Recent News

On January 1, 2020, Washington state’s new graduated real estate excise tax takes effect.  The excise tax (aka transfer tax) is paid upon closing the sale of real property.  The amount of tax changes depending on the value of the sold property.  The existing excise tax is a flat 1.28%. The new excise tax is… Read More

A homestead exemption protects homeowners and the equity in their homes from judgment creditors seeking to collect on unsecured debts.  Pursuant to RCW 6.13.010, a “homestead” is real or personal property that the owner uses as a residence.  Washington allows for these homesteads to be protected for up to $125,000 of a home’s value.  In… Read More

What is Earnest Money? In the purchase of real estate, it is common for a buyer to put down a deposit called earnest money. This deposit is made to a seller to represent the buyer’s good faith towards buying the real property at issue.  Earnest money is typically held in an escrow account until closing,… Read More

What is Adverse Possession? Adverse possession is a legal doctrine under which a person can establish real estate ownership through consistent use (i.e. possession) of someone else’s property.  To establish a claim of adverse possession, the claimant must prove that the claimant’s possession is: (1) exclusive, meaning no other person has possessed the property for… Read More

Property Ownership In Washington, there are multiple ways in which individuals can agree to co-own real property. The most common form of ownership between unmarried parties is as tenants in common.  Tenants in common have great flexibility in how they can divide ownership interests. For example, two owners can own a property evenly, or they… Read More

Property boundary lines are often not as simple as square boxes aligned neatly next to one another. An easement is a prime example of the complexities associated with boundary lines. Easements are a right to use (not own outright) or restrict the use of someone else’s land, and issues regarding easements tend to get tricky.… Read More

A lis pendens is a notice of a lawsuit involving title to a piece of real estate.  It is recorded in the real estate records of the county where the real estate is located and it puts the public on notice of the lawsuit.  It can result in potential buyers of the property and potential… Read More

An easement is a right to use (not own) someone else’s land.  The party who enjoys the “use” is referred to as the “benefitted party” or “grantee”, while the party who owns the land is referred to as the “burdened party” or “grantor”.  Commonly, the right and burden of “use” stays with the land for… Read More

It may be your very own neighbor.  While many of us want to co-exist peacefully with our neighbors, you cannot always choose your neighbors, and they may have other goals in mind.  Conflicts between neighbors can arise in a variety of contexts, from tree cutting disputes to boundary disputes.  However, one of the most unsettling… Read More