What term refers to a lien placed on a property that must be satisfied when the property is sold?

The correct term for a lien that must be satisfied when the property is sold is a mortgage lien. A mortgage lien is a legal claim against the property made by a lender to secure the repayment of a loan. When the property owner sells the property, the mortgage lien must be paid off, typically from the proceeds of the sale, before the seller can transfer clear title to the buyer. This ensures that the lender is compensated for the loan that was extended, safeguarding their financial interest in the property.

In contrast, involuntary liens are typically placed against a property without the consent of the owner, such as tax liens or judgment liens, and while they also must be cleared upon sale, they are not specific to the relationship created by borrowing money to purchase a property. Operational liens do not denote a standard category in real estate terminology and are often related to service contracts, while conditional liens are not widely recognized terms in real estate and do not directly relate to the context of property sales. Thus, the mortgage lien is the most appropriate term that accurately reflects the obligation tied to property sales.