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How to find pre-foreclosure leads in Washington

Washington lets a trustee foreclose a deed of trust outside court, through a trustee's sale. The process runs on fixed notices and deadlines, and one of those notices is recorded with the county. Here is the sequence and where each step leaves a public record.

Updated October 4, 2026 · Checked against the sources listed at the end

Two kinds of foreclosure

A deed of trust can be foreclosed by a trustee without a lawsuit, under Washington's Deeds of Trust Act (chapter 61.24 RCW). A mortgage is foreclosed through the superior court of the county where the land lies (chapter 61.12 RCW, RCW 61.12.040).

When a lawsuit affecting title is filed, a party can record a lis pendens, a notice that the action is pending, with the county auditor (RCW 4.28.320). It has no effect unless, within 60 days of filing, the summons is first published or personally served on a defendant.

Step 1: the notice of default (mailed)

At least 30 days before the notice of sale is recorded, the beneficiary or trustee must send the borrower and grantor a written notice of default, by first-class mail and by certified or registered mail (RCW 61.24.030). It tells the owner that failing to cure within 30 days may lead to a notice of sale.

The notice of default must be mailed at least 30 days before the notice of trustee's sale is recorded. The notice of trustee's sale is the step the statute requires to be recorded with the county.

Step 2: the notice of trustee's sale (recorded)

At least 90 days before the sale, or 120 days when a letter under RCW 61.24.031 is required, the trustee must record a notice of trustee's sale with the auditor of each county where the deed of trust is recorded, and mail it to the borrower and grantor (RCW 61.24.040). The notice is also posted on the property or served on an occupant.

The notice is published in a legal newspaper in each county where the property is situated: once between the 35th and 28th day before the sale, and once between the 14th and 7th day before it (RCW 61.24.040).
The sale can't take place less than 190 days after the default (RCW 61.24.040).
The notice includes statewide housing-counseling and legal-aid contacts for the owner.

The owner's deadlines

Before the 11th day before the sale date in the recorded notice, the borrower, the grantor, a guarantor, the beneficiary of a subordinate deed of trust or another subordinate lienholder can stop the sale by curing the default: paying the amount then due, excluding principal that would not be due had there been no default, plus the trustee's expenses, a reasonable trustee's fee, attorney's fees and recording costs (RCW 61.24.090).

A borrower can also be referred to foreclosure mediation by a housing counselor or an attorney, any time after the notice of default and no later than 90 days before the sale date (RCW 61.24.163). Borrowers can't refer themselves. The Washington Department of Commerce runs the program and a homeowner hotline at 1-877-894-HOME (4663).

Where to find pre-foreclosure records

The trustee records the notice of trustee's sale with the auditor of each county where the deed of trust is recorded, so each county's recording index is the primary source. The newspaper publications follow on the timing above.

BridgeLeads reads notices of trustee's sale and related filings from each connected county's recording system, matches them to the property and owner, and, where the published notice is available, adds the sale date and the amount owing.

Before you make an offer

Washington has a distressed property conveyances law, chapter 61.34 RCW. Read it and talk to a Washington attorney before you contract with an owner in foreclosure. Point owners to the Commerce hotline above; the program exists to help them.

Where BridgeLeads reads pre-foreclosure filings today

The live list changes as counties are connected; each county page says which sources it reads.

Sources

This guide is general information about Washington law as of October 4, 2026, not legal advice. Statutes change and every case has its own facts; check the current text of each source and talk to a Washington attorney before relying on it. More about how BridgeLeads works is on the About page.