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State guides / Washington

Washington property data

Washington keeps its land records county by county, all 39 of them, each with its own systems. Here's what's public, what's hard to get, and what Deedplat puts on one map.

  • 39Counties
  • PublicSale prices
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What you can get in Washington

Washington makes most property records public, including what each property sold for. The catch is that every county keeps them differently.

Public everywhere

Every county has these, and Deedplat loads them all.

  • Owners and mailing addressesFrom the county Assessor in each county
  • Sale pricesEach sale is reported on a real estate excise tax affidavit that states the gross selling price, filed with the county before the deed is recorded. County assessors, such as King County's, let anyone search recent sales.
  • Deeds and mortgagesCounty Auditor in most counties (the Recorder's Office in King County)
  • Assessed valuesAssessors update values every year and must physically inspect each property at least once every six years.
  • Tax deed salesRun county by county
  • Foreclosure filings and salesNotices of sale are recorded or posted
  • Lot linesCounty parcel maps

Depends on the town

Cities keep their own permits, code enforcement and rental registration records, and the Public Records Act covers city and county records as well as state records.

  • Code violations and condemnations
  • Building permits
  • Rental registration and inspections
  • Zoning maps and ordinances
  • Water and sewer liens

Not public

What no office will hand over, so you know where the line is.

  • Owner phone numbers and emails
  • Rents and leases
  • Active listingsThose live in the MLS
  • Mortgage balancesThe original loan amount is recorded; what's left is not

How property changes hands here

Distressed property reaches the market through a few channels, and they differ by county.

Tax deeds

Once taxes are three or more years delinquent, the county treasurer forecloses through superior court and sells the property at auction, often online. The buyer gets a treasurer's tax deed, usually within 30 to 60 days. Owners can pay up to the day before the sale, and after the sale there is generally no redemption except for minors and legally incompetent owners, who get three years, and IRS liens, which get 120 days.

Foreclosure mostly skips the courts

Most Washington foreclosures are non-judicial trustee sales under the Deed of Trust Act, held at a public auction after notice. Lenders can also foreclose through the courts, but that is less common.

Transfer tax

The state real estate excise tax is graduated: 1.1% on the first $525,000 of the price, 1.28% up to $1,525,000, 2.75% up to $3,025,000 and 3% above that. Those brackets rise on January 1, 2027, to $551,000, $1,551,000 and $3,051,000. Cities and counties add a local excise tax, most often 0.25% or 0.5%, and up to 2% in parts of San Juan County.

Worth knowing

The state excise tax climbs steeply on high-priced sales, reaching 3% on the part of the price above about $3 million, so it can add a lot to the cost of big deals.

Worth knowing

Tax foreclosure buyers generally take title with no redemption period, but a sale can be undone for up to three years if the owner was a minor or legally incompetent.

Every county in Washington

Choose any county to get started.

Questions

Are property sale prices public in Washington?

Yes. Washington is a disclosure state. Every sale is reported on an excise tax affidavit that lists the price, and county assessors post sales data.

How do tax sales work in Washington?

After three years of unpaid taxes, the county treasurer forecloses and auctions the property. The buyer gets a treasurer's tax deed, and in most cases the former owner has no right to redeem after the sale.

Where are deeds and mortgages recorded in Washington?

With the County Auditor in most counties. In King County, the Recorder's Office handles recording.

How often are Washington properties reassessed?

Every year. Assessors adjust values annually and physically inspect each property at least every six years.

Is foreclosure judicial in Washington?

Usually not. Most foreclosures are non-judicial trustee sales under a deed of trust. Lenders can choose a court case instead, but that is less common.

Can I get records Deedplat doesn't have?

Often, yes. Washington's Public Records Act opens most state, county and city records to anyone. We file those requests for you, clean up the results and add them to your map.

Sources for this guide

Laws and fees change. We checked these sources in October 2026; confirm with the county before you act.

Every parcel, on one map

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