college student renting an
apartment for one semester. The lease gives him
the right to possess the apartment from August 20
until December 31. Ramon’s tenancy is an estate
for years because it is for a specific time period.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Types of Leasehold Estates
Estate for years
An estate for years lease terminates automatically
at the end of the specified rental period.
 The parties may agree to terminate the lease
sooner (called surrender).
Tenant with an estate for years may assign or
sublease his interest unless lease prohibits it.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Types of Leasehold Estates
Periodic tenancy
A periodic tenancy continues from period to
period, and renews itself indefinitely.
 Tenancy ends only when landlord or tenant
gives notice of termination.
 Most periodic tenancies are month-to-month.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Types of Leasehold Estates
Periodic tenancy
In Washington, a periodic tenancy may be
terminated by written notice from either party
(landlord or tenant) 30 days or more before the
end of the rental period.
 However, if the tenancy is covered by the
Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA), it may
be terminated by written notice from either
party 20 days or more before the end of the
rental period.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Types of Leasehold Estates
Tenancy at will
A tenant at will possesses property with the
permission (or at the will) of the owner.
 A tenancy at will has no specified termination
date and no periodic time limits.
 Usually no rent is paid, or else rent is
nonmonetary (such as manual labor).
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Types of Leasehold Estates
Tenancy at sufferance
Tenancy at sufferance occurs when tenant started
out with a valid lease, but then remains on
premises without landlord’s consent when lease
expires.
 Tenancy at sufferance isn’t really an estate,
because tenant has no right of possession.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Types of Leasehold Estates
Tenancy at sufferance
Because tenant (called a holdover tenant) has no
possessory interest in the property, landlord
doesn’t have to give him notice of termination.
 To remove tenant, landlord must follow proper
eviction procedures.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Summary
Estates
 Freehold estate
 Leasehold
 Fee simple estate
 Estate for years
 Fee simple absolute  Periodic tenancy
 Tenancy at will
 Fee simple
defeasible
 Tenancy at
sufferance
 Life estate
 Remainderman
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Encumbrances
Encumbrance: A nonpossessory interest in real
property that encumbers or burdens title.
Encumbrances are either financial or nonfinancial.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Encumbrances
Nonfinancial encumbrances: Encumbrances that
affect the property’s use or physical condition,
such as easements.
Financial encumbrances: Encumbrances that
affect only the property’s title; they are called
liens.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Nonfinancial Encumbrances
Easements
Easement: A right to use someone else’s land for
a particular purpose.
Easements are nonfinancial encumbrances.
 A homeowner’s title insurance policy should list
all easements on property.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
Positive and negative
An easement may be either positive or negative.
 Positive easement authorizes a party to do
something on another’s land, and may include
right to take something from the land (such as
gather fruit).
 Negative easement prohibits a landowner from
doing something on her own land (a.k.a.
restrictive covenants).
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
Positive and negative
Positive easements can be either:
 appurtenant, or
 in gross.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
Appurtenant
An appurtenant easement benefits a particular
piece of land.
 Dominant tenement is land that receives benefit
of easement.
 Servient tenement is land over which easement
runs.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
Appurtenant
Example: Albright owns a landlocked piece of
property with no access to the road. Albright has a
right-of-way easement to travel over Schindler’s
neighboring property to reach the road.
The Schindler property is the servient tenement
because the easement runs across it. The Albright
property is the dominant tenement because it
benefits from the easement.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
Appurtenant
An appurtenant easement runs with the land.
 If the land is transferred (sold, inherited, or
gifted), easement goes with it.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
In gross
Easement in gross: A right of use that belongs to
an individual or commercial entity rather than
being appurtenant to a piece of land.
 There is no dominant tenement, only a servient
tenement across which the easement runs.
 A personal easement in gross cannot be sold
or assigned. If easement holder dies, easement
terminates.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
In gross
Most easements in gross are commercial rather
than personal.
 Commercial easements in gross are freely
assignable and transferable.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
Creating easements
Easements can be created by:
 express grant or reservation,
 plat maps,
 implication from prior use or necessity,
 estoppel, or
 prescription.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Creating Easements
Express easements
Express easement: An easement created via a
deed or other legal document.
Example: David sells the west half of his property
to Martha. In the deed, he expressly grants
Martha the right to use the private road located on
his half of the property.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Creating Easements
Plat maps
Plat map easement: Express easement created
by recording a plat map.
If a landowner subdivides and sells land according
to a recorded plat, the purchasers acquire
easements to use the roads, alleys, and all
common areas shown on the plat.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Creating Easements
Implication
Implied easement: Easement found to exist
because circumstances suggest the parties meant
easement to be created.
 Arises only when tract of land was originally
under common ownership (owned by the same
individual) and then was divided into two or
more parcels.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Creating Easements
Implication
The existence of these easements may be implied
by either:
 prior use, or
 obvious necessity.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Creating Easements
Implication
For easement to be implied from prior use, the
use must be:
 long-term,
 readily apparent from visual inspection of the
property at time of sale, and
 reasonably necessary for enjoyment of the
dominant tenement.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Creating Easements
Implication
If easement is essential to a parcel of property, a
court may find an easement by necessity even if
there is no apparent prior use.
Example: If a lot is completely landlocked with no
access to roads, and no express easement has
been given, an easement by necessity may be
found to provide access to the road.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Creating Easements
Estoppel
Easements can also be created by estoppel—a
person acts in a way that suggests an easement
exists and so that person can’t later deny that the
easement exists.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Creating Easements
Prescription
Easement by prescription: An easement created
by someone making long and continuous use of
another’s property without permission.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Creating Easements
Prescription
To acquire easement by prescription, use of
easement must be open and notorious.
 This means use must be clearly visible to
landowner if she visited the property.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Creating Easements
Prescription
Use must also be hostile or adverse, meaning
without permission of owner.
 If owner knows of use and does not object—but
also does not give permission—use is hostile.
 If owner gives consent, a license has been
granted, and an easement by prescription
cannot develop.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Creating Easements
Prescription
In Washington, use must be continuous and
uninterrupted for ten years.
 Continuous does not mean constant, but only a
continuous use that is normal for that property.
Note: There can be no prescriptive easements
against government property.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
Maintenance and repair
Neither party has duty to maintain or repair
easement unless that duty is stated in the
easement grant or a maintenance agreement.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
Termination
Easements may terminate by various means:
1. express agreement (document may be called a
release),
2. automatic termination (if grant creating
easement specifies an end date),
3. condemnation (taken by government for public
use on payment of just compensation),
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
Termination
4. implied termination (implied by actions of
parties or circumstances beyond the parties’
control),
5. merger (when easement owner also becomes
owner of property subject to the easement),
6. end of necessity,
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
Termination
7. abandonment (must be shown by clear act
showing owner’s intent—nonuse alone not
enough),
8. failure of purpose (easements created for a
particular purpose terminate when the purpose
is met),
9. destruction of servient tenement (when
easement exists in a building and building is
destroyed),
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
Termination
10. estoppel (conduct of easement holder makes
servient property owner believe that
easement won’t be used, and owner spends
money or other resources on this
assumption), and
11. prescription (acts by owner of servient
property that interfere with easement’s use;
prescriptive use must be open, continuous,
and uninterrupted for ten years).
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
Compared to licenses
Easement is not license.
License: Permission to enter another’s property
for a specific purpose. Does not create an interest
in the property.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
Compared to licenses
 Easements often for indefinite period; licenses
usually more temporary.
 Easements can’t be revoked; licenses can.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Easements
Compared to licenses
 Easements usually created by written
agreement or action of law; licenses often
created by verbal agreement.
 License is personal right; can’t be sold or
otherwise transferred, and expires if licensee
dies.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Encroachment/Trespass/Nuisance
Three common sources of neighbor disputes:
 encroachment,
 trespass, and
 nuisance.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Encroachment/Trespass/Nuisance
Encroachment
Encroachment: A structure or object that extends
over property line into neighbor’s land (fence,
garage, shed, etc.).
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Encroachment/Trespass/Nuisance
Encroachment
Most encroachments are unintentional, resulting
from mistake concerning exact location of property
line.
 A court can order encroachment removed.
 If removal cost is too high, court can order
encroacher to pay damages.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Encroachment/Trespass/Nuisance
Trespass
Trespass: Entry onto another’s land without
permission or legal authority, violating landowner’s
right to exclusive possession.
 Hunting on someone’s property without
permission is example of trespass.
 In the case of leased property, trespass
violates tenant’s right to exclusive possession.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Encroachment/Trespass/Nuisance
Trespass
Trespass is a tort—an injury against a person or
property, though trespass may also be a criminal
act.
 Trespass includes invading property with a
substance or object (such as parking a car in
someone’s driveway without permission).
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Encroachment/Trespass/Nuisance
Nuisance
Nuisance: Any activity that substantially interferes
with an owner’s use and enjoyment of property, or
with the general welfare of the community.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Encroachment/Trespass/Nuisance
Nuisance
Public nuisance: A nuisance that affects entire
community or neighborhood.
Private nuisance: A nuisance that affects only one
person or just a few people.
Court can issue injunction to stop nuisance.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Summary
Easements
 Encumbrances
 License
 Easement
 Encroachment
 Appurtenant
 Trespass
 Dominant tenement  Nuisance
 Servient tenement
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
A lien is a financial encumbrance on property that
gives a creditor the right to have a debt paid out of
the debtor’s property if the debtor fails to pay.
 Lienholder does not own or possess the
property, but could cause property to be sold to
satisfy lien.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
Liens against property don’t prevent its sale or
other transfer, but new owner takes property
subject to the liens.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
Classification
Voluntary liens: Liens owner places against his
own property, usually to secure repayment of a
debt (like mortgage or deed of trust).
Involuntary liens: Liens that arise through
operation of law, without requiring property
owner’s consent (like property tax liens).
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
Classification
General lien: Attaches to all debtor’s property.
Specific lien: Attaches only to particular piece of
property (a deed of trust attaches only to the
property offered as security for the loan).
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
Real estate liens
Some common types of liens against real estate:
 mortgages and deeds of trust,
 construction liens,
 judgment liens, and
 tax liens.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Real Estate Liens
Mortgages and deeds of trust
Mortgages and deeds of trust are placed by
borrower on a piece of his property to secure a
loan.
 These liens are voluntary and specific.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Real Estate Liens
Construction liens
Construction liens are filed by suppliers of
materials or labor against a property to secure
payment for the materials or labor.
 These liens are involuntary and specific.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Construction Liens
Filing
A construction lien is created by filing notice of the
claim at the recorder’s office in county where
property is located.
 Laborer or supplier can waive right to file a
construction lien, but waiver must be clearly
stated in the contract.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Construction Liens
Notice
Strict notice rules:
 Laborers and suppliers must give general
contractor and property owner a written preclaim notice of right to claim a lien.
 Pre-claim notice must be served personally or
by certified or registered mail.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Construction Liens
Claim
Lien claim must be filed within 90 days after last
performing work or furnishing materials for the
project.
 Lien filed more than 90 days after labor or
materials were last furnished is invalid.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Construction Liens
Foreclosure
Construction liens must be foreclosed judicially
(through court system).
 Foreclosure action must be brought within eight
months after lien was recorded, in the county
where the real estate is located.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Construction Liens
Termination
Property owner terminates construction lien by
paying the debt underlying the lien.
 In Washington, owner may also release a
construction lien by giving a bond or paying the
amount owed into court to cover a potentially
valid claim.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
Judgment liens
Judgment liens arise from a court ruling that one
party owes money to another. The court enters a
judgment, and winner (judgment creditor) obtains
a judgment lien against property owned by loser
(judgment debtor).
 This type of lien is involuntary and general.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Judgment Liens
Attachment
Judgment lien automatically attaches to all of
debtor’s property in the county where the
judgment was entered, except to the debtor’s
principal residence (homestead).
 Lien will attach to homestead property if the
judgment creditor records an abstract of
judgment with the county recorder.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Judgment Liens
Attachment
If debtor owns property in other counties,
judgment creditor may file abstract of judgment in
other counties and attach the additional
properties.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Judgment Liens
Attachment
Judgment lien also attaches to any property
acquired by the debtor during the lien period.
Example: Glen owns two acres of land in
Snohomish County. He loses a lawsuit and a
judgment is entered against him. The winner
obtains a lien against Glen’s property for the
judgment amount. Two months later, Glen’s father
dies, leaving Glen property in Snohomish County.
The judgment lien also attaches to this property.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Judgment Liens
Attachment
Once a judgment lien has attached to property,
the debtor must pay the judgment to free the
property from the lien.
 If judgment not paid, property can be sold to
satisfy the debt.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Judgment Liens
Termination
Judgment lien can be terminated by paying the
amount owed.
 Judgment liens also terminate according to
statutory limitations.
 In Washington, a judgment lien is generally
valid for ten years, although lienholder may
seek a ten-year extension.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
Tax liens
Tax liens are placed against real property to
secure payment of annual property taxes, special
assessments, income taxes, etc.
Real property is assessed (appraised) and then
taxed according to its value.
 Liens for property taxes are involuntary and
specific.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Tax Liens
Special assessments
Special assessments are taxes levied by
municipalities to pay for local improvements (such
sewer lines).
 Special assessments are levied only against
those properties that actually benefit from the
improvement.
 An unpaid special assessment becomes an
involuntary, specific lien against the property.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Tax Liens
Income taxes
Unpaid federal income taxes give rise to a lien.
 Income tax liens are involuntary and general.
 Liens apply to all property owned by the
taxpayer, both personal and real.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
Lien priority
A piece of property may have several types of
liens against it (mortgage, construction lien, tax
lien, etc.).
Liens may total more than the property is worth,
meaning all the liens won’t be paid in full.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
Lien priority
Liens are not paid on a pro rata basis.
 Liens are usually paid in the order they were
recorded.
 The lien recorded first is paid first.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
Lien priority
Exceptions to the first to record rule:
 Property tax liens and special assessment liens
are superior to all other liens against the
property. They have first priority, even if
another lien was recorded first.
 Construction lien priority is based on date work
or materials are first provided.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
Protecting the debtor
When a creditor forecloses a lien, money from the
foreclosure sale may not cover the amount owed.
To recover the remainder, creditor may get a
deficiency judgment—a court order requiring the
debtor to pay the creditor the remaining amount.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
Protecting the debtor
Limits on the right to obtain deficiency judgments:
 No deficiency judgment is available after a
trustee’s sale under deed of trust.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
Protecting the debtor
Homestead law: A state law that can help protect
family residences from foreclosure of some types
of liens.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
Protecting the debtor
Washington law provides automatic homestead
exemption for property used as a principal
residence:
 A homestead is exempt from foreclosure of
judgment liens for up to the value of the
property or $125,000, whichever is less.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Liens
Protecting the debtor
Use of the homestead exemption is fairly rare,
because it doesn’t offer protection against:
 mortgages or deeds of trust,
 construction liens,
 tax liens,
 child support or spousal maintenance
obligations, or
 condo or homeowners association liens.
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.
Summary
Liens
 Specific lien
 General lien
 Construction lien
 Foreclosure
 Priority
 Judgment lien
 Special assessment
 Homestead exemption
© Copyright 2010 Rockwell Publishing, Inc.