deedplatState guides / Washington / King County
King County property data
Where King County's property records live, how its tax and foreclosure sales work, and what Deedplat puts on one map, including Seattle, Bellevue and Kent.
- 39Cities and towns
Where the records are
The county offices an investor deals with in King County, and what each one puts online.
Deeds and mortgages
King County Recorder's Office. Free online search of official records recorded on or after August 1, 1991; older records are on microfilm at the King County Archives.
Owners and values
King County Department of Assessments. eReal Property gives free parcel lookups with owner, assessed value and building details, and a separate free parcel sales search.
Tax sales
King County Treasury Operations. The foreclosure list is posted online each November, and the auction itself runs online at king.wa.realforeclose.com.
Foreclosure sales
King County Sheriff's Office Civil Process Unit. Court-ordered sheriff's sales of real property are now online auctions at king.wa.sheriffsaleauctions.com.
Parcel maps
King County GIS Parcel Viewer and iMap. Free parcel map search by address or parcel number, linked to Assessor records.
How property is sold here
King County follows Washington's rules, with its own calendar and offices. Read the Washington guide for how the state works.
Tax sales
Washington does not sell tax liens; the county forecloses and sells the property itself by Treasurer's tax deed once any tax is three full years delinquent. King County holds its tax foreclosure auction online each September, with the 2026 sale starting September 9 at king.wa.realforeclose.com. The property list is posted online in mid-November and printed in the Seattle Times the following June, and owners can redeem up to the day before the sale.
Foreclosure sales
Most home foreclosures in Washington are trustee's sales under a deed of trust run by private trustees, and there is no county office that tracks them. Court-ordered sheriff's sales are held by the King County Sheriff as online auctions at king.wa.sheriffsaleauctions.com.
Assessed values
The Assessor revalues property every year and physically inspects about one sixth of the county, roughly 100,000 parcels, each year.
Transfer tax
Washington charges a graduated state real estate excise tax of 1.1% on the first $525,000 up to 3% above $3,025,000 (thresholds rise to $551,000 and up on January 1, 2027), plus a 0.5% local excise tax in Seattle, Bellevue, Kent and most King County cities.
Worth knowing
King County has 39 cities and towns, led by Seattle, the county seat.
Worth knowing
The Recorder's free online index only goes back to August 1, 1991; older documents are at the King County Archives.
Worth knowing
Treasury warns that most improved properties are redeemed before the tax auction, often at the last minute.
Every town in King County
The cities, towns and townships inside the county line.
- Algona city
- Auburn city
- Beaux Arts Village town
- Bellevue city
- Black Diamond city
- Bothell city
- Burien city
- Carnation city
- Clyde Hill city
- Covington city
- Des Moines city
- Duvall city
- Enumclaw city
- Federal Way city
- Hunts Point town
- Issaquah city
- Kenmore city
- Kent city
- Kirkland city
- Lake Forest Park city
- Maple Valley city
- Medina city
- Mercer Island city
- Milton city
- Newcastle city
- Normandy Park city
- North Bend city
- Pacific city
- Redmond city
- Renton city
- Sammamish city
- SeaTac city
- Seattle city
- Shoreline city
- Skykomish town
- Snoqualmie city
- Tukwila city
- Woodinville city
- Yarrow Point town
Questions
Where are deeds recorded in King County?
Deeds are recorded by the King County Recorder's Office. Documents recorded since August 1, 1991 can be searched free online, and older ones are on microfilm at the King County Archives.
When is the King County tax sale?
King County Treasury holds its tax foreclosure auction online every September. The 2026 auction began September 9 at king.wa.realforeclose.com, with second and third offers on September 16 and 23 if needed.
How do I find who owns a property in King County?
Search the parcel by address or parcel number in the Assessor's eReal Property tool, which shows the owner, value and sales history for free.
Are King County property records online?
Yes. Recorded documents from 1991 on, Assessor parcel and sales data, and parcel maps are all free online.
Sources for this guide
Office hours, fees and sale dates change. We checked these sources in October 2026; confirm with the county before you act.
- kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/buildings-property/treasury-operations/tax-forec
- kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/buildings-property/treasury-operations/tax-forec
- kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/certificates-permits-licenses/records-licensing/
- kingcounty.gov/en/dept/sheriff/courts-jails-legal-system/sheriff-services/property-sales-a
- kingcounty.gov/en/dept/assessor/buildings-and-property/property-value-and-information/repo
- kingcounty.gov/en/dept/kcit/data-information-services/gis-center/maps-apps/parcel-viewer
- blue.kingcounty.com/Assessor/eRealProperty/default.aspx
- dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/other-taxes/real-estate-excise-tax
- dor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/84-0013-May26_REET.pdf
Every parcel in King County, on one map
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