What must happen for a lender's rights to be enforceable against third parties?

For a lender's rights to be enforceable against third parties, the security interest must not only attach to the collateral but also be perfected. Attachment occurs when the lender has a security agreement with the debtor, value has been given, and the debtor has rights in the collateral. Perfection, on the other hand, is the step that establishes the lender's rights against third parties—this is typically achieved by filing a financing statement with the appropriate governmental authority.

Without perfection, even if the lender has an attached security interest, that interest may not be enforceable against subsequent creditors or purchasers. This is crucial in secured transactions, as it provides notice to third parties about the lender's claim on the collateral, enabling them to understand that the lender has rights that could take precedence over theirs.

The other scenarios mentioned do not ensure enforceability against third parties. While having an agreement with the debtor is a necessary step for attachment, it alone does not provide notice to third parties. Filing with a court isn't a standard requirement for perfection in secured transactions, as the typical process involves filing with a state registry. Lastly, while the type of collateral, such as consumer goods, may impact certain aspects of secured transactions, it does not itself determine the enforceability of a