Taxpayers, and those with a recorded interest in the property, have until 4:30 p.m. the day before the sale to redeem parcels from foreclosure.

Please contact the foreclosure department (253) 798-7133 or 253-798-3704 with your ten-digit parcel number for current redemption amounts. For the 2010 foreclosure year, that date is tentatively Thursday, December 6, 2012 by 4:30.

All amounts due and owing must be paid by cash or cashier's check. There is no right of redemption for parcels sold. Exceptions to this are the rights of a minor child or a person legally judged to be incompetent.

If you are paying taxes on behalf of a taxpayer whose real property is in foreclosure, state law requires that you provide notarized documentation of the relationship between you and the taxpayer. The Pierce County Authorization to Pay Property Tax as Agent form is available on-line.

Please have your documentation completed and notarized before coming in to pay taxes. The Assessor-Treasurer's office does not have a notary available.

If you are a senior citizen 61 years of age or older, or are disabled you should immediately call the Senior/Disabled department at (253) 798-7105 to ask about deferral of your property tax. If you qualify, your home may be removed from foreclosure.

If you have a mortgage company, please notify them of the impending foreclosure. They may pay to protect their interest. Mortgage company liens are subordinate to county liens.

Parcels that do not receive a minimum bid at the foreclosure auction will be announced as 'transferred to Pierce County.' This means they are now a Tax Title property and may be sold at auction at another date and time. For information regarding these parcels, please go to the Facilities Management website www.piercecountywa.org/taxtitle , or call Real Property Management (253) 798-6880.

Pierce County posts a list of properties subject to foreclosure after the amended Certificate of Delinquency is filed each year.

In September, the current year's Foreclosure List will be available online and will also be printed in the classified section of The Puyallup Herald, the Official County Newspaper, under 'Legal Notices.' This ad will list the parcels in foreclosure at that time. The number of parcels listed will change dramatically by the date of the sale in December.

The list will be updated as needed online so individuals can determine which properties have been redeemed as the auction date nears. In addition an updated list is available at the Assessor-Treasurer's public counter. For more information please call the Foreclosure Department (253) 798-7133 or email smoore@co.pierce.wa.us.

Research is the key to purchasing a parcel to meet your needs. As a potential buyer, you must be aware that any parcel of property subject to foreclosure could have environmental issues. You are encouraged to research all parcels fully. The Assessor-Treasurer's office has computers, maps and other research tools available for your use at the public service counter. Due to limited staff, research assistance is not available by mail or telephone. If you have questions or concerns regarding environmental issues, please contact the Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department at (253) 798-6470 or (253) 798-6566.

Often parcels have other restrictions (open space, wetlands, slope hazards, and other critical areas, etc.) that the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD) can't answer. For parcels located in unincorporated Pierce County, these issues/concerns/restrictions can more properly be answered by Planning and Land Services (PALS) staff located at the Development Center. Interested individuals may call (253) 798-3739, (253) 798-7210 or 1-800-992-2456 or visit the Development Center located at 2401 South 35th Street, Tacoma. Development center hours are 8:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday except on Wednesday when the office opens at 9:00. You may wish to visit the Development Center website www.piercecountywa.org/pals for additional information.

The Assessor-Treasurer's office recommends that potential buyers use all resources available to ascertain the merits of each parcel before bidding at auction. Owners maintain ownership of the property until the sale and have a right to privacy.