Home buyers & owners

Legal Information

In this section of Washington LawHelp you will find general legal information and resources for home buyers and owners in Washington state.

• Contractor Information

  Information about hiring a contractor, reporting unregistered contractors and contractor forms. Content Detail

  By:

  Department L & I

• Protect My Home

  Step-by-step information on how to hire a contractor for various projects around your home. Content Detail

  By:

  Washington State Department of Labor & Industries

• Washington Homeownership Information

  This website is a one stop resource center for homeownership and foreclosure assistance for Washington residents. Content Detail

  By:

  Washington State Department of Financial Institutions

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• What to do If You are not Satisfied with a Construction Contractor's Work and Want to File Suit against the Contractor's Bond

  0302EN - There are number of reasons why you may want to sue a construction contractor. The contractor did not finish the job you hired him to do, for example, or did not do a good job. If the contractor is bankrupt or does not have any other assets, you can sue against the contractor's bond. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Know Your Rights Before Purchasing a Manufactured Home

  6382EN - Many times the buyers do not understand all of the terms, often relying on verbal statements that are not in writing. Inform yourself well before buying! Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Video - Foreclosure Mediation in Washington State

  Basic introduction to Washington's new mediation process for homeowners facing foreclosure current as of December 2011. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Foreclosure / Forfeiture PDF

  6210EN - If you fall behind in your monthly house payments, the seller or lender may try to take your house back. This is generally called foreclosure. If your house is foreclosed, you may lose not only your house, but also all the money you have invested in it. Content Detail

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Foreclosure When You Have a Deed of Trust PDF

  6211EN - If your house is in foreclosure, your best chance to keep your home is to act quickly and with the help of a housing counselor or an attorney. Both a housing counselor and an attorney can help you evaluate options that may be available to help save your home from foreclosure. Content Detail

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Reverse Mortgage Loans - 3/05 PDF

  VOL. 05-2 DATE: March 8, 2005 FROM: Joanna Otero Content Detail

• A Homeowner's Guide to Short Sales

  6214EN - Homeowners who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth may consider a short sale as a means to sell their home and/or avoid foreclosure. However, a short sale is a very complex transaction that involves numerous issues and risks. This publication is meant to provide an overview of the issues involved in short sales, but does not replace the need for the advice of an attorney and tax professional prior to proceeding with a short sale. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Korean / 한국어

  Spanish / Español

• High-Cost Home Loans: Don't Be a Target

  You may be a target for abusive lenders trying to sell you a loan you can't afford. This brochure has helpful information on how to avoid high cost loans. Content Detail

  By:

  National Consumer Law Center

  Read this in:

  Russian / Pусский

  Spanish / Español

  Chinese / 中文

  Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt

• Home Equity Loans: Borrower Beware!

  Do you own your home? If so, it's likely to be your greatest single asset. Unfortunately, if you agree to a loan that's based on the equity you have in your home, you may be putting your most valuable asset at risk. Content Detail

  By:

  Federal Trade Commission

• Predatory Lending

  Predatory loans harm borrowers by making it difficult or impossible for them to keep up with payments. Borrowers may pay unnecessary fees and excessive interest charges. If they miss their payments, they risk losing their home. Borrowers who do not meet minimum credit standards usually do pay higher interest rates, but no one should be a victim of price gouging and outrageous fees. Content Detail

  By:

  Seattle / King County Coalition for Responsible Lending

• Borrower Beware: The High Cost of Small Loans, Pawn Brokers and Rent-to-Own Stores

  Sometimes you may need to borrow a few hundred dollars because of an unexpected medical bill, broken appliance, or to buy a used car to obtain keep ajob. While the amount of cash you may need is small, the amount of interest you will repay may be large. Read More

  By:

  National Consumer Law Center

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Don't Be a Victim of Loan Fraud - Protect Yourself From Predatory Lendors

  Information you should know before you purchase or refinance a home loan. Link to PDF file. Read More

  By:

  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español