Order a title report. Recorded liens show up there. If you're working with a real estate agent, they can pull a report for you or make a quick call to a title company to check. Keep in mind that most homes carry at least one lien already, because the mortgage itself is a lien. Beyond that, other claims can attach to a property: an unpaid contractor's mechanics lien, tax liens, judgments, and similar recorded items. If you're selling, this happens automatically. Opening escrow kicks off a title examination, any liens surface as a normal step toward closing, and they generally have to be cleared or paid off before the sale completes. One limitation to know: a lien recorded within the last week or two might not appear yet because of recording lag. If you have reason to think something new was just filed, tell the title company so they can look for it specifically.