We Buy Houses in King County, Washington

A cash home buyer is an investor or company that purchases homes directly using cash, allowing for a faster, smoother sale with no financing contingencies. No lender sits in the middle, so there is no loan approval step to wait on. The sale still leaves a paper trail in King County. A title company or closing office handles the money. The deed is then recorded with the King County Recorder's Office at 201 S. Jackson Street in Seattle. A Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit goes in with it, and the county says that affidavit is generally the only document that shows the purchase price. Later, the sale shows up in the sale history on the Assessor's eReal Property site. So cash does not mean off the books. It means one fewer party with a say over your closing date. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Selling fast can help you avoid foreclosure, relocate for a job, settle an estate, or handle a financial emergency without the delays of a traditional listing. Some costs keep running while a house sits, and property tax is one of them. King County collects it in two halves. The first half is due April 30. The second half is due October 31. When a date lands on a weekend or a county holiday, the bill is due the next business day. County tax statements go out once a year, in mid-February. A late half starts to pick up interest. For a home with four or fewer units, state law sets that interest at 9 percent a year, figured monthly. A vacant house also needs insurance, utilities and upkeep. Selling fast stops all of it. If a tax half is already late, call us before the balance grows. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Direct cash buyers and companies like As-Is Home Buyer specialize in fast, as-is purchases throughout King County. Anyone with the money can pay cash. That includes an investor, a company or a household. You can check any buyer in public records before you share your address. Start with the King County Recorder's online records search. Enter the name with the last name first, such as Doe, John. Online records start with documents recorded on August 1, 1991, so a buyer that has bought before will have deeds under its name. If the buyer is a company, look it up in the Washington Secretary of State's business search. Type the business name or its UBI number. The record shows the business type, its current status and its expiration date. A company with no record, or an expired one, owes you a clear answer before you sign anything.

We review your property, make a no-obligation cash offer — often within 24 hours — and close on your timeline, usually in as little as 7 days. Here is what happens after you say yes. A title company or closing office opens the file. It searches the title for mortgages, judgments and other recorded claims. It asks your lender for a payoff figure. It also prepares the excise tax affidavit that King County requires before a deed can be recorded. You pick the date. On closing day you sign the deed, and any payoff is paid out of the sale price. The deed then goes to the Recorder. The Recorder stops recording at 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, so ask the closer what time your deed will go in. You owe us no fees and no commissions. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

No. We cover closing costs and charge no commissions or hidden fees, unlike a traditional real estate sale. That includes the Real Estate Excise Tax, which Washington law puts on the seller under RCW 82.45.080. The county collects it before the deed is recorded. To see why it matters, take a $700,000 sale under the state tiers that run through December 31, 2026. The first $525,000 is taxed at 1.1 percent, which is $5,775. The next $175,000 is taxed at 1.28 percent, which is $2,240. The state share is $8,015, before the local share the county adds on top. On a listing sale, that comes out of the seller's proceeds. On our offers, it does not. The full tier list is in the excise tax section on this page. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Most cash sales close in 7–14 days, depending on your situation and title. We can make an offer within 24 hours and close in as little as 7 days. A few steps sit outside our control. The title company needs your payoff figure. Anyone with a recorded claim on the house must be paid or released. If the house sits in a trust or an estate, the signer's authority has to be shown first. Washington's disclosure rule can add days too. Under RCW 64.06.020, a seller owes the buyer a completed disclosure statement within five business days after acceptance, unless the parties agree otherwise. The buyer then has three business days to rescind. A buyer can waive the statement, which removes that wait. Tell us your latest workable closing day, and we plan backward from it. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Yes. We buy houses in any condition — no repairs, cleaning, or staging required. As-is describes the condition of the house. It does not remove the paperwork. Washington's disclosure chapter, chapter 64.06 RCW, asks sellers about roof leaks, basement flooding, settling and foundation defects. Some sales are exempt, including a foreclosure, a sale by an estate's personal representative, and a sale where the buyer waived the statement. The buyer cannot waive the environmental section if any answer there would be yes. You do not need a contractor's bid, a new roof or fresh paint first. If the roof leaks or the basement floods, say so. It goes into the price, not into a repair list for you. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Typically the title/deed, basic property disclosures, and a photo ID for verification. Gather a short list. First, your parcel number. If you do not know it, the Assessor's Parcel Viewer can find it. Second, your deed. Recorded deeds are searchable on the Recorder's site, and a parcel search covers 1997 to the present. Third, your latest property tax statement. Fourth, a mortgage payoff request, if you have a loan. Fifth, a photo ID. If the house is in a trust, bring the trust pages that name the trustee. If an owner has died, bring a certified death certificate and the court papers that name the personal representative. At closing, all parties sign the excise tax affidavit that goes with the deed. You do not need repair quotes or an appraisal to start. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Yes — we’re happy to talk through the numbers and how we arrived at your offer. Bring what you know about the house. King County's eReal Property site shows the Assessor's record for your parcel: valuations, property characteristics, levy rates and sale history. If that record has the wrong bedroom count, or misses a finished basement, tell us. If the house has a problem the record does not show, tell us that too. Photos, bids and inspection reports help. Price is one lever. Closing date, move-out time and what stays with the house are others. We would rather give you a fair number you accept than a high number that falls apart before closing. Nothing is final until you sign. You can say no and owe us nothing.

We routinely handle liens and title issues as part of closing. They get paid from the sale price at closing. The title search reads the King County Recorder's records, and you can search those yourself by name or parcel number. A court judgment is a lien for up to ten years from the day it was entered, and it can be extended (RCW 4.56.190). A contractor's claim of lien must be recorded within 90 days after the work stopped (RCW 60.04.091). The claimant then has eight calendar months after recording to file suit (RCW 60.04.141). Each lien has its own payoff amount, so the title company gets a written figure for each one. If the total owed is more than the sale price, tell us early. A short sale may be an option. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Speed, certainty, no repairs, no commissions, and a close date you choose. Speed and certainty come first. After that, the tax rules are worth a look. Washington's capital gains excise tax does not apply to real estate, so a house sale does not trigger it. On the federal side, you can exclude up to $250,000 of gain from income, or $500,000 on a joint return. You must have owned the home and lived in it as your main home for at least two of the last five years. The two-year tests count back from the sale date, so the closing date matters. A cash sale gives you control of that date. There is no buyer loan to fall through. There are no open houses. And you owe no commissions. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Yes — a fast cash sale can help you avoid foreclosure and protect your credit. A trustee's sale cannot take place less than 190 days after the date of default (RCW 61.24.040). The Notice of Trustee's Sale must be recorded at least 90 days before the sale, or 120 days when a pre-foreclosure letter is required. You can cure the default by paying what is due at any time up to the eleventh day before the sale (RCW 61.24.090). If you sell instead, the payoff comes out of the sale price at closing. For free help, the state's Foreclosure Fairness Program offers housing counseling at 1-877-894-HOME (4663). A counselor can refer you to mediation, and the referral has to reach the state no later than 90 days before the sale date. Call us with the sale date on your notice. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Yes, we purchase tenant-occupied rentals and handle the details. Washington limits how a landlord can end a tenancy. Under RCW 59.18.650, a landlord cannot end a periodic tenancy except for the reasons the statute lists. One listed reason is that the owner elects to sell a single-family home. That path takes at least 90 days of advance written notice. The owner must then make reasonable attempts to sell within 30 days after the tenant leaves. The statute presumes no intent to sell if the owner does not list the home in that time. A fixed-term lease cannot be cut short unless both sides agree in writing and the tenant gets at least 60 days to vacate. Send us the lease, the rent amount and the deposit, and we will price the house either way. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Absolutely — we buy inherited and probate properties and can work alongside your attorney. An inherited or probate house can be sold. The court side runs through the King County Superior Court, with probate hearings in Seattle and in Kent. If you hold the will, state law says to deliver it within 30 days after you learn of the death (RCW 11.20.010). The court can give a personal representative nonintervention powers. With those powers, the representative can sell real property without a court order and without notice to anyone. The representative must still act in good faith for everyone interested in the estate (RCW 11.68.090). That is why the court papers matter to a buyer and a title company. Send us the court papers when you have them, and we will start on the price. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Yes, a quick, clean cash sale is often the simplest way to divide a property. Washington treats property acquired after marriage as community property. Under RCW 26.16.030, neither spouse can sell, convey or encumber community real property unless the other joins in the deed, and both must acknowledge it. So each spouse's signature is required, not optional. The court can enter a dissolution decree only after 90 days have passed since the petition was filed and, where it applies, since service (RCW 26.09.030). During the case, the court can also restrain either spouse from transferring, removing or disposing of property (RCW 26.09.060). Check for such an order before anyone signs. Ask your attorney how the proceeds should be held or divided. We can close on a date that fits your case. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Yes — we specialize in homes that need major work. Foundation and structural problems do not stop us. They go into the price. Washington's seller disclosure statement asks about settling and foundation defects, so answer it honestly. Then check the ground. King County's iMap has an Environmentally Sensitive Areas layer that shows potential landslide hazard areas. The county says that map does not identify actual landslide hazards for specific properties. A separate county layer outlines seismic hazard areas, where loose soils and shallow groundwater raise the risk of settlement and liquefaction in an earthquake. Both layers are general-reference tools. If your house sits in or near a mapped area, send us the address. If you have an engineer's report, send that too. You do not need to fix anything first. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Demand across Washington makes King County a strong market for a fast, fair cash sale. Start with the county's size. The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey counts 2,287,171 people and 1,003,284 housing units in King County. Of the 941,054 occupied homes, 521,805 are owner-occupied and 419,249 are rented. The median value of an owner-occupied home is $859,900. Those are county-wide figures, and your street can differ. Two public sources help you check it. The Assessor's eReal Property site shows each parcel's sale history. The excise tax affidavits at the Recorder show purchase prices for sales near you. Pull both before you compare any offers, ours included. Fast and fair depends on your house, not on a county average. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Reputable buyers are transparent and can provide proof of funds — ask us and we’ll show you. Ask for proof of funds before you share more. That means a bank or brokerage letter that shows the buyer can pay the price in cash. Ask for the purchase agreement in writing, and read every page. It should name the price, the closing date and the title company. Never wire money to a buyer, and never pay a fee up front. We charge you no fees. Have an attorney review the contract if you want a second set of eyes. A buyer who rushes you past these steps is telling you something. Ask who will close the sale, and call that office yourself. Call (323) 622-6021 and ask us for it. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Yes — we cover the closing costs on our side of the transaction. On a King County closing statement, those lines include the excise tax, the county's affidavit fee, recording of the deed, and title and escrow charges. The Recorder's page says the affidavit costs $10 when no tax is due and $5 plus the tax when it is taxable. At least $10 is due in fees or tax on a deed. The county collects before it records the deed. Washington law makes the tax the seller's obligation, so it is the line to read on any offer. Ask any buyer, ours too, for a written closing statement before you sign. If a number on it surprises you, ask why. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

At As-Is Home Buyer, we provide a quick, efficient solution for King County homeowners who need to sell fast — immediate cash offers and flexible closing dates. We’ve streamlined the process: no costly repairs, minimal paperwork, and a fair price based on your home’s condition. With us you can expect a stress-free sale, a quick close, and a competitive offer.

A house sale in King County runs through a few county offices. The Assessor holds the property record. The Recorder files the deed. Treasury Operations collects the property tax. The Superior Court hears probate cases. You can work through each office yourself, or you can hand us the address and let us run the steps.

Call Now! (323) 622-6021

Tell us about the house

1. Fill in the form or call (323) 622-6021 for a quick chat about your house. Give us the address. Before we call you back, we look up the parcel on the Assessor's eReal Property site and read its record.

Get your cash offer

2. Get your cash offer — in person or over the phone, right away. You hear from us within 24 hours. We explain what the number is built on: where the house sits, what shape it is in and how big it is.

Pick your date and collect your cash

3. Collect your cash. We handle the paperwork; you pick the closing date. It can be as soon as 7 days out, and you pay no closing costs.

We’re your direct as-is home buyers in King County. The process is quick, transparent, and fair — immediate cash purchases, flexible closing dates, and competitive rates with no paperwork or repairs on your end. Offer prices depend on the property’s location, condition, and size.

As-Is Home Buyer buys King County houses directly, with its own cash. No agent stands between you and the buyer, and no lender has to approve a loan. We begin with the public record on the Assessor's site, then adjust for what we see in photos or in person. If the house needs a new roof, a foundation fix or a full clean-out, that is built into the number. It is not a to-do list for you.

Sell to us and avoid agent commissions, closing costs, repairs, and cleaning. We buy houses all over King County for any reason, including:

Situations We Buy Houses In

Avoiding foreclosure

Mortgage foreclosure and tax foreclosure run on different clocks. Bring whichever notice you have, and we will read the dates with you.

Repairs too expensive

A bad roof, a sagging floor or a failing drain stays our problem, not yours.

Divorce settlement

Both spouses sign the deed. We work around your case schedule.

Inherited house

Probate hearings are held in Seattle and in Kent. Send us the court papers when you have them.

Landlord/tenant issues

Occupied or vacant, we buy rentals either way.

Downsizing or relocating

Move on your date. We close when you are ready.

Dealing with us means dealing with a direct buyer — we make our own decisions and don’t rely on third parties. No cleaning, no repairs, no hassle. We charge no fees and no commissions, and we cover the seller's closing costs. You do not stage the house or hold open houses.

Call (323) 622-6021 or fill out the form and we’ll get right back to you.

We purchase homes across Washington in all conditions — from short sales to distressed, vacant, inherited, and fire-damaged properties. No waiting, no open houses, no last-minute cancellations: just a straightforward cash offer from a direct home buyer.

King County by ZIP Code

Here is how King County breaks down.

The county in numbers

King County's own list names 39 cities and towns. The county has 2,130 square miles of land. The unincorporated part covers 1,713 of those square miles and had 250,225 residents in the state's 2025 estimate. About 90 percent of the county's people live in cities. We buy houses in both.

Our five city pages

Each city page carries its own details. The ZIP codes below come from King County's address-point file.

• Seattle: addresses use ZIP codes from 98101 to 98199.
• Bellevue: 98004, 98005, 98006, 98007 and 98008.
• Kent: 98030, 98031, 98032 and 98042.
• Renton: 98055, 98056, 98057, 98058 and 98059.
• Federal Way: 98003 and 98023, plus part of 98001.

Shared ZIP codes

ZIP codes do not follow city lines. ZIP 98042 holds both Kent and Covington addresses. ZIP 98004 holds Bellevue, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Yarrow Point and Beaux Arts addresses. Check the postal city on your own mail.

Unincorporated communities

Some ZIP codes sit outside any city. The address file puts none of its points in Fall City (98024) or Vashon (98070) inside a city. King County Local Services holds weekly office hours in unincorporated communities, including Fall City and Vashon. Skykomish (98288) is a town of its own, and its ZIP code also covers addresses outside the town.

Assessor

The Assessor's eReal Property site shows valuations, property characteristics, levy rates and sale history for a parcel. If you do not know the parcel number, the Assessor's Parcel Viewer can help you find it.

Recorder

The Recorder's Office is at 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 204, in Seattle. The counter is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, and recording ends at 3:30 p.m. The phone line, listed on the Recorder's website, answers from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The online records search finds deeds by name, parcel, document type or recording date. A parcel search covers 1997 to the present, and it takes the first ten digits of the parcel number.

Superior Court

Seattle

Probate and guardianship hearings are in Room W-325 at the King County Courthouse. They start at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Kent

The Maleng Regional Justice Center holds the same hearings in Room 1J, on the same days and at the same time.

Original wills

The Clerk's Office in Seattle or Kent will hold an original will. After the person dies, the will becomes a public record. Questions about any of these offices? Contact us.

The Real Estate Excise Tax, or REET, is the tax on a property transfer. Washington law makes it the seller's obligation. King County collects it, and it must be paid before the deed is recorded.

How the Tax Is Figured

State rate tiers

Tier limits for 2023 through 2026

Portion of the sale price, and the state rate on it:

• Up to $525,000: 1.1 percent
• $525,000.01 to $1,525,000: 1.28 percent
• $1,525,000.01 to $3,025,000: 2.75 percent
• Above $3,025,000: 3 percent

Tier limits starting January 1, 2027

Portion of the sale price, and the state rate on it:

• Up to $551,000: 1.1 percent
• $551,000.01 to $1,551,000: 1.28 percent
• $1,551,000.01 to $3,051,000: 2.75 percent
• Above $3,051,000: 3 percent

Local share and fees

A local REET is added to the state tax, and the Department of Revenue's calculator shows the total for an address. At the Recorder, an excise tax affidavit costs $10 when no tax is due and $5 plus the tax when tax is due. Farm and timber land is taxed at a flat 1.28 percent state rate. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

King County starts tax foreclosure on a parcel when any tax, assessment, fee or lien on it is a full three years delinquent. State law sets the same three-year mark (RCW 84.64.050). The Treasurer then files certificates of delinquency in Superior Court. Owners and anyone with a recorded interest are served with notice and summons by certified mail.

The county holds its tax foreclosure auction each September. Parcels sell where is and as is. An owner or a party with a recorded interest can redeem until the close of business on the day before the sale, by paying the full amount due. Tax deeds are recorded within 60 days after the sale. Owners of parcels in foreclosure may qualify for a one-time waiver of delinquent interest and penalties. Payments must be in certified funds. Treasury Operations answers at the phone number on its tax foreclosure page or at [email protected]. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey counts 1,003,284 housing units in King County. The median year those units were built is 1983. At the old end, 109,564 units date from 1939 or earlier, and 45,156 more from the 1940s. At the new end, 21,259 were built in 2020 or later. Half of all units, 501,874, are detached single-family houses. Another 14,084 are mobile homes, and 171,068 sit in buildings with 50 or more units.

For a seller, age is one input to the price. We price each house on its own condition, not on a county average.

Permits and code enforcement

The King County Permitting Division handles permits in unincorporated King County, so check that your address is in that area first. Its phone number is on the county permitting page. The county's code enforcement FAQ says King County does not interfere in the selling of properties while there are code violations. It also says there is no statute of limitations for code violations, and that paying penalties alone does not resolve a case. An open case does not block a sale, but it does not expire either.

Septic systems

A house on a septic system, which the county calls an on-site sewage system, must be inspected by a certified on-site system maintainer before title transfers. The seller schedules the inspection. Before closing, the seller must also record a Notice of On-site Sewage System Operation and Maintenance Requirements, unless it is already on title, and give the buyer a copy. Public Health staff review the report within 10 business days. The inspection can be waived in a few cases, such as a monitoring report done within the last 6 months. Tell us at the start if your house has a septic system, and we will plan the inspection into your closing date. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.