Real Estate Glossary

The decision of a court of law. Money judgments, when recorded, become a lien on real property of the defendant.

A lien placed against the real property of a judgment debtor. An involuntary lien.

A mortgage creating a lien which is inferior or subordinate to a prior lien. Foreclosure of a junior mortgage will not extinguish a lien which is superior to it. See Also: First Mortgage

In a condemnation proceeding, the term refers to the amount paid to the property owner. The theory is that in order to be "just" the property owner should be no richer or poorer then before the taking.