Washington • Thinking of selling
Worried your Washington building's problems will trap you — should you sell now?
When a Washington owner senses their building is in decline — rising assessments, an insurance scramble, a lawsuit — the instinct to get out is rational. But selling a troubled condo has its own traps, and the first step is seeing the building the way a buyer's lender will.
The short answer
Special assessments, insurance trouble, litigation, or lender 'ineligible' status can make a Washington condo hard to sell — often to cash buyers and investors only. The certificate discloses dues, unpaid/special assessments, budget, reserves, and insurance; pre-2018 HOAs have no statutory resale-packet requirement. CondoSignal reads your building's documents to show what a buyer will see and whether selling now is the right move. Free.Washington at a glance
Resale disclosure
Buyer cancellation
5 business days after receiving the resale certificate (condos, RCW 64.34.425)
Super-lien
Yes
Six months of regular common-expense dues take priority over the first mortgage (condos, in judicial foreclosure)
Insurance market
Backstop exists
More stable than coastal states, but earthquake exposure drives cost
Top climate risk
Earthquake (Cascadia)
Flood (Puget Sound / rivers), Windstorm
What makes a condo hard to sell
Four things scare buyers and their lenders: a pending or recent special assessment, a master-insurance problem, active litigation, and a building on Fannie Mae's or Freddie Mac's 'ineligible' list. In Washington, cascadia earthquake exposure — quake coverage is optional and often excluded, with deductibles commonly 5–15%; master deductibles of $25K–$100K shift loss to owners adds to the pressure. Any one of these can shrink your buyer pool to cash and investors.
What you'll have to disclose in Washington
The certificate discloses dues, unpaid/special assessments, budget, reserves, and insurance; pre-2018 HOAs have no statutory resale-packet requirement. Buyers here also get a cancellation window (5 business days after receiving the resale certificate (condos, rcw 64.34.425)), so a hidden problem tends to surface and unwind the deal. Trying to sell around a known assessment or lawsuit usually backfires.
How the lien and insurance picture affects your sale
The 6-month priority covers regular dues, not capital special assessments, and applies in judicial foreclosure; pre-2018 HOAs under RCW 64.38 have no statutory super-lien. Condos must carry property insurance at 80% of replacement cost plus liability (RCW 64.34.352); quake and flood are optional. If the building is genuinely distressed, a realtor experienced with these sales — or an investor/cash buyer — may be the faster path.
Your rights in Washington
As a Washington seller you generally must disclose assessments and known problems, typically through the association's resale documents, and buyers get a cancellation window. None of this is legal advice — confirm against the current statute and a licensed professional in your state.
What to check
- Identify any pending or recent special assessment.
- Check the master policy — in Washington, cascadia earthquake exposure — quake coverage is optional and often excluded, with deductibles commonly 5–15%; master deductibles of $25K–$100K shift loss to owners is a common deal-killer.
- Find out whether the building is on a lender 'ineligible' list.
- Check for active litigation involving the association.
- Get the resale documents early — Washington buyers get a cancellation window (5 business days after receiving the resale certificate (condos, RCW 64.34.425)), so problems surface.
- Decide whether to sell before the next assessment or renewal.
Sources
- RCW 64.90 — Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act(High)
- RCW 64.34.425 — condo resale certificate(High)
- RCW 64.34.352 — condominium insurance(High)
Educational only — not legal, financial, or engineering advice. Confirm against the current statute and, where it matters, a Washington-licensed professional.
Related guide
Washington condo resale certificate review — the full guide →This page answers what to do right now. For how condo resale certificate review works in Washington — the law, the process, and what to check before you buy or sell — read the full state guide.
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