Maturity

A claim placed on a home by someone who didn’t receive payment for construction work completed on the property

Almost all states allow workers who make improvements on a property, including contractors, painters, architects, carpenters, plumbers and even the gardener, to put a lien against your home if you don’t pay them. This lien will appear on a preliminary title report and you cannot sell the property until you pay it.

Though not common, a mechanic’s lien can lead to a foreclosure, which is when the creditor gets a court order tohave your home sold to pay off the debt. The "mechanic" has up to 90 days to get the court order, if they miss the time frame they can still sue you for the money owed.

See: Lien