“How REI Branded Home Buyer Helps with Hospital Liens”
Medical debt is one of the most stressful and overwhelming financial burdens a person can face. What many Washington homeowners don’t realize is that unpaid hospital bills can eventually lead to a hospital lien being placed on their home.
This lien can become a major obstacle if you try to sell your house—especially if you’re already in financial distress.
At REI Branded Home Buyer, we’ve worked with many Washington homeowners navigating this exact situation. Whether you’re in Spokane, Yakima, Kennewick, or a smaller town, this guide will walk you through what hospital liens are, how they impact property owners, and how you can still sell your house even with a lien in place.
What Is a Hospital Lien?
A hospital lien is a legal claim that a hospital can place against a person’s property to secure payment for medical services they provided. While they’re more common in personal injury cases involving insurance settlements, in Washington, unpaid medical bills can also lead to liens against real estate—particularly if the hospital seeks a judgment in court.
Once a lien is placed, the hospital becomes a creditor, and the lien attaches to your home’s title. That means you can’t sell or refinance the home without addressing the debt first.
How Hospital Liens Work in Washington State
Washington law allows hospitals and other medical providers to pursue debt collection through the courts. Here’s how a lien may be placed on your home:
1. Unpaid Medical Bill
You receive treatment at a hospital but are unable to pay the full bill. After several months, the account is sent to collections.
2. Lawsuit Filed
The hospital or a collection agency sues you in court for the unpaid amount.
3. Judgment Obtained
If you lose the case or fail to respond, the court issues a judgment against you for the amount owed.
4. Lien Recorded
The judgment is then recorded in the county where you own property. This automatically becomes a lien against your home and may also affect other real estate you own in Washington.
Impact of Hospital Liens on Real Estate Transactions
A hospital lien can complicate or completely derail the sale of your home. Here’s why:
- Title issues: Title companies will discover the lien during a routine search and may refuse to issue title insurance until the debt is resolved.
- Proceeds withheld: Even if you can sell the home, part or all of your proceeds may be used to pay the hospital debt.
- Sale delays: Closing can be postponed while lien resolution negotiations take place—potentially causing your buyer to walk away.
- Limited buyer pool: If you try to sell the property on your own or through a traditional real estate agent, many buyers may not want to deal with the lien issue.
Can You Sell a Home With a Hospital Lien in Washington?
Yes—but you need the right strategy. There are two main approaches:
1. Pay the Lien at Closing
If you have enough equity in the property, the title company can use part of the sale proceeds to pay off the lien during closing. This satisfies the debt and clears the title for the new buyer.
2. Negotiate the Lien
In many cases, the hospital or collections firm is willing to accept less than the full amount owed—especially if you’re selling the home to resolve the debt. These negotiations are often handled by your real estate attorney or title company.
How REI Branded Home Buyer Helps with Hospital Liens
We specialize in buying homes fast—even those with liens or legal complications. If your Washington property has a hospital lien on it, you still have options.
Here’s how we help:
✅ We Make Fast, Cash Offers
Once we understand your situation and the lien amount, we’ll provide a fair, no-obligation offer—often within 24 hours. This allows you to avoid foreclosure or further legal action.
✅ We Work with Title Companies to Resolve Liens
We collaborate with experienced title professionals who know how to navigate medical liens. We’ll coordinate directly with the lienholder to settle the debt as part of the closing process.
✅ No Repairs, No Commissions
Unlike traditional sales, you won’t need to fix anything or pay out of pocket. We handle everything—including closing costs—so you can walk away with peace of mind.
✅ Close on Your Schedule
Need to move fast? We can often close in 7 to 14 days. Need a little more time? We can be flexible and work around your move-out plans.
Real Examples from Washington Sellers
Over the years, we’ve helped numerous homeowners in Washington sell their properties with hospital liens, including:
- A Spokane Valley homeowner who owed $27,000 after an emergency surgery and was being sued by the hospital. We helped negotiate a reduction and closed in 10 days.
- A Yakima family who couldn’t afford to pay off a $15,000 lien that appeared during a pending sale. We bought the house as-is and resolved the lien through escrow.
- A Kennewick homeowner who didn’t even know there was a lien until the title search. We worked directly with the lienholder to settle the debt and prevented foreclosure.
How Hospital Liens Affect Inherited Homes
If you inherited a home from a loved one who had outstanding hospital bills, you may discover a lien during probate or when preparing to sell. In Washington, creditors can file claims against an estate, and unresolved debts can lead to liens being placed on inherited property.
We frequently help families dealing with inherited homes burdened by medical debt. Whether the property is in Spokane, Richland, Pasco, or Ellensburg, we can assist with selling the property and resolving any attached liens.
What If I’m Already in Foreclosure?
If you’re facing foreclosure on top of a hospital lien, time is extremely limited. Fortunately, our team has experience with foreclosure prevention and can work quickly to evaluate your situation and make an offer—even with multiple liens involved.
We’ve stepped in to help homeowners just days before the foreclosure auction, giving them an alternative path and preserving their dignity and equity.
Why Work With REI Branded Home Buyer?
- Local Experience: We know the Washington market and understand the legal processes for medical liens and property sales.
- Straightforward Process: No endless paperwork, no waiting for bank approvals.
- Cash on the Table: Our offers come with cash and speed—two things you need when dealing with hospital debt.
- Trusted Team: From title work to legal support, our partners are experienced in handling sensitive real estate transactions.
We don’t just buy houses—we help homeowners solve problems.
Cities We Serve in Washington
We work with homeowners across the state, including:
- Spokane and Spokane Valley
- Kennewick, Richland, Pasco
- Yakima, Ellensburg, and Moses Lake
- Walla Walla, Wenatchee, and surrounding communities
If you’ve been contacted by a hospital, collection agency, or law firm about unpaid medical bills and a lien on your property, don’t wait until it’s too late.
Final Thoughts: Take Back Control of Your Home
Hospital liens can be intimidating, but you’re not powerless. You don’t have to lose your home or be buried in legal trouble just because of medical debt.
At REI Branded Home Buyer, we offer easy home buyer solutions to people in complex financial situations—including those dealing with hospital liens. Our team is ready to step in and provide the guidance and support you need to move forward.
Let’s Talk About Your Options
Reach out today for a private consultation. We’ll review your situation, explain your options, and make a fair cash offer. There’s no obligation—just help when you need it most.
📞 509-769-3439
📧 info@reibrandedhomebuyer.com
🌐 reibrandedhomebuyer.com
Don’t let medical debt control your future. We’re here to help you reclaim it.
Sell Your Washington House Fast Today
About REI Branded Home Buyer
Real People. Real Stories. Real Solutions. We’re George and TJ — two regular guys who teamed up to create REI Branded Home Buyer, a local company with one simple mission: to help people sell their homes without stress, games, or pressure. We actually met at a local real estate meetup. A mutual friend randomly shouted, “Hey George, do you want to be this guy’s mentor?” George laughed and said, “Just give him my cell!” A coffee meeting later, and the rest is history. We've been working together ever since. Our passion for helping homeowners comes from personal experience. George was once homeless, so he deeply understands what it’s like to face housing uncertainty. TJ’s family went through a crisis and had to sell their home fast — with the help of a cash homebuyer. Those experiences shaped who we are and inspired us to create a company that treats people the way we wish we’d been treated. Let’s be real: the real estate world is full of shady companies, pushy salespeople, and sleazy homebuyers who care more about profit than people. We started REI Branded Home Buyer because we believe it should be the other way around — people first, profit second. We’re proud to call Spokane home. Our wives, Jenny and Michelle, love the slower pace of life here and all the outdoor beauty Washington has to offer. George and Jenny have two amazing daughters and two dogs — they love to travel and recently visited Japan to see their daughter abroad. TJ and Michelle are outdoor lovers through and through — backpacking, hiking, hunting, fishing, even rock climbing. Michelle’s become quite the mountaineer! If you’re thinking about selling a house — no matter the reason — we’d love to hear your story and see how we can help.