The Zlien NJ info defines an Owner as: “Owner” means any person, including any public or governmental entity, who has an interest in the real property to be improved and who has contracted with a prime contractor for such improvement to be made. “Owner” shall be deemed to include any successor in interest or agent acting on behalf of an owner. We have , as architects, been hired by a developer who has a signed resolution/agreement from the city to purchase property on which we have done extensive work, including site plan submission for zoning planning board application to obtain successful approvals for the development of the property. If we place a lien, the current official property owner on record is the City, since the developer has not yet executed the purchase of the property. However, it seems, as defined above, that the developer would still be considered as "successor in interest or agent acting on behalf of an owner". In this situation, can we still place the lien on the property? We have proof and record of the transfer rights contract.