Spokane County Assessor
Use the Washington Department of Revenue county directory to reach the Assessor about parcel and assessed-value records. An assessed value is not the sale price or a current lien or tax payoff.
Spokane, Washington · Spokane County
Can I Sell My Spokane House With Back Taxes or Liens?
When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing. Yes, you can sell a Spokane or Spokane County house with back taxes or liens. We buy houses as-is, so you do not need to repair or clean the house before selling to us.
Start with the address and whatever tax bill, lien notice, payoff information, or court paper you have. The title company and the office or lienholder named in your records check the current amounts and closing details.
Call 888-274-5006 — we answer 24/7 — or use the form to ask for a cash offer.
We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Tell us the address and what you know about the tax bill, lien, payoff, or notice.
How lien and tax payoffs work
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing.
The tax office or lienholder provides the current amount and instructions for paying or releasing its claim. The title company checks the property title and coordinates those figures for closing. A parcel assessment or older public record is not a current payoff amount.
A mortgage balance, lien payoff, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate settlement items. Closing costs and lien payoffs are not the same thing.
Start with the records you have
The property address is enough to start the conversation. A parcel number, tax bill, lien or court notice, creditor name, case number, payoff statement, or mortgage information can help identify the question. If a notice shows a date, share it and check its current status with the office or trustee named there.
You can call before you have every record or know the exact balance. The responsible tax office or lienholder confirms its current amount; the title company checks the title and the payoff information needed for the sale.
If the payoff is more than the house is worth
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.
The lender or other lienholder confirms the current payoff and any changed terms. The title company checks the written figures and release instructions for the specific sale.
What happens next
1. Talk through the house and the notice
Tell us the Spokane address, what you know about the house and the lien or tax account, and any date that concerns you. Start with what you have; you do not need to finish gathering records before calling.
2. Review the written offer and terms
We discuss the house as it stands and give you the proposed price and terms in writing before you decide.
3. Confirm title and payoff details
The title company checks ownership and recorded claims for the transaction. It coordinates with the tax office, creditor, or lienholder for current payoff and release information, then shows how those amounts fit the closing figures.
4. Review the figures and close
The closing figures show the sale price, payoffs, applicable taxes, and other costs. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs; your liens are paid from the sale at closing. The title company confirms the final amounts and documents for the transaction.
Spokane County offices and tax-sale questions
Use the office that matches the record or notice. The county assessor handles parcel and assessed-value records; the treasurer is the route for property-tax account questions. A mortgage foreclosure and a property-tax delinquency or sale are different processes.
Spokane County Treasurer
Use the Department of Revenue directory to reach the Treasurer about the property-tax account, a delinquency, or the status of a tax notice. Check the notice and confirm any current amount or date directly with the office.
Spokane County Superior Court and Clerk
For a court case or court-filed matter, use the case details and contact the Clerk to ask where the record question belongs. The Washington Courts directory lists the court at 1116 W Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260-0350, phone 509-477-5790; the Clerk is at Room 300, Spokane, WA 99260-0090, phone 509-477-2211.
Mortgage foreclosure or trustee's sale
A deed-of-trust trustee's sale is separate from a county property-tax matter; a court-ordered foreclosure follows its own court case. Check the exact notice and current sale status with the named trustee or servicer, or the court named in the case.
Washington DFI foreclosure information Washington deed-of-trust foreclosure statute
Washington real estate excise tax (REET)
Washington calls its transfer tax real estate excise tax, or REET. The Department of Revenue says it is generally paid by the seller; if the seller does not pay, the buyer is responsible, and unpaid REET can become a lien on the property. The state portion is graduated by taxable selling price and classification, with local REET added, so the exact amount depends on the property and transaction. The settlement agent confirms the current rate, any exemption, and amount for the sale.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Washington real estate excise tax.
Closing costs do not include the seller's mortgage, liens, back taxes, or share of current property taxes; those remain separate settlement items.
Compare what you might keep after the payoffs
Enter your own sale price, mortgage and lien payoffs, taxes, repairs, and selling costs to compare possible net proceeds. The calculator is an estimate; the title company confirms actual payoff and closing figures.
What our sellers say
“LISTEN, PROPERTY TAXES GOT TOO HIGH FOR MY FIXED INCOME. SOLD IT TO THEM. WALKED AWAY WITH CASH. GLAD IT'S OVER.”
“Facing foreclosure ... Very stressful time... They handled it professionally and got me out of the debt...”
“no open houses. no realtors tracking dirt in. just a straight cash sale for our house so we could move. Glad it's over.”
Spokane property lien and back-tax questions
Can I sell my Spokane house with back taxes or liens before paying them?
When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing. Yes. USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in Spokane and Spokane County. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing. The current amount and release instructions are checked with the responsible office or lienholder and the title company.
Who checks the current lien or property-tax payoff?
The tax office or lienholder supplies the current amount and payoff instructions. The title company checks the property title and coordinates the payoff details for the sale. An assessment or public record is not the same as a current payoff amount.
What should I have ready before I call about back taxes or a lien?
Start with the property address and whatever you have: a parcel number, tax bill, lien or court notice, creditor contact, payoff statement, mortgage information, or a notice with a date. You can call before you have everything.
Which Spokane County office handles property-tax and court-record questions?
Use the Washington Department of Revenue county directory to reach the Spokane County Treasurer about a property-tax account and the Spokane County Assessor about parcel or assessed-value records. For a court case, the Washington Courts directory lists the Spokane County Superior Court and Clerk at 1116 W Broadway Ave; the Clerk is in Room 300 and lists 509-477-2211.
Is a property-tax sale the same as a mortgage foreclosure sale?
No. A county property-tax delinquency or tax-sale notice is separate from a mortgage or deed-of-trust foreclosure. For a tax matter, check with the Spokane County Treasurer and the office named on the notice. For a mortgage foreclosure, check the current notice with its named trustee or servicer, or the court if it is a court case.
What if the payoff is more than my Spokane house is worth?
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before. The lender or other lienholder confirms the current payoff and any changed terms; the title company checks how the written figures fit the sale.
Who pays Washington real estate excise tax when I sell?
Washington calls its transfer tax real estate excise tax, or REET. The Department of Revenue says it is generally paid by the seller; if the seller does not pay, the buyer is responsible, and unpaid REET can become a lien on the property. The amount depends on the taxable selling price, classification, and local rate. The settlement agent confirms the current amount and any exemption. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Washington real estate excise tax. Mortgage payoffs, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate.
How do I ask for a written cash offer?
Call 888-274-5006 — we answer 24/7 — or use the form on this page. We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
Talk through the property
Start with the Spokane address and the tax bill, lien, or notice you have. Use the form above or call 888-274-5006. We answer 24/7.