Auction Process

Online Auction

The 2023 Real Property Tax Foreclosure Auction will be held online. Registration, Buying Guides, and Instructional Videos can be found at www.bid4assets.com. Deposit Deadline is November 21, 2023 at 1:30pm Pacific. Bidding will open November 27, 2023 at 9am Pacific and closes at various times on November 28, 2023.

Terms and Conditions for 2023 Real Property Tax Foreclosure Sale.

Researching Properties

For more information regarding how to research a tax foreclosure, tax-title, or county surplus parcels, see Tax Auction Research.

How Long Does It Take To Receive a Deed?

A deed will be issued within sixty days of the sale. Deeds are forwarded to the Whatcom County Auditor's Office for recording. Then mailed to the address provided in the bidder registration. The type of deed issued varies.

  • A tax deed will be issued for parcels purchased at tax foreclosure sales.
  • A Treasurer's deed will be issued for parcels purchased at tax-title sales.
  • A warranty deed will be issued for parcels purchased at surplus property sales only when the County holds clear title to the parcel being sold. Otherwise, a Quit Claim deed will be issued for purchase of County owned surplus property.

Tax deeds, Treasurer's deeds, and quit claim deeds provide the purchaser no guarantees. There can be clouded title or other problems which the County is neither aware of nor responsible for to the purchaser.