Tacoma WA/Pierce County Tax Auction Data Mapped Out

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  • Brandon TurnerPro Member
    Investor · Maui, HI · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    11y

    That's awesome @Jason K. - thanks! Anyone from the Seattle or Tacoma markets should probably see this. Sadly I'll be out of town this day, but I look forward to hearing stories of anyone who attends! 

    Podcast Guest on Show #92
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  • Nghi Le
    Investor / Lender · Seattle, WA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 730 votes
    11y

    Have you guys gone to the tax auctions and had success with it?  I've heard that not that many deals exist; they're usually picked up by investors before the properties go to the auction, and whatever is left is either land or are just not worth it.

    I also heard that the redemption period is 3 years in Washington state, so even if you did steal a deal at the auction, you're at risk of losing it back to the homeowner in 3 years?

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  • Account Closed
    Kirkland, WA · Member since 2014 · 71 posts · 18 votes
    11y

    @Nghi Le  - Washington State law gives a statutory redemption period of one year.

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  • Jason K.
    OP
    Property Manager · Tacoma, WA · Member since 2014 · 24 posts · 20 votes
    11y

    I've not yet personally bought a property on auction, but I've heard of some amazing deals before! I'm curious how this year will go. I hear each year is different.

    @Brandon Turner  it's online!

    1Reply
  • Bryan R.
    Tacoma, WA · Member since 2010 · 203 posts · 93 votes
    11y

    @Nghi Le 

    RCW 84.64.070. 3 year redemption period for minors or people deemed incompetent. This is why many title companies won't insure for 3 years following sale.

    @Account Closed 

    As Nghi Le says it is usually pretty slim by auction day if you're looking for SFR type stuff. Plus the tax auction generates tons of interest for some reason. I've never figured that out. Make sure to do your title work if bidding on something.

    0Reply
  • Justin Case
    Real Estate Investor · Seattle, WA · Member since 2009 · 308 posts · 61 votes
    11y

    Wow there are a ton of properties!

    This is cash only buyers?

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  • Bryan R.
    Tacoma, WA · Member since 2010 · 203 posts · 93 votes
    11y

    @Justin Case 

    Yes. Vast bulk of those "properties" are junk parcels.

    Here direct from King County's website:

    1. In 2014 the properties subject to foreclosure are those on which the 2011 full year tax is delinquent. In some cases, 2010 or earlier taxes may also be delinquent. The grace period is three years and the full year 2011 taxes will be three years past due on May 1, 2014. NOTE: It does not matter if the 2012, 2013 or 2014 taxes are paid. It is not when there are three years of taxes past due but when one year's tax is three years past due that foreclosure begins.
    2. We do not maintain a mailing list to notify people of each year's tax foreclosure. The great majority of people who ask for information never attend the auction or do any research once they find out what is required and what is involved. Further, people move without telling us and it is a waste of county resources when the list is returned. 
    3. We do not sell "tax certificates or "deeds" of any nature. In some states you may purchase a certificate of some kind showing that you paid the delinquent taxes but we don't have any information on this procedure because there is no provision for it in Washington State law.
    4. If you obtain a list from us for research purposes, remember that you will need to come into our office or visit our web site periodically to delete those accounts that were paid since your list was printed. The web site list will normally be updated daily via the technology staff after normal working hours. Due to the volume of work this information will not be provided by telephone. Parcels may be redeemed from foreclosure at any time up to the day before the auction, thus we do not know what will be in the sale until the morning of the auction.
    5. There is no redemption period after the sale except in cases where the owner on the day of the sale was either a minor child or a person adjudicated to be legally incompetent. In those cases, there is a three year redemption period.
    6. As real estate taxes are in the first lien position, the tax foreclosure extinguishes all other encumbrances including but not limited to Deeds of Trust, mortgages, contracts, liens, judgments and any similar items. However, any Local Improvement Assessments (LIDs) remain and become the obligation of the buyer. Also, Internal Revenue liens remain.
    7. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. PROPERTIES ARE SOLD ON A "WHERE IS" AND "AS IS" BASIS.

      All research must be done by the interested party. Normally this would include checking maps in the Assessor's Office and doing research through the public computer terminals in the Assessor's Office. An on-site inspection should also be made. Just because a property looks desirable on the map does not mean it is in actuality. The map does not show the topography such as ravines, hill, slopes, etc., nor does the map show what is on the property (dense growth, swamp, boulders, etc.). Some properties may be private roads covered by easements for ingress and egress. Easements are not extinguished by the foreclosure sale but remain with the land. You may not block the easement to try to extort money out of the users.

      Similarly, when you see that a property lies near or under a transmission line easement, there will likely be restrictions against building anything on the land. Transmission line easements do appear on the Assessor's maps but private easements do not.

      Some properties may be subject to use restrictions and covenants set up in the original plat. Some of these may be labeled Open Space, Open Area, Greenbelt or similar. Their use is often strictly limited. The King County Department of Developmental & Environmental Services has ruled it will not issue building permits on any such lots. You should also be aware of properties where the legal description contains the term "Drainage Easement" or Retention Pond" or similar terms.

      It is up to you to know exactly what you are bidding on. We cannot stress this too strongly. Every year people who have done little or no research or who do not know how to read a legal description buy properties that, to them, are totally useless. Knowledgeable parties who have done the proper research will avoid these properties. We do not overturn a sale and refund the purchase price because a bidder didn't know what they were bidding on, nor because they didn't understand the legal description.
    8. Do not count on buying a house at the foreclosure auction. Normally, owners of improved properties subject to tax foreclosure will raise the money to redeem the property before the sale, often at the last minute. Most houses that are foreclosed on have delinquent loans held by banks, mortgage companies or other lenders. There is no department within the county that has information on these lending agency foreclosures.
    9. Properties not sold to the public at the auction are sold to King County. These parcels are thereafter called "Tax Title Properties". Most of these parcels are of little value which is why they didn't sell at the auction in the first place. Many of these properties are "dangling strips" or "isolated triangles". The former are usually narrow strips anywhere from a few inches to a few feet wide that were left over because of an error in a legal description, a survey or platting error, or a mismeasurement by the Assessor's office. The triangles generally are created when a street or highway cuts through a lot leaving a small isolated triangle cut off from the rest of the lot or block.
    10. The County may try to sell the Tax Title Properties at some future date after the foreclosure sale. Tax Title sale information may be obtained by calling the Real Estate Services at 206-296-7494.

    11. Payment by the successful bidder must be made immediately upon winning the bid. Payment must be made by cashier's check, money order, certified check, or cash. NO OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT WILL BE ACCEPTED INCLUDING PERSONAL CHECKS, BUSINESS, CHECKS, CREDIT CARD CHECKS, TRAVELER'S CHECKS, LETTERS OF CREDIT OR SIMILAR. There are no exceptions to this policy. Checks are made payable to the King County Treasury.

      Most people bring a cashier's check made payable to King County Treasury for the maximum amount they are willing to spend, whether they intend to buy just one parcel or bid on several. If the check is for too much, King County Treasury will refund the difference. However please note King County Treasury will not provide cash refunds to parties during or after the auction, to offset cashier check overages. Expect refunds of this nature to take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks. Refund checks will no longer be provided immediately following the auction. Funds must be immediately available following a winning bid. There will not be sufficient time to acquire additional funds from the bank after a winning bid. There will be no exceptions to this policy. 
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  • Justin Case
    Real Estate Investor · Seattle, WA · Member since 2009 · 308 posts · 61 votes
    11y

    DId anyone on here go buy any of these ?

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  • Ed Larson
    Investor · Puyallup, WA · Member since 2015 · 26 posts · 0 votes
    11y

    I purchased two properties in the Pierce County sale. Still trying to decide how to clean the Treasurer's Deeds I received for resale. Quiet title, or Tax Title Services? If you live in Washington what is the best way to proceed?

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