Bothell Real Estate Commission Rates, Explained
Page author
Adriano Tori
Designated Broker, Founder & CEO — RexMont Real Estate · WA Lic. #27660
Adriano leads RexMont Real Estate — the most-reviewed real estate brokerage in Seattle and the Eastside. 1,200+ closed transactions, $1B+ in production, and 1,243 five-star Google reviews.
Selling in Bothell — the numbers
Updated
What a Bothell sale costs in Washington
The median asking price in Bothell is $929K (Stats updated October 2026) and Washington excise tax on a sale at that price is $15,609. Asking prices of homes currently listed, not closed sales.
Washington REET tiers for a Bothell sale
| Portion of sale price | State REET |
|---|---|
| Up to $525,000 | 1.10% |
| $525,001 to $1,525,000 | 1.28% |
| $1,525,001 to $3,025,000 | 2.75% |
| Above $3,025,000 | 3.00% |
| King County local REET — on the full price | 0.50% |
Each rate applies only to the slice of the price inside its tier; the seller pays at closing. Bothell's Snohomish County side carries the same 0.50%. Breakpoints move to $551,000, $1,551,000 and $3,051,000 for closings on or after January 1, 2027; rates unchanged.
State schedule (2023–2026 schedule) per the Washington Department of Revenue, verified October 2026. Local rate per DOR’s local REET rate table, rates effective May 2026.
Worked example at the Bothell median
- Sale price (city median, rounded)
- $930,000
- Commission (5% total)
- −$46,500
- Washington REET (state + local)$10,959 state (2023–2026 schedule) + $4,650 local
- −$15,609
- Title and escrow
- −$2,400
- Pre-listing prep
- −$15,000
- Mortgage payoff (example: 35% of price)
- −$325,000
- Estimated net proceeds
- $525,491
Selling costs of $79,509 (8.5% of price), computed with the same function as the calculator below, on the 2023–2026 schedule. An estimate for planning, not a quote; your payoff, prep and title fees replace the example values.
Open the Bothell net-proceeds calculatorFigures reviewed by Adriano Tori, Designated Broker and Owner, RexMont Real Estate · WA Lic. #27660 · market figures updated , REET schedule per the Washington Department of Revenue.
Commission is the largest single line on a Bothell seller's closing statement, and it is negotiated on every listing — Washington sets no standard rate. Since the August 2024 NAR settlement, your listing fee is one negotiation and the buyer-side concession is a second, strategic one that you control.
I am Adriano Tori, Founder & Designated Broker of RexMont Real Estate, WA Lic. #27660. RexMont has 1,243 5-star reviews and $1B+ closed across 1,200+ transactions across Bothell and the Eastside. I would rather show you exactly what each point of commission buys — and where it does not pay for itself — than defend a number.
Most Bothell sellers land between 4.5% and 6% total. On a $1M home the difference between 5% and 6% is $10,000 — real money, but small next to the cost of a mispriced launch: a single 5% price reduction on the same home is $50,000. The fee matters; the net matters more. Compare both against the flat-fee alternatives before signing anything.
How commission works after the NAR settlement
Post-settlement mechanics: your listing agreement sets the listing-side fee; every serious buyer signs a buyer-agency agreement obligating them to their agent's compensation, and most ask the seller for a concession in the offer. At Bothell's price points — where buyers are frequently first-time or move-up households stretching to compete against Kirkland and Redmond prices — a concession usually keeps the widest pool engaged.
The Washington Department of Licensing regulates how brokers operate and disclose agency. Your listing agreement should spell out four things in writing: the fee, the term, the marketing commitment, and the cancellation terms. If any of the four are vague, that is a negotiation you are losing before the sign goes up.
What the fee should actually buy
Concretely: pricing from live comparables across both the King and Snohomish sides of the city; preparation triage that separates the $2,000 fixes that return $20,000 from the projects that return nothing; professional photography; full NWMLS exposure; buyer-agent outreach; disciplined offer review; and management of the inspection, appraisal, and closing sequence where deals actually fall apart.
The honest test is net proceeds. Run your numbers on the cost-to-sell page, then compare brokers on the number that hits your wire, not the percentage in the agreement — the interview checklist is on the top-listing-agents page.
What the commission buys — and what a lower fee leaves out
Compare the work included, not just the advertised fee. Listing-side fees and buyer-agent concessions are separate, negotiable terms. Under the post–August 2024 NAR settlement structure, the seller decides whether to offer a buyer-agent concession and negotiates the amount; none of these listing models requires one.
| Fee or service | Full-service listingRexMont's Listing Program | Discount / 1% listingCategory | Flat-fee MLS entryCategory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical listing-side fee | Negotiated percentage; quoted in writing | Advertised 1%; minimums may apply | Fixed fee; add-ons vary |
| Buyer-agent concession | Seller decides; negotiated separately | Seller decides; negotiated separately | Seller decides; negotiated separately |
| Pricing from live comparables | Included | Varies — confirm scope | Typically not included |
| Preparation triage and staging plan | Included | Often an add-on | You handle it |
| Professional photography, floor plan and video | Included | Media package varies | Often an add-on |
| NWMLS entry and syndication | Included | Typically included | Included |
| Buyer-agent outreach and showings | Included | Varies — confirm scope | You handle it |
| Offer review and negotiation | Included | Varies — confirm scope | Typically not included |
| Inspection, appraisal and closing management | Included | Varies — confirm scope | You handle it |
| Cancellation terms | Varies — read the agreement | Varies — read the agreement | Varies — read the agreement |
Terms vary by brokerage, and the signed listing agreement controls. Category descriptions are not guarantees of any particular package. Confirm deliverables, minimum fees, add-ons, and cancellation charges before signing. A staging plan does not mean staging furnishings or preparation work are paid for.
Bothellworked example at the feed's median asking price
These percentages are assumptions, not quotes, required rates, or measured local averages. Each fee row is an alternative scenario, not an additional charge. Total commission combines the listing fee and the buyer-agent concession shown; it excludes REET and other closing costs.
| Illustrative item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Assumed sale price (feed median asking price) | $929,000 |
| Listing-side fee at 2.5% | $23,225 |
| Listing-side fee at 3% | $27,870 |
| Buyer-agent concession if the seller offers 2% | $18,580 |
| Buyer-agent concession if the seller offers 2.5% | $23,225 |
| Total commission at 4.5% (2.5% listing + 2% buyer-side) | $41,805 |
| Total commission at 5% (2.5% listing + 2.5% buyer-side) | $46,450 |
| Total commission at 6% (3% listing + 3% buyer-side) | $55,740 |
| Dollar difference between 5% and 6% | $9,290 |
| Washington REET (graduated state tiers + King County 0.50% local) | $15,591 |
Dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar and calculated from the feed's rounded asking-price figure. REET is separate from commission and uses the 2023–2026 schedule, plus King County's 0.50% local rate. Confirm the schedule for your closing date and the local rate for property outside King County.
FAQ
Bothell commission questions
What is the average commission in Bothell?
There is no fixed rate — commission is negotiated per listing. Most Bothell sellers pay 4.5%–6% total, covering the listing side and any concession the seller chooses to make toward the buyer's agent.
Did the NAR settlement lower Bothell commissions?
It changed the structure: buyer-agent compensation is negotiated in a written buyer-agency agreement and cannot be advertised on the MLS. Sellers decide explicitly whether to contribute — at Bothell price points many still do to widen the buyer pool, as a strategic choice.
Who pays the buyer's agent in Bothell now?
The buyer is responsible under their agreement, but most ask sellers for a concession — especially first-time and move-up buyers stretching after down payment and closing costs. Whether and how much to contribute is a lever RexMont models against your net.
Is a discount broker cheaper in the end?
Sometimes on fees, not always on net. A mispriced launch or a soft inspection negotiation on a $1M home costs multiples of the commission difference. Compare projected net proceeds under each model, not the fee alone.
What should Bothell sellers get for the commission?
Live-comp pricing across both counties, prep triage, professional media, NWMLS exposure and syndication, buyer-agent outreach, offer negotiation, and inspection-through-closing management. If a broker cannot itemize it, keep interviewing.
What does a 1% listing fee usually exclude?
A 1% listing fee usually refers only to the listing side, not any buyer-agent concession the seller chooses to offer. Depending on the agreement, professional photography, floor plans, video, staging guidance, hosted showings, and transaction coordination may be limited or priced separately. Minimum fees, upfront charges, and cancellation costs can also change the total. Ask for a written list of included services and add-ons, then compare the full cost and who handles pricing, negotiations, inspection issues, and closing.
Bothell listing representation
Get a straight commission quote for your home.
Send the address and your timeline. RexMont will quote the fee, itemize exactly what it funds, and show your projected net proceeds next to the discount alternatives — in writing, before you sign anything.