Subordination of an Assessment Lien to Mortgages

Can someone please tell me what the heck this means??

Section 9. Subordination of the Lien to Mortgages. The lien of the assessments provided for herein shall be subordinate to the lien of any mortgage or mortgages now or hereafter placed upon the properties subject to assessment; provided, however, that such subordination shall apply only to the assessments which have become due and payable prior to a sale or transfer of such property pursuant to a decree of foreclosure, or any other proceeding in lieu of foreclosure. Such sale or transfer shall not relieve such property from liability for any assessments thereafter becoming due, nor from the lien of any such subsequent assessment.

In layman's terms:
Subordination of the Lien to Mortgages: (the order in which liens are collected with regard to Mortgages).

The lien of the assessments provided for herein shall be subordinate to the lien of any mortgage or mortgages now or hereafter placed upon the properties subject to assessment; (any liens made by the HOA for non payment of dues/assessments are considered "Secondary" to primary Mortgage liens, and will be paid only after the mortgage lien is filled)

provided, however, that such subordination shall apply only to the assessments which have become due and payable prior to a sale or transfer of such property pursuant to a decree of foreclosure, or any other proceeding in lieu of foreclosure. (this secondary status ONLY applies to liens that were filed BEFORE the property is foreclosed).

Such sale or transfer shall not relieve such property from liability for any assessments thereafter becoming due, nor from the lien of any such subsequent assessment (foreclosure on the propertly does not keep the HOA from filing NEW liens for assessments unpaid AFTER the foreclosure, so you can file new liens on the bank or new owners).

It means the lender gets paid first unless the lien came before the lender made the loan.