Final answer:
The mortgage lien is given higher priority over current real estate taxes and mechanic's liens. Option A
Step-by-step explanation:
The mortgage lien is given the highest priority among the options listed.
When a property is mortgaged, a lender places a mortgage lien on the property to secure the loan. This lien takes priority over other liens.
In the case of current real estate taxes, they are generally considered superior to other liens, including mechanic's liens, but they are still subordinate to the mortgage lien.
A mechanic's lien for work started prior to the mortgage would have a lower priority than the mortgage lien.
Therefore, the correct answer is A. mortgage lien.