Md. Code Ann., Com. Law § 9-334
Priority of security interests in fixtures and crops
Effective Jul 1, 2001Added by Acts 1999, c. 282, § 2, eff. July 1, 2001. Amended by Acts 2001, c. 408, § 2, eff. July 1, 2001.State of Maryland
- (a) 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 title in ordinary building materials incorporated into an improvement on land.
- (b) This title does not prevent creation of an encumbrance upon fixtures under real property law.
- (c) 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) 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) 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 title 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) 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) The priority of the security interest under subsection (f)(2) continues for a reasonable time if the debtor's right to remove the goods as against the encumbrancer or owner terminates.
- (h) 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) 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.
- (j) Subsection (i) prevails over any inconsistent statutes of this State.
Added by Acts 1999, c. 282, § 2, eff. July 1, 2001. Amended by Acts 2001, c. 408, § 2, eff. July 1, 2001.