Seattle Sell my house
Sell your Ballard home with a clearer local plan.
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. RexMont helps Seattle sellers price accurately, prep where it matters, launch with trust signals, and negotiate beyond the headline number.
Selling in Seattle — the numbers
Updated
What a Seattle sale costs in Washington
Washington’s excise tax is graduated by price tier and paid by the seller at closing; the table shows the schedule a Seattle sale falls under.
Sell fast or list
What a quick cash sale and a listed sale each net at the Seattle median asking price
Same home, same October 2026 median asking price of $775,000, same mortgage payoff. The cash columns run the instant-offer range RexMont models, 5% and 15% below that asking price, as-is, with no commission and no prep; Washington REET, title and the payoff are still due.
- List on the open market
- $775,000 sale price
- $436,000
- Estimated net · baseline
- Cash offer 5% below asking
- $735,000 offer
- $450,462
- Estimated net · +$14,462 vs listing
- Cash offer 15% below asking
- $660,000 offer
- $376,797
- Estimated net · −$59,203 vs listing
The $73,665 between the two cash columns is what a written offer settles; a program fee or a repair credit deducted after inspection moves it further. Bring any offer you already hold: the review costs nothing and you keep every option, including taking the cash.
Compare a written cash offer against a broker-tested listing priceA modelling range RexMont uses until a written offer exists, not a quote from any buyer; program fees are not modelled. For context, Research summaries have placed the total cost of instant-offer programs to sellers at roughly 13–15% of the home’s value.
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.
- Google reviews
- 1,242
- Review average
- 5.0
- Transactions
- 1,200+
- Sold volume
- $1B+
Local strategy
Seattle decisions depend on the street, not only the city.
Selling in Ballard means positioning the home against a steady supply of new townhomes — buyers choose character bungalows for the lot, the street, and the finish quality. Sunset Hill and Loyal Heights command view and quiet premiums that require precise positioning.
- Read recent comps, pending pressure, and active competition
- Prioritize prep work that can change buyer behavior
- Launch with positioning, review proof, photography, and negotiation strategy
Ballard city hub
Start with Seattle, then narrow to the right neighborhood.
Use the city hub for the broader market, then compare the most active neighborhoods by property type, condition, commute, schools, lifestyle, and resale depth.
Open Seattle hub →Ballard
Maritime heritage meets a thriving food scene, weekly farmers market, and walkable Ballard Avenue.
View Ballard homes →Old Ballard
Compare Old Ballard listings with Seattle pricing, commute, school-path, condition, and resale context before you tour or list.
View Old Ballard homes →Sunset Hill
Northwest Seattle hillside with Sound views above Ballard.
View Sunset Hill homes →Crown Hill
Family-friendly North Ballard area with mid-range homes.
View Crown Hill homes →Loyal Heights
Quiet residential streets between Ballard and Greenwood.
View Loyal Heights homes →Phinney Ridge
Walkable North Seattle district adjacent to Greenwood and Woodland Park Zoo.
View Phinney Ridge homes →
Active homes for sale in Seattle
The latest active NWMLS listings in Seattle, refreshed hourly.
Active30 days active · 30 cumulative$799,950
MLS# 25943856030 41st Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98115
2 bd2.25 ba1,093 sqftListing courtesy of Windermere Real Estate Co.
ActiveNew today$665,000
MLS# 25948634434 28th Place W
Seattle, WA 98199
4 bd1.75 ba1,780 sqftListing courtesy of Windermere RE Magnolia
ActiveNew today$4,750,000
MLS# 2595687307 Queen Anne Avenue N
Seattle, WA 98109
0 bd0 ba13,545 sqftListing courtesy of Kidder Mathews
Early Access · First Look$889,999
MLS# 25951938738 Hamlet Avenue S
Seattle, WA 98118
3 bd1.75 ba1,730 sqftListing courtesy of PropertiesNW of Gig Harbor Ltd
Active31 days active · 31 cumulative$799,000
MLS# 2595689270 Fulton Street
Seattle, WA 98109
2 bd1.75 ba1,087 sqftListing courtesy of Real Property Associates
ActiveNew today$929,000
MLS# 25957046710 3rd Avenue NW
Seattle, WA 98117
3 bd1.5 ba1,401 sqftListing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Evergreen
Based on information submitted to the MLS GRID as of October 17, 2026 at 7:59 PM PT (date and time MLS GRID Data was obtained). All data is obtained from various sources and may not have been verified by broker or MLS GRID. Supplied Open House Information is subject to change without notice. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.
Listing information courtesy of Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS). The listing data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than RexMont Real Estate are marked with the “Listing courtesy of NWMLS” designation. Information provided is for the consumer’s personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Some IDX listings have been excluded from this website.
© 2026 Northwest Multiple Listing Service. All rights reserved. Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Copyright concernsSelling a Ballard home: what actually moves the number
Ballard runs on two parallel markets. New townhomes set a visible price-per-foot benchmark, while the 1900s–1920s craftsman stock trades on everything the townhomes cannot offer — the lot, the street, the setbacks, the light. Sellers who price a character home off townhome comps leave money on the table in both directions: too high against the townhome benchmark and the listing stales; too low and the lot value is given away. The right comp set is other character homes, adjusted for condition and block.
The old housing stock carries old-house diligence, and Ballard buyers know it. Side-sewer condition, decommissioned oil tank paperwork, knob-and-tube remnants, and foundation posts are the four items that reappear in inspection negotiations here. Commissioning a sewer scope and gathering tank documentation before launch — and handling the Form 17 under RCW 64.06 with those facts in hand — converts late-stage renegotiation risk into up-front buyer confidence.
Micro-position matters more than the Ballard label. Sunset Hill and Loyal Heights carry view and quiet premiums; Old Ballard and the blocks walkable to Market Street trade on lifestyle; Crown Hill and the eastern edges price closer to Greenwood. I am Adriano Tori, RexMont's Designated Broker (WA Lic. #27660) — on every Ballard listing we build the comp set at the block level, because a five-minute difference in walk distance shows up in the sale price.
Before you list, know your wire-out number: the cost-to-sell page itemizes commission, Washington REET, title, and escrow with a live calculator. If the home is an estate — common in Ballard, where original owners held for decades — the inherited-home page covers probate authority and the stepped-up basis before you talk price.
Net-proceeds calculator
Estimate your net proceeds before you list.
Enter an estimated sale price for your Seattle home, mortgage payoff, and selling costs. Compare estimated proceeds after commission, Washington REET, and closing costs, then request an emailed copy of your calculation.
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.
FAQ
Ballard seller questions
What determines the price of a Ballard craftsman?
Block-level location (Sunset Hill and Loyal Heights view or quiet premiums, walkability to Market Street), lot size and light, condition of the big-ticket systems (roof, sewer, foundation, electrical), and finish quality relative to the renovated comps. Townhome price-per-foot is a visible benchmark but the wrong comp set for a character home — character homes trade on lot and street.
Should I get a sewer scope before listing in Ballard?
Usually yes. Side-sewer issues are one of the most common inspection-stage renegotiations on Ballard's older housing stock. A pre-listing scope either clears the question for buyers or prices the repair into the launch strategy on your terms instead of the buyer's.
How do new townhomes affect selling my Ballard house?
They set a visible price-per-foot benchmark and absorb some buyer demand, but they also sharpen the appeal of character homes — buyers choosing a craftsman are choosing the lot, the yard, and the street, and will pay for it when the home is positioned against other character homes rather than against townhome inventory.
What does it cost to sell a house in Ballard?
Plan for roughly 7 to 9 percent of the sale price in total: negotiated commission, Washington excise tax (state graduated tiers plus the 0.50 percent King County portion), title and escrow, and prep. RexMont's Seattle cost-to-sell page has the full line-item breakdown and a net-proceeds calculator.
Start here
Tell us about the Seattle home you may sell.
Share the address, condition, timeline, and what outcome matters most. RexMont will help you decide the right sale strategy.