September brought the steepest rise seen in months in filings by frustrated lenders and claims by contractors on distressed real estate properties in Manhattan, although the numbers still remain below the recent highs. The number of lenders filing mortgage-related liens, generally consisting of foreclosure lawsuits, doubled in September to 15 from August, while the number of contractors filing mechanic’s liens rose to 286 in the same time period, marking a 25 percent jump, according to new data provided to The Real Deal from research firm PropertyShark.com. While the increases in September were substantial, both figures remain below their peak levels seen in the recent down cycle. The greatest number of mortgage-related liens filed in a month was 26 in July 2008, and March 2009 saw the most activity for mechanic’s liens, when 371 were filed in Manhattan, the figures show. more
