Seattle Sell my house
Sell your Columbia City 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.
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Local strategy
Seattle decisions depend on the street, not only the city.
Selling in Columbia City means leading with light rail access, village character, and Seward Park proximity. Buyers here are sophisticated — they understand the appreciation trajectory and compare Columbia City directly to Beacon Hill and Madrona. Strong presentation and accurate pricing wins.
- 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
Columbia City 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 →Columbia City
South Seattle Light Rail neighborhood with a thriving small-business district.
View Columbia City homes →Hillman City
Up-and-coming South Seattle district along Rainier Avenue.
View Hillman City homes →Rainier Valley
Diverse South Seattle corridor along Rainier Avenue and the Light Rail.
View Rainier Valley homes →Genesee
Compare Genesee listings with Seattle pricing, commute, school-path, condition, and resale context before you tour or list.
View Genesee homes →Brighton
Quiet South Seattle residential community.
View Brighton homes →Seward Park
South Seattle peninsula community wrapping the namesake park.
View Seward Park homes →
Active homes for sale in Seattle
The latest active NWMLS listings in Seattle, refreshed hourly.
Early Access · First Look$255,000
MLS# 2595097840 NE 125th Street #203
Seattle, WA 98125
1 bd1 ba567 sqftListing courtesy of Windermere R E Mount Baker
Early Access · First Look$339,000
MLS# 259576117 W Mercer Street #104
Seattle, WA 98119
1 bd1 ba815 sqftListing courtesy of Windermere Real Estate Co.
Active31 days active · 31 cumulative$799,950
MLS# 25943856030 41st Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98115
2 bd2.25 ba1,093 sqftListing courtesy of Windermere Real Estate Co.
Active1 day active · 1 cumulative$4,750,000
MLS# 2595687307 Queen Anne Avenue N
Seattle, WA 98109
0 bd0 ba13,545 sqftListing courtesy of Kidder Mathews
Active1 day active · 1 cumulative$665,000
MLS# 25948634434 28th Place W
Seattle, WA 98199
4 bd1.75 ba1,780 sqftListing courtesy of Windermere RE Magnolia
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
Based on information submitted to the MLS GRID as of October 18, 2026 at 10:43 AM 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 in Columbia City: landmark character meets light rail
Columbia City sells on a combination few Seattle neighborhoods can claim: a genuine landmark business district, light rail to downtown, and a housing stock of craftsman homes and bungalows that long-tenure owners bought before the appreciation run. Buyers know exactly what this mix is worth — many are priced out of Capitol Hill and arrive pre-approved — so accurate launch pricing meets real urgency here.
For long-tenure sellers, the tax math deserves attention before the pricing conversation. Decades of appreciation can push gains past the federal primary-residence exclusion (250K single / 500K married filing jointly), which makes documentation of improvements over the years genuinely valuable — a conversation for your CPA that RexMont coordinates as part of the net-proceeds work on the cost-to-sell page.
The stock carries the standard old-house diligence — sewer scope, oil-tank paperwork, electrical — plus, near the landmark district, the presentation opportunity of leaning into period character rather than renovating it away. Handle the Form 17 under RCW 64.06 from assembled facts. I am Adriano Tori, RexMont's Designated Broker (WA Lic. #27660); we position Columbia City homes against the neighborhood's actual comp set — including Beacon Hill and Seward Park — rather than a citywide average.
If the home is a rental you are exiting or an estate, the specialty pages cover those mechanics: selling an inherited home for probate and the stepped-up basis, and the fast-sale page if the timeline is compressed.
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
Columbia City seller questions
What drives Columbia City home prices?
Light rail proximity, walkability to the landmark business district, and the character stock itself. Buyers compare Columbia City directly against Beacon Hill and Seward Park, and many arrive from pricier neighborhoods pre-approved — accurate launch pricing converts that urgency into competition.
I have owned my Columbia City home for decades. What should I know before selling?
Two things: your appreciation may exceed the federal primary-residence exclusion (250K single / 500K married), so gather improvement records and talk to a CPA early; and your home's period character is an asset — renovation-minded buyers compete for original detail, so selective preparation usually beats remodeling.
Should I renovate before selling in Columbia City?
Usually no. Resolve the diligence items (sewer scope, oil tank, electrical) and invest in presentation — paint, floors, landscaping, photography. Buyers here pay for character and location; a major pre-sale remodel rarely returns its cost.
What does it cost to sell a house in Columbia City?
Roughly 7 to 9 percent of sale price: negotiated commission, Washington excise tax (graduated state tiers plus 0.50 percent King County), title, escrow, and prep. The Seattle cost-to-sell page has the line-item 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.