Here are the definitions you need:
Your bankruptcy attorney can help you determine whether or not the special assessment was part of your bankruptcy proceeding.
Your answer depends on the nature of the HOA lien, the nature of the bank lien, the state law and the governing documents in effect for the HOA. There is no standard.
A homeowners' association would file a labor and materials lien entitled Assessment Lien. See the HOA covenants for more information on liens. I would recommend that the HOA retain a real estate attorney to prepare and file the liens.
It would be improper for an HOA to file a lien if there is no legal reason to file such a document.
Read your governing documents to determine that you have an automatic lien on a unit based on monthly assessments.Contact a condominium-savvy attorney and with your governing documents and the unpaid unit's assessment ledger, determine the amount of the formal lien to be filed with the local court.
In South Carolina, a homeowners association (HOA) lien is valid for a period of three years. This timeframe begins from the date the lien is recorded. If the debt remains unpaid, the HOA may take legal action to enforce the lien within that three-year period. If no action is taken, the lien may become unenforceable after this time.
When improvements become determined and fixed.
Best practices dictate that you work with the association attorney to prepare and file any lien on the part of an HOA. An improper lien, or an improper filing of a lien can be used by the owner to escape the action.
Actions such as sending collection notices, filing a lawsuit, obtaining a judgment, or initiating foreclosure proceedings against a property would likely qualify as proceedings to enforce a lien or collect a debt for unpaid HOA assessments in Maryland. Any action taken by the HOA that aims to recover unpaid assessments through legal means can be considered part of the enforcement process.
The lien can be reported to a credit reporting agency.
Your answer depends on the priority of the lien among the debts owed against the title. Clean title cannot pass to a new owner until the lien is satisfied in some way. In some states HOA liens are given a special status, much like property tax liens, regardless of their recording order/priority. See related link.
Yes. A note on the interest part--your state's law will dictate what interest, if any, you will receive. And you will assume the HOA's liability--if the lien is later declared invalid, you will be responsible for the homeowner's court costs. Make sure that it is a part of the sale of the lien that the HOA will cooperate in any foreclosure proceedings that might occur to collect the lien--without them, the homeowner will likely win.