Seattle seller guidance · Adriano Tori
Cost to Sell a House in Seattle
I’m Adriano Tori. A Seattle sale price is only part of the decision. Let’s compare your negotiated fees, preparation, closing costs and mortgage payoff in one estimated net sheet.
Your request goes to Adriano and the RexMont team, who coordinate availability and next steps. No obligation to list.
Founder & Designated Broker
RexMont Real Estate
Washington license #27660
Supported by RexMont · Brokerage record across all markets
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Selling in Seattle — the numbers
Updated
What a Seattle sale costs in Washington
The median asking price in Seattle is $773K (Stats updated October 2026) and Washington excise tax on a sale at that price is $12,850. Asking prices of homes currently listed, not closed sales.
Washington REET tiers for a Seattle 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 Seattle median
- Sale price (city median, rounded)
- $775,000
- Commission (5% total)
- −$38,750
- Washington REET (state + local)$8,975 state (2023–2026 schedule) + $3,875 local
- −$12,850
- Title and escrow
- −$2,400
- Pre-listing prep
- −$15,000
- Mortgage payoff (example: 35% of price)
- −$270,000
- Estimated net proceeds
- $436,000
Selling costs of $69,000 (8.9% 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 Seattle 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.
The cost to sell a house in Seattle runs 7% to 9% of the sale price as of Oct 2026: roughly $63,000 to $81,000 on a $900K home, before the mortgage payoff. 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. Seattle covers an enormous price range, from condos in Belltown and First Hill to $600K–$900K craftsman homes across Beacon Hill, Greenwood, and Columbia City to $2M+ view properties in Queen Anne, Magnolia, and Madison Park — which means Washington's graduated excise tax lands very differently depending on your block. Sellers who anchor on a price estimate are often surprised at closing. These are Washington State selling costs as they land on a Seattle sale: REET is a state tax, and King County adds the local portion that varies county to county. 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 1,243 5-star reviews and $1B+ closed across 1,200+ transactions across Seattle 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 Seattle 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 Seattle view homes above $1.525M and into six figures above $3.025M. Knowing the breakdown before you list is how you avoid pricing your move on a number that shrinks at the closing table.
Seattle 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
$519,135
after $80,865 in selling costs (8.5% 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.
Seattle commission rates
Real estate commission is the single largest selling cost, and it is negotiated — there is no legal or standard rate in Washington. Seattle sellers typically pay 4.5%–6% total, structured against home value, marketing scope, and complexity. A $2.4M Madison Park view home and a $700K Beacon Hill craftsman 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 Seattle 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. Seattle is in King County, which adds a 0.50% local REET on the full price. On a $950K sale, combined REET is roughly $16,000; on a $1.8M Queen Anne view home it is roughly $35,000.
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. Seattle-specific prep is often the sleeper line item: sewer scopes on older Ballard and Wallingford homes, and view-window and moss cleanup, routinely pay for themselves. None of these are negotiable the way commission is — but knowing them keeps your net estimate honest.
Seattle seller closing costs
Commission and excise tax are the two big numbers, but they are not the whole closing statement. A Seattle seller customarily pays the owner's title policy, half of escrow, recording fees, and King County property tax prorated to the day you close. Seller-side title and escrow together generally run $1,800–$3,000, and recording is a small fixed cost. None of these are negotiable the way commission is, which is exactly why they belong in your estimate from the start.
Two line items catch sellers out. If your home is in an HOA or a condo association, the resale certificate and any association prorations are yours, and they can take a week to produce — order them early. And any credit you grant a buyer toward their own closing costs or repairs comes off your net exactly like a cost, even though it never appears as a fee. Prorated taxes are calculated from King County Assessor records and settled through escrow.
Put together on a $950,000 Seattle sale: combined REET of roughly $16,000 and seller-side title and escrow of $1,800–$3,000 come to about $17,800–$19,000 before commission, prep, prorations, or any buyer credit. Commission is negotiated separately and is the larger figure. The calculator above models all of it against your own price and payoff, which is the only version of this number that matters.
FAQ
Cost to sell a Seattle home — FAQs
What does it cost to sell a house in Seattle?
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. Seattle spans every REET tier, from Beacon Hill starters to $3M+ view homes in Queen Anne and Laurelhurst, so modeling REET against your actual price avoids surprises at the closing table.
How much is the Washington excise tax when I sell in Seattle?
Seattle 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 $950K Seattle sale, combined REET is roughly $16,000; view homes in Magnolia, Madison Park, or West Seattle that clear $1.525M reach the 2.75% tier, so REET should always be modeled before pricing.
What are real estate commission rates in Seattle?
Commission is negotiated, never fixed by law — Seattle 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 Seattle commission page for a full breakdown of how the structure works post-settlement.
What are typical seller closing costs in Seattle?
Beyond negotiated commission and Washington REET, a Seattle seller customarily pays the owner's title policy, half of escrow, recording fees, and King County property tax prorated to the closing date. Seller-side title and escrow together generally run $1,800–$3,000. If the property is in an HOA, add the resale certificate and any association prorations; any buyer credits you negotiate come off the same bottom line. Your mortgage payoff reduces proceeds but is not a cost of selling.
Do buyers pay closing costs in Seattle too?
Yes, and they are separate from yours. Buyers carry lender fees, their own title and escrow share, appraisal and inspection costs, and prepaid taxes and insurance. A seller sees them only when a buyer asks for a credit toward those costs, which comes off the seller's net. RexMont's Seattle buyer's agent page covers the buyer side in detail.
Do I pay capital gains tax when I sell my Seattle 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 two-of-five-year ownership and use tests. Long-time owners in appreciating neighborhoods like Ballard, Wallingford, and Columbia City should confirm whether their gain exceeds the exclusion. Investment property does not qualify for the primary-residence exclusion. This is a CPA question — RexMont coordinates with your tax advisor.
How do I get an exact net-proceeds number for my Seattle 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. No obligation.
Seattle 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.