In one sentence
The UCC-1 filing that perfects a lender's security interest in personal property and fixtures, filed with the state and sometimes the county records.
The longer version
Real estate loans still involve personalty: equipment, accounts, contracts, and fixtures. The security agreement grants the interest; the UCC-1 filing perfects it against third parties. Fixture filings record locally against the land records.
Diligence includes UCC searches to find existing filings that must be terminated or subordinated, and post-closing includes continuation statements every five years. Lapsed continuations are a classic quiet failure that audits catch.
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