Yakima County Treasurer ↗
Ask about the property-tax account, tax notices, and the County's tax-foreclosure information. Tax Division: 509-574-2800. Room 115, Yakima, WA 98901.
Yakima, WA · Yakima County · Property liens and back taxes
Can I Sell My Yakima 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. USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in Yakima and Yakima County, Washington. You can call about the house before you have every tax notice or payoff statement. A title company checks ownership and recorded claims, while the creditor or county office confirms its current balance and instructions.
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, with written terms before you commit and a title-company closing.
Call 888-274-5006. Phone coverage is 24/7.
Talk through your Yakima lien or tax question
Share the property address and whatever you have about the tax account, notice, lien, or payoff. You can start before every record is gathered.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Tell us the address and what you know about the tax notice, payoff, creditor, or lien.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
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 current amount and instructions come from the creditor or tax office, and the title company works those figures into the settlement. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Washington real estate excise tax. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate from the closing costs we pay.
Records that help—and who checks them
A lien is a legal claim that can affect the property or the money due at closing. A payoff is the creditor's or tax office's current amount and instructions to satisfy an obligation. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims; the lender, lienholder, or Treasurer supplies current payoff information for its account.
If you have them, keep the property address or parcel number, tax bill or notice, lender payoff statement, lien or court notice, case number, and recorded documents nearby. An assessment or parcel record is not a payoff or a complete title search. You can call with what you have and add records as the questions come up.
We discuss the house as it stands and give you written terms to review before you decide. You do not need to settle the records before making the call.
If the payoff is the problem
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.
What happens next
The conversation comes first. These are the steps for reviewing a sale, not conditions you have to finish before calling.
1. Tell us about the house and the notice
Share the Yakima address, what you know about the property, the creditor or office named, and any amount or date on the paperwork. Start with what you know.
2. Review the written terms
We discuss the house as it stands and put the proposed price and sale terms in writing. You can read the terms before deciding whether to commit.
3. Check title and payoff details
The title company reviews ownership and recorded claims for the transaction. The creditor, lender, or county office confirms its current payoff amount and instructions so the closing figures can be prepared.
4. Review the settlement statement and close
The settlement statement lists the sale price, payoffs, taxes, closing costs, and amount left after those items. The title company coordinates closing, and the transfer deed is recorded.
Yakima County tax foreclosure is separate from mortgage foreclosure
Yakima County publishes information for a Real Property Tax Foreclosure Auction. If your notice concerns delinquent property taxes or a county tax-foreclosure auction, check the current account, notice, and sale status with the County Treasurer. The timing and status for a particular parcel come from its current county record and notice.
A lender foreclosure under a Washington deed of trust follows a separate trustee-sale process; a court-ordered foreclosure follows its court case. Those are not the County Treasurer's tax-foreclosure auction. Check the exact notice and current sale status with the lender or trustee, or with the court handling the case.
Yakima County real-property tax foreclosure auction information → · Washington Department of Financial Institutions foreclosure information → · Washington deed-of-trust foreclosure statute →
Yakima County offices for tax, court, and property records
These County offices are at 128 N 2nd Street in Yakima. Use the one that matches your question; a county record or assessment does not replace the title company's review of the specific sale.
Yakima County Auditor Recording Division ↗
Contact the Recording Division about recorded documents and recording inquiries. Phone: 509-574-1400. Room 117, Yakima, WA 98901.
Yakima County Assessor's Office ↗
Use this office for assessment and parcel-record questions, not a payoff or title determination. Phone: 509-574-1100. Room 112, Yakima, WA 98901.
Yakima County Superior Court ↗
Use the Court contact route for local superior-court matters named in a court notice or case. Phone: 509-574-2710. Room 314, Yakima, WA 98901.
Washington real estate excise tax (REET)
Washington calls its transfer charge real estate excise tax (REET). The Department of Revenue says the seller generally pays it; if the seller does not pay, the buyer is responsible, and unpaid tax can become a lien on the property. The state portion is graduated by taxable selling price and classification, and local REET is added. The amount depends on the property's location and transaction, so the settlement agent confirms the current rate, any exemption, and amount on the REET affidavit and settlement statement.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Washington real estate excise tax. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes remain separate from the closing costs we pay.
Compare possible net proceeds
Use the Yakima home-sale calculator to compare a sale price or written offer with your mortgage payoff, lien or tax amounts, repairs, carrying costs, and other selling costs. Net proceeds are what remains after costs, not the sale price. Just an estimate — the actual number could be more or less depending on the home's condition.
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.”
Yakima property liens and back-tax questions
Can I sell a Yakima house with back taxes or liens before paying them?
Yes. When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing. Your lien and tax balances are checked for the property and handled through the closing; you can call before you have every notice or payoff statement.
How are lien and tax payoffs handled at closing?
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing. The title company and the responsible creditor or county office confirm the current balance and payoff instructions for the property.
What should I have ready when I call about a lien or back taxes?
Start with the Yakima property address and whatever you have: a parcel number, tax notice or bill, lender payoff statement, lien or court notice, creditor or case number, or county record. You can call before you have all of it.
Are a Yakima County tax-foreclosure auction and a mortgage foreclosure the same process?
No. The County Treasurer publishes information about the real-property tax foreclosure auction. A lender foreclosure under a deed of trust uses a separate trustee-sale process, while a court-ordered foreclosure follows its court case. Check the notice and current status with the office, lender, trustee, or court named on it.
Which Yakima County office handles property-tax balances and tax foreclosure?
The Yakima County Treasurer handles property-tax account questions and publishes the County real-property tax foreclosure auction information. Use the Tax Division contact in the local offices section to ask about the current account, notice, and sale status.
Who pays Washington real estate excise tax when I sell?
Washington calls it real estate excise tax, or REET. The Department of Revenue says the seller generally pays it; if the seller does not pay, the buyer is responsible, and unpaid tax can become a lien. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Washington real estate excise tax. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes remain separate.
What if the payoff is more than my Yakima house is worth?
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.
Talk through the property
Use the form above or call 888-274-5006. You can start with the Yakima address and the notice or payoff information you have.
See the Yakima market report →