Lien on the Horizon: What to Do When an Old Lien Stops Your Closing

On closing day a clear title is everything—so what happens when an old lien appears in the final title report and the lender refuses funding? In this episode Matthew Halliday opens with a real escrow tale where a decade-old contractor lien and a missed HELOC release threatened to blow the deal. In a focused ten-minute monologue he breaks the situation down into three actionable lessons: how to read title exceptions and lien releases, negotiating practical escrow holdbacks and payoff instructions, and communicating the right documentation to lenders and title companies to avoid delays. Listeners get concrete scripts, checklists, and a step-by-step sequence to protect earnest money and keep closings on schedule. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, agent, or seller, you’ll leave with clear next steps to spot title trouble early and close with confidence.