A lien on the property is not Debt; it's secured against financial removal of real property when that owner owes someone for something that can be attached to real property. I have put liens on property more often than I'd like, for purposes of unpaid Water bills, unpaid Architectural design; even a property Tax can be liened. At most, it is like HELOC or credit card interest.
@qbteachmt I was making a point, that a Debt secured by a lean on the real property for an improvement to a primary residence, "MAY" be interpreted (by some) to allow the interest to be deducted as Home Mortgage Interest. Where an unsecured debt would ( in my opinion) be clearly not deductible.