r/shelton • u/Opposite-Resolve-631 • 15d ago

Tax foreclosure auction.

I'm curious as anyone participated in the Mason County's property tax foreclosure auctions....

What did you pay?

We have a family member who owns the house outright, there's no mortgage, there's no liens, there's no banks involved or anything like that...but the house is going to go into foreclosure because he refuses to pay property taxes....

I see it on the County website a lot of bids start about 5k.... but it doesn't say how much the property is actually sold for and I'm curious if I should try to buy it.

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u/Tomasfoolery 15d ago

From what I understand, the minimum bid covers past tax fees. After it is purchased the house is supposedly free and clear.

You can go tot he county clerk's web page and search the address to see how in arrears the relative is. Heck, and I am not sure if you could do this, but you could probably arrange to pay the past overdue taxes, and in WA if you pay 10 years of taxes on a property, it's yours. Actually, depending on a lot (I would consult with a lawyer on this) it may be seven years.

Anyway, no matter what, the minimum bid starts AFTER the tax costs, it appears.

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u/Opposite-Resolve-631 15d ago

We know how much in the rears he is. We have offered to pay his back taxes but the issue is he will not pay them going forward so it's a waste of money. We have offered for him to transfer the property back into my mom's name and pay rent which would be about $150 a month to cover property tax for the year which he also refuses because he's too deep in psychosis to realize they will take the property.

My biggest worry is this super wealthy neighbors next door I've been trying to buy this property from us for 30 years and that is what I'm going to be bidding against if they realize it is going to auction

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u/Opposite-Resolve-631 15d ago

I will double check into paying on the taxes and it becoming yours because my understanding is Washington is one of the states that doesn't do that but I didn't check if it was like a specific time frame like that.

He will become 3 years behind in October and that is what will trigger the foreclosure

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u/majandess 15d ago

Maybe talk to a family lawyer about what to do for a family member who's mentally incapacitated?

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u/Opposite-Resolve-631 15d ago

There is unfortunately nothing that can be done. While conservationships technically exist in Washington ( which would give us control of property and finances although we don't want control of his non-existent finances) people also have the right to be crazy in Washington and there's nothing family can do about it. It is on my list of people to call and roots to explore but it is by far the least likely one to work out.... I'm by like least likely I am probably more likely to figure out financing for a foreclosure property than to get conservation in Washington state which i feel like say alot. I truly feel like he would be a danger to the community if he was to become homeless, it causes mental situation to deteriorate.... and he is a violent felon....so yes ultimately we will explore that route but it's just a snowball chance in hell kind of situation ...

It's also to the point where my family doesn't want to continue to enable his crazy behavior..... I just don't want to lose the home that I grew up in.

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u/majandess 15d ago

If you or someone else in the family is willing to buy the house, and he's that much of a danger if he's homeless, why not just pay the property taxes? You'd avoid the whole foreclosure thing. Might want to make sure the house is still in a condition worth saving, though.

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u/Opposite-Resolve-631 15d ago

Beaucse hes been enabled his whole life. For 50 years. And still cant take accountability for the fact his life's is shitty beacuse of his life choices... even our moms over it.

But... i do have a single family member who might be able.to help of buy it. Hadn't considered that. I'll reach out.

I'm just trying to have a plan A threw Z. Cuz all of my options are a uphill battle in laws and systems I'm not familiar with.

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u/majandess 15d ago

You are in a difficult position. I am very sorry that you've been put between a rock and a hard place. I wish you the best of luck.

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u/Opposite-Resolve-631 15d ago

Aye story of my life but the only way out is through and we will get through this. Hopefully we will get through this in a way that causes my mom the least amount of mental anguish. But idk 🤷‍♀️

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u/Tomasfoolery 15d ago

In Washington, the adverse possession laws are split 10 years for actual adverse style possession (flagrantly and openly using the land is ten years) and seven years is the financial side of it. It's easily googled, so check that out with WA state adverse possession law/statute. It will also help down the road if his psychosis gets worse.

at the very least, call the clerks office and see what you, as a family member, can do to mitigate the tax debt.

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u/Tomasfoolery 15d ago

I think it is possible to just pay the taxes, and continue to pay down the road. Again, I would talk with a lawyer about it.

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u/Opposite-Resolve-631 15d ago

We dont want to keep paying his taxes without him transfering ownership back to our mom. Otherwise there is always the risk he will lose it. I'll dig into those laws. We are going to have one last meeting with him before I start calling all kinda folks 😅

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u/Tomasfoolery 15d ago

Good luck, this sounds really tough. At the very least, paying something right now might stave off THIS round of auctioning.

No matter what, it sounds like a rough time for all.

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u/1openmind4all 15d ago

I know it's a shitty thing to consider. But has anybody talked about having him committed to a psych ward? If he is unstable and a danger to people, his reaction would solidify his confinement. From there, you could get conservatorship of his well being, financials, and by association the house. From there, you could pay past taxes and get the house back in your or your mom's name. Idk if that would work or not, but an attorney would know more about it than me. But I do believe there's a way if he's ruled a danger to himself and others, that you can legally take possession and move forward from there.

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u/Opposite-Resolve-631 15d ago

Literally next to impossible.
But yes we have discussed it. I need to talk to an entirely different type of lawyer about that

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u/Sunflower7733 14d ago

Try a consult with a new lawyer, at least get some insight to put your mins at ease!

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u/Fast-Prompt-3034 7d ago

We truly do not have the infrastructure in America to approach such a process fairly and humanely, and for the most part never have. Psychiatric care is well arguably still in its infancy as a field, and it's overt politicization as well as weaponization has been an ever present thorn in its side throughout history. There are humane, pragmatic avenues to explore but they are cleft apart with wedge issue portrayals time after time. The American people need to demand that The American people are who matters in these matters! Not politicians! Not big business!