Grant County, WA Property Records: Search Deeds, Owners, Tax Records, and Maps

Known as Washington's number one agricultural producer, Grant County's real estate market offers a variety of housing options. These include single-family detached homes, manufactured homes, farmhouses, and multifamily apartments.

A typical property sits on the market for 42 to 60 days, a pace slower than the statewide average. Grant County has approximately 61,570 registered parcels of land, making property records an indispensable tool for anyone renting, buying, or investing in the county's real estate market. You can obtain these records from the Auditor, Assessor, and Treasurer offices. All three offices are located in Ephrata.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $198,000 and median rent of $822.5, alongside a median household income of $65,833 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.8 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Grant Property Records

Grant County offers free access to property records through several online portals. Below are some resources for accessing county property records.

Who Keeps Grant County Property Records

Three county offices maintain property records in Grant County. Per the state’s Public Records Act, these offices make property records available to the public:

• The Grant County Auditor's Office (Recording Department) maintains all recorded documents, including deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and easements.

• The Grant County Assessor's Office appraises and maintains valuation and assessment records for every parcel in the county.

• The Grant County Treasurer's Office maintains the tax records for each parcel in the county.

How to Search Grant County Property Records Online

Grant County’s online property records are divided across several databases. Each database contains a specific type of property record, and combining information from these sources gives you a complete picture of a property. Follow the steps below to conduct a property records search in Grant County:

1. Start your search at the Property Search portal. This portal gives you access to property ownership and valuation records, characteristics, and sale history. You can search by address or owner name.
2. After that, go to the Auditor's online document search index. Here, you can look up deeds linked to the property owner's name. Search by grantor and grantee name to build a full chain of titles.
3. Review the most recent deed to confirm the current owner, then work backward through earlier deeds. This step ensures each grantor matches the grantee on the prior deed.
4. Cross-check the same index for deeds of trust, liens, and easements. Pay close attention to access easements and shoreline designations, as these can significantly affect a property’s use and value.
5. Finally, use the county's property tax portal to confirm the tax status.

County Auditor: Deeds, Deeds of Trust, and Plats

In Grant County, the Auditor’s Office oversees the recording of all documents about property ownership and transfer. Once recorded, a document becomes part of Grant County's official records. You can find these documents on the Auditor's online document search index.

County Assessor: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The Grant County Assessor’s Office is responsible for appraising every parcel in the county. This process helps the Assessor determine each property's fair market value. Grant County revalues properties annually, while physical inspections occur at least once every six years. See the table below for more information about the office.

County Treasurer: Taxes, Bills, and Payments

The Grant County Treasurer's Office is responsible for the collection of tax on every property in the county. Grant County’s annual property tax statements are mailed in February every year. However, homeowners may pay their taxes in two equal installments. The first payment is due on April 30, and the second is due on October 31. Delinquent payments are subject to interest and penalties as recommended by Washington state law.

Property Tax in Grant County: Levies, Exemptions, and Appeals

In Grant County, property tax is calculated by dividing a parcel’s assessed value by 1,000 and applying the levy rates established by taxing districts.

How the 1 Percent Levy Limit Works

Washington’s constitution limits regular property tax levies to 1% of a property’s assessed value, equal to $10 for every $1,000. Voters may approve additional levies for schools and other districts, which are added on top. A separate cap also limits the total revenue a district can collect each year. This cap applies to revenue, not to assessed value. If your property value rises faster than the district average, your share of the levy may increase.

Exemptions and Relief

Appealing Your Assessment

As a homeowner in Grant County, you can appeal your property's valuation with the Grant County Board of Equalization. You must submit your petition before July 1st of the assessment year or within 30 days of when the change of value notice was mailed. To appeal a valuation, you must show with facts where the appraiser for the Assessor's office has made an error in the property assessment. A good first step is to contact the appraiser from the assessor's office to discuss your concerns. If the Board rejects your appeal, you can take the issue to the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

You can view a parcel’s physical characteristics, ownership and assessment records, as well as boundary lines, using Grant County's interactive maps. For records that predate the online systems, the Washington State Digital Archives holds historical documents.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Washington uses two separate processes for foreclosure sales, and it’s important to understand both.

Trustee Foreclosure

This process is used when a homeowner defaults on mortgage payments. The trustee named in the deed of trust can hold a public sale under the Deed of Trust Act without going to court. The sale is advertised ahead of time, and the process usually moves faster than a court‑based foreclosure.

Judicial Tax Foreclosure

When a property tax becomes delinquent for three years, the Grant County Treasurer can initiate foreclosure. The Treasurer must file a Certificate of Delinquency with the county's Superior Court as required by law. The Treasurer will serve all parties with a recorded legal interest with a notice and summons via certified mail. Once the Certificate of Delinquency has been filed, only those with a recorded interest in the property can pay the taxes, interest, penalties, and foreclosure costs to redeem the property. Approximately three weeks before the sale, the Treasurer will receive a judgment from the court authorizing foreclosure of the tax liens and ordering the sale of the parcel.

Costs to Access Property Records

Searching online is free. Fees apply when you need a copy or are recording a new document.

How to Record a Document

Washington’s recording act outlines the rules for recording any document that conveys an interest in real estate. The process follows four basic steps:

1. Confirm that your document meets Washington’s requirements under RCW 65.04. That means it needs a cover sheet, signed originals, a notary stamp, a proper legal description, and the right margins and paper size.
2. Complete a Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) affidavit stating either the sale price or the basis for exemption. For a sale, the Treasurer reviews the affidavit and verifies that all taxes are current before recording.
3. Submit to the Auditor in person, by mail, or through an approved e-recording vendor. Pay the recording fee and any excise tax due.
4. After recording, the filer gets the original back. The document is then scanned, indexed, and made available shortly after.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Grant County Property Records Checklist

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Key Contacts and Official Portals