How do I put a lien on a home? I tried to purchase the home and the seller didn't disclose that they had an existing lean already on the property. So now my 5K that I put down as the earnest money deposit is stuck in an escrow account because the seller wont sign the mutual release even though it was their issue that didn't allow them to perform. I also paid a contractor approximately 15K on home improvements to the house. I moved out because I couldn't buy the house and now they're trying to sell it for 100K more than what I was going to buy it for? I live in California.