US Lawyer Database

  • (a) Security interest in fixtures under this article. A security interest under this article may be created in goods that are fixtures or may continue in goods that become fixtures. A security interest does not exist under this article in ordinary building materials incorporated into an improvement on land.

  • (b) Security interest in fixtures under real-property law. This article does not prevent creation of an encumbrance upon fixtures under real property law.

  • (c) General rule: subordination of security interest in fixtures. In cases not governed by subsections (d) through (h), a security interest in fixtures is subordinate to a conflicting interest of an encumbrancer or owner of the related real property other than the debtor.

  • (d) Fixtures purchase-money priority. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (h), a perfected security interest in fixtures has priority over a conflicting interest of an encumbrancer or owner of the real property if the debtor has an interest of record in or is in possession of the real property and:

    • (1) the security interest is a purchase-money security interest;

    • (2) the interest of the encumbrancer or owner arises before the goods become fixtures; and

    • (3) the security interest is perfected by a fixture filing before the goods become fixtures or within 20 days thereafter.

  • (e) Priority of security interest in fixtures over interests in real property. A perfected security interest in fixtures has priority over a conflicting interest of an encumbrancer or owner of the real property if:

    • (1) the debtor has an interest of record in the real property or is in possession of the real property and the security interest:

      • (A) is perfected by a fixture filing before the interest of the encumbrancer or owner is of record; and

      • (B) has priority over any conflicting interest of a predecessor in title of the encumbrancer or owner;

    • (2) before the goods become fixtures, the security interest is perfected by any method permitted by this article and the fixtures are readily removable:

      • (A) factory or office machines;

      • (B) equipment that is not primarily used or leased for use in the operation of the real property; or

      • (C) replacements of domestic appliances that are consumer goods;

    • (3) the conflicting interest is a lien on the real property obtained by legal or equitable proceedings after the security interest was perfected by any method permitted by this article; or

    • (4) the security interest is:

      • (A) created in a manufactured home in a manufactured-home transaction; and

      • (B) perfected pursuant to a statute described in § 9–311(a)(2).

  • (f) Priority based on consent, disclaimer, or right to remove. A security interest in fixtures, whether or not perfected, has priority over a conflicting interest of an encumbrancer or owner of the real property if:

    • (1) the encumbrancer or owner has, in an authenticated record, consented to the security interest or disclaimed an interest in the goods as fixtures; or

    • (2) the debtor has a right to remove the goods as against the encumbrancer or owner.

  • (g) Continuation of paragraph (f)(2) priority. The priority of the security interest under paragraph (f)(2) continues for a reasonable time if the debtor’s right to remove the goods as against the encumbrancer or owner terminates.

  • (h) Priority of construction mortgage. A mortgage is a construction mortgage to the extent that it secures an obligation incurred for the construction of an improvement on land, including the acquisition cost of the land, if a recorded record of the mortgage so indicates. Except as otherwise provided in subsections (e) and (f), a security interest in fixtures is subordinate to a construction mortgage if a record of the mortgage is recorded before the goods become fixtures and the goods become fixtures before the completion of the construction. A mortgage has this priority to the same extent as a construction mortgage to the extent that it is given to refinance a construction mortgage.

  • (i) Priority of security interest in crops. A perfected security interest in crops growing on real property has priority over a conflicting interest of an encumbrancer or owner of the real property if the debtor has an interest of record in or is in possession of the real property.