How to Search for Seattle Property Records

Property records are public, and anyone can access them without a reason. There are various types that contain a wealth of information like deeds, ownership history, easements, mortgage documents, maps, plats, liens, foreclosures, and more. The key to finding what you need is knowing where to look. Below are the most common government sources available.

King County Recorder's Office

The King County Recorder's Office is where residents go to file new documents like deeds, mortgages, bills of sale, liens, etc. King County makes it easy for you to find records by using their search tool. Older records prior to August 1991 can be found at the King County Archives.

King County Department of Assessments

If you are searching for tax records, tax liens, and property values, the King County Assessor is the office to check. You can download records from the office's website or visit in person at the King Street Center Customer Service Center, 201 South Jackson Street, 2nd floor, Seattle, WA 98104.

Seattle Services Portal

The Seattle government set up the Seattle Services Portal so people can easily find building permits and related property information. You can search by property address or record number and narrow your search by many different categories.

Seattle Municipal Court

You can also find property records with the Seattle Municipal Court. Filings for liens (mechanic's/judgments), foreclosures, bankruptcies, divorce cases with property, and probate records are available through the courts and public records. Visit in person to request any records you need.

Property taxes fund the majority of services within King County, like road maintenance, transportation, schools, healthcare, bridges, and government salaries, among other things. The King County Treasurer collects property taxes and sends out bills. You can pay your Seattle property taxes online, by mail, in person, or via secure drop box. Over the years, Seattle residents have voted for levy increases to pay for better parks, transportation, and more affordable housing.

Assessments

The King County Assessor is responsible for determining the value of each property within county borders for tax purposes. This office also handles tax exemptions and approvals. You can contact them to get property values, assessments, tax information, and tax liens for non-payment of property taxes.

Appraisals

Appraisals are another method of valuing property. Lenders most often use appraisals before allowing a buyer to borrow money. The appraisals ensure that the property is worth more than the borrower needs. It is insurance for the lender. Estate planners and the probate courts also use appraisers to determine the value of Seattle property.

Tax Rates

Seattle is one of the largest cities in King County, and it has an average effective tax rate of 0.85% of the assessed value. That is less than the national average of 0.99%. Homes in Seattle are very expensive, and property taxes are high (the average homeowner pays $6,800/year) compared to other big cities in America. Compared to other counties in Washington, taxes vary a lot. For example:

• Adams County 0.802%
• Douglas County 0.909%
• Jefferson County 0.912%
• King County 0.925%
• Lewis County 0.903%
• Pacific County 0.954%
• Spokane County 0.950%
• Walla Walla 0.833%
• Yakima 0.924%

The statewide average for property taxes in Washington is 0.919%.

Exemptions

Not everyone can easily afford their property tax payments. Therefore, the city of Seattle offers programs to help. They allow qualified individuals discounts on their property tax. These are called exemptions. The available property tax exemptions in Seattle include:

• Senior - 61 or Older
• Disabled Person
• Disabled Veteran
• Low-Income Family - $84,000/year or less

Apply for these exemptions with the King County Assessor's Office.

The Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections is the government office responsible for issuing building permits. They say that the process of applying is different based on the type of project you need one for. You must have a permit before building new construction, demolishing, or renovating a structure. Some of the types of building permits available in Seattle include:

• Boiler & Pressure Vessel Permit
• Construction Permit - Addition or Alteration
• Construction Permit - Establishing Use
• Construction Permit - New Building, Multifamily, Commercial, Mixed Use, or Industrial
• Construction Permit - New Building, Single-Family Residential or Duplex
• Construction Permit - Subject-to-Field-Inspection
• Construction Permit - Temporary Structures & Uses
• Demolition Permit - Building
• Earthquake Home Retrofit Permit
• Electrical Permit
• Elevator & Escalator Permit
• Emergency Repair Permit
• Fire Alarm Permit
• Grading Permit
• Mechanical Permit
• Re-Roof Permit
• Residential Deconstruction
• Side Sewer Permit
• Sign, Awning, & Billboard Permit
• Tenant Improvement Permit (Blanket)
• Tree Removal

A big part of the permitting process is inspections. The building inspector schedules routine inspections of the work being done. The work must be redone if anything does not comply with local building or safety codes.

Seattle, Washington, has a population of 755,078 residents. The city has 385,745 housing units. That total includes 21,402 congregate residences. About one-third of all residences are detached homes. Four in ten homes are apartments. The different types of housing units in Seattle include single-family homes, apartments, townhomes, studio apartments (one-room), cottage houses, rowhouses, micro-units, single-resident occupancy units, co-living units (university housing), and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The average price of a home in Seattle is $825,000. House prices rise roughly 7% each year. Some neighborhood comparisons are:

• Belltown (98121) $600,000
• Greenwood (98103) $675,000
• Wallingford (98103) $947,500
• Lower Queen Anne (98109) $575,000
• Broadway (98102) $502,500
• First Hill (98104) $570,000
• Denny Triangle (98101) $744,313
• South Lake Union (98109) $519,650
• Waterfront (98101) $688,374
• Downtown (98165) $731,778
• East Queen Anne (98119) $1,048,962
• West Queen Anne (98109) $1,149,048
• Westlake (98109) $649,798

Despite building 46,000 new housing units, Seattle still has a housing shortage. One Seattle Comprehensive Plan will build another 330,000 in the coming years. The median list price in Seattle is $750.000, and the median price per square foot is $584.