What It Costs to Sell a House in Kirkland
Page author
Adriano Tori
Founder & Designated Broker — 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 1,242 five-star Google reviews.
Selling in Kirkland — the numbers
Updated
What a Kirkland sale costs in Washington
The median asking price in Kirkland is $1.5M (Stats updated October 2026) and Washington excise tax on a sale at that price is $25,755. Asking prices of homes currently listed, not closed sales.
Washington REET tiers for a Kirkland 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. 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 Kirkland median
- Sale price (city median, rounded)
- $1,500,000
- Commission (5% total)
- −$75,000
- Washington REET (state + local)$18,255 state (2023–2026 schedule) + $7,500 local
- −$25,755
- Title and escrow
- −$2,400
- Pre-listing prep
- −$15,000
- Mortgage payoff (example: 35% of price)
- −$525,000
- Estimated net proceeds
- $856,845
Selling costs of $118,155 (7.9% 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.
Run your own Kirkland numbers belowFigures 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.
Selling a home in Kirkland
Sell my house Kirkland: value, cost, commission, speed.
Every Kirkland seller question RexMont gets, answered on its own page with current numbers and a net-proceeds calculator.
- Sell my house Kirkland
Pricing, prep, launch and negotiation for a Kirkland sale.
- Kirkland home value
What your house is worth now, from neighborhood comps.
- Kirkland real estate commission
What sellers pay in 2026 and what each point buys.
- Sell my house fast Kirkland
A cash offer Kirkland sellers can compare against a quick-launch listing, in dollars.
- Listing agent Kirkland
How to choose one, and the questions that separate them.
- Sell my condo Kirkland
Building-level pricing, HOA documents and financing risk.
- Kirkland luxury listing agent
View, waterfront and estate homes.
- Kirkland property management
Renting it out instead? 8%–10% management, one month's rent placement, six written guarantees.
Kirkland neighborhoods →Homes for sale in Kirkland →Kirkland housing market →
Before you list, the number that actually matters is not your sale price — it is your net proceeds: the wire-out amount after every selling cost and your mortgage payoff. Kirkland sits in King County's higher price tiers, so Washington's graduated excise tax is a bigger line here than in most markets, and sellers who anchor on a price estimate are often surprised at closing. This page itemizes every cost, then lets you model your real net with the calculator below.
I am Adriano Tori, Founder & Designated Broker of RexMont Real Estate, WA Lic. #27660. RexMont has 1,242 5-star reviews and $1B+ closed across 1,200+ transactions across Kirkland, the Lake Washington waterfront, and the Eastside. On every consultation I build the full net-proceeds sheet against your actual home — not a generic percentage — so you decide with real numbers.
Total Kirkland seller costs usually land between 7% and 9% of sale price. The biggest lever is commission, which is negotiated; the second-biggest is Washington's graduated REET, which climbs into the 2.75% tier on many homes and into six figures above $3.025M for waterfront. Knowing the breakdown before you list is how you avoid pricing your move on a number that shrinks at the closing table.
Kirkland net-proceeds calculator
Enter your numbers to see your estimated net proceeds after commission, Washington excise tax, title/escrow, prep, and mortgage payoff. King County REET is calculated automatically.
Your target list/sale price — or get an agent-prepared estimate.
Enter the combined brokerage compensation you expect to pay. Fees are negotiated; this editable example is not a quoted rate.
Remaining principal from your latest statement.
Paint, staging, cleaning, photography, minor repairs.
Use a quote from your title and escrow providers.
Washington's state excise-tax breakpoints step up for sales closing on or after January 1, 2027 (rates unchanged). The calculator applies the schedule in force on this date.
Using the 2023–2026 schedule: 1.10% to $525K, 1.28% to $1.525M, 2.75% to $3.025M, 3.00% above, plus 0.50% King County.
Estimated net proceeds
$788,625
after $111,375 in selling costs (8.0% of price) and mortgage payoff
Estimates for educational purposes only. Not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Actual REET, commission, escrow, and payoff figures vary by transaction and closing date. King County REET shown is the state graduated tax plus the 0.50% local portion; the state breakpoints step up for closings on or after January 1, 2027. Verify current rates with WA DOR and your CPA before acting.
Kirkland commission rates
Real estate commission is the single largest selling cost, and it is negotiated — there is no legal or standard rate in Washington. Kirkland sellers typically pay 4.5%–6% total, structured against home value, marketing scope, and complexity. A waterfront Houghton or Moss Bay home and a Totem Lake condo do not warrant the same percentage, and a good broker prices accordingly.
Since the August 2024 NAR settlement, buyer-agent compensation is negotiated separately in a written buyer-agency agreement, and the seller decides whether to offer a concession toward it. That gives sellers more control over total commission than in decades — but it means you want a broker who explains the trade-offs rather than defaulting to an old fixed split. For the full breakdown, see RexMont's Kirkland commission page.
Washington excise tax & fixed closing costs
Washington Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) is paid by the seller at closing and is graduated. Per the WA Department of Revenue, the state portion is 1.10% up to $525K, 1.28% to $1.525M, 2.75% to $3.025M, and 3.00% above — each rate applying only to the slice of price within that tier. These breakpoints apply to closings through December 31, 2026; for sales closing on or after January 1, 2027 the same four rates apply but the state thresholds rise to $551,000, $1,551,000, and $3,051,000 per the Department of Revenue's 2027 REET schedule, while King County's 0.50% is unchanged. Kirkland is in King County, which adds a 0.50% local REET on the full price. On a $1.4M sale, combined REET is roughly $25,000.
Title, escrow, and prorations round out the fixed costs. The seller customarily pays the owner's title policy, escrow is split, and property tax is prorated to closing from King County Assessor records. Combined seller-side title and escrow generally run $1,800–$3,000. None of these are negotiable the way commission is — but knowing them keeps your net estimate honest.
FAQ
Cost to sell a Kirkland home — FAQs
What does it cost to sell a house in Kirkland?
Plan for roughly 7%–9% of the sale price in total seller costs: the negotiated real estate commission (typically 4.5%–6%), Washington Real Estate Excise Tax (REET), title and escrow, and prep/staging. Your mortgage payoff is separate — it reduces your proceeds but is not a cost of selling. Because Kirkland homes sell in the higher price tiers, REET is a larger line here than in lower-priced markets. The calculator on this page totals it for your number.
How much is the Washington excise tax when I sell in Kirkland?
Kirkland is in King County, so REET is the state graduated tax plus a 0.50% local portion. State rates: 1.10% up to $525K, 1.28% $525K–$1.525M, 2.75% $1.525M–$3.025M, and 3.00% above $3.025M, each applying only to the portion in that tier. For closings on or after January 1, 2027 the state breakpoints rise to $551,000, $1,551,000, and $3,051,000 (rates and King County's 0.50% unchanged) — confirm the schedule at dor.wa.gov for your closing date. On a $1.4M Kirkland sale, combined REET is roughly $25,000; waterfront and downtown sales often reach the 2.75% tier, so REET should be modeled before pricing.
What are real estate commission rates in Kirkland?
Commission is negotiated, never fixed by law — Kirkland sellers typically pay 4.5%–6% total. Since the August 2024 NAR settlement, buyer-agent compensation is negotiated separately in a buyer-agency agreement, and the seller decides whether to contribute. See RexMont's Kirkland commission page for how the structure works and how to compare on net proceeds.
Do I pay capital gains tax when I sell my Kirkland home?
Often no on a primary residence: the federal exclusion is up to $250K of gain for a single filer and $500K for a married couple filing jointly who meet the ownership and use tests. Given how much Kirkland homes have appreciated, long-time owners should confirm whether their gain exceeds the exclusion. Investment property does not qualify. This is a CPA question — RexMont coordinates with your tax advisor.
How do I get an exact net-proceeds number for my Kirkland home?
Use the calculator on this page for an estimate, then request RexMont's full seller net sheet — the same line-item statement escrow produces, tied to your address, payoff, and closing date — before you list.
Kirkland seller net analysis
Get your exact net-proceeds sheet.
Send the address, your mortgage payoff, and target timing. RexMont will return a line-by-line net-proceeds estimate — sale price, commission, REET, title, escrow, prep, and payoff — so you see the real wire-out number before you list.