What It Costs to Sell a House in Kirkland
Page author
Adriano Tori
Designated Broker, Founder & CEO — RexMont Real Estate · WA Lic. #21220
Adriano leads RexMont Real Estate — the most-reviewed real estate brokerage in Seattle and the Eastside. 1,200+ closed transactions, $1B+ in production, and 1,235 five-star Google reviews.
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 and Designated Broker of RexMont Real Estate, WA Lic. #21220. RexMont has 1,235 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.
Sellers typically negotiate 4.5%–6% total. Post-NAR settlement, buyer-agent compensation is negotiated separately.
Remaining principal from your latest statement.
Paint, staging, cleaning, photography, minor repairs.
Typically $1,800–$3,000 for the seller side.
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; 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. 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. 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.