Des Moines Sell my house
Sell your Des Moines home with a clearer local plan.
The median asking price in Des Moines is $475K (Stats updated October 2026) and Washington excise tax on a sale at that price is $7,600. RexMont helps Des Moines sellers price accurately, prep where it matters, launch with trust signals, and negotiate beyond the headline number.
Selling in Des Moines — the numbers
Updated
What a Des Moines 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 Des Moines sale falls under.
Sell fast or list
What a quick cash sale and a listed sale each net at the Des Moines median asking price
Same home, same October 2026 median asking price of $475,000, 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
- $475,000 sale price
- $261,250
- Estimated net · baseline
- Cash offer 5% below asking
- $450,000 offer
- $275,400
- Estimated net · +$14,150 vs listing
- Cash offer 15% below asking
- $405,000 offer
- $231,120
- Estimated net · −$30,130 vs listing
The $44,280 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines median
- Sale price (city median, rounded)
- $475,000
- Commission (5% total)
- −$23,750
- Washington REET (state + local)$5,225 state (2023–2026 schedule) + $2,375 local
- −$7,600
- Title and escrow
- −$2,400
- Pre-listing prep
- −$15,000
- Mortgage payoff (example: 35% of price)
- −$165,000
- Estimated net proceeds
- $261,250
Selling costs of $48,750 (10.3% 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 Des Moines 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
Des Moines decisions depend on the street, not only the city.
Selling in Des Moines means positioning around the marina, Puget Sound access, and south King County commute math — reaching buyers who've priced out of Seattle's waterfront market and are looking south.
- 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
Des Moines city hub
Start with Des Moines, 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 Des Moines hub →Redondo Beach
Compare Redondo Beach listings with Des Moines pricing, commute, school-path, condition, and resale context before you tour or list.
View Redondo Beach homes →Woodmont
Compare Woodmont listings with Des Moines pricing, commute, school-path, condition, and resale context before you tour or list.
View Woodmont homes →Marina District
Compare Marina District listings with Des Moines pricing, commute, school-path, condition, and resale context before you tour or list.
View Marina District homes →North Hill
Compare North Hill listings with Des Moines pricing, commute, school-path, condition, and resale context before you tour or list.
View North Hill homes →Havenwood
Compare Havenwood listings with Des Moines pricing, commute, school-path, condition, and resale context before you tour or list.
View Havenwood homes →Blueberry Lane
Compare Blueberry Lane listings with Des Moines pricing, commute, school-path, condition, and resale context before you tour or list.
View Blueberry Lane homes →
Active homes for sale in Des Moines
The latest active NWMLS listings in Des Moines, refreshed hourly.
Early Access · First Look$220,000
MLS# 258494422240 24th Avenue S #36
Des Moines, WA 98198
1 bd1 ba610 sqftListing courtesy of KW Lake Washington So
Active3 days active · 3 cumulative$765,000
MLS# 2594599915 S 261st Place
Des Moines, WA 98198
3 bd2.25 ba1,920 sqftListing courtesy of Windermere RE West Campus Inc
Active5 days active · 5 cumulative$799,950
MLS# 259485219619 10th Place S
Des Moines, WA 98148
4 bd2.5 ba2,890 sqftListing courtesy of Keller Williams Seattle Metro
Active5 days active · 5 cumulative$435,000
MLS# 259484622005 6th Avenue S ##201
Des Moines, WA 98198
2 bd2 ba1,099 sqftListing courtesy of John L. Scott, Inc.
Early Access · First Look$750,000
MLS# 2592541626 S 193rd Place
Des Moines, WA 98148
5 bd2.25 ba2,680 sqftListing courtesy of COMPASS
Active6 days active · 6 cumulative$1,500,000
MLS# 25787531124 S 274th Place
Des Moines, WA 98198
3 bd2.75 ba3,052 sqftListing courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway HS NW
Based on information submitted to the MLS GRID as of October 20, 2026 at 7:42 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 concernsNet-proceeds calculator
Estimate your net proceeds before you list.
Enter an estimated sale price for your Des Moines home, mortgage payoff, and selling costs. Compare estimated proceeds after commission, Washington REET, and closing costs, then request an emailed copy of your calculation.
Starting price: Des Moines's median asking price from active listings as of October 2026, a starting input rather than a value estimate.
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
$261,250
after $48,750 in selling costs (10.3% 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
Des Moines seller questions
How much is excise tax (REET) when selling a home in Des Moines?
Washington's state REET is graduated: 1.1% on the first $525,000, 1.28% from there to $1,525,000, 2.75% up to $3,025,000, and 3% above that. King County local REET adds 0.5% of the full price. At Des Moines's median asking price of $475K (Stats updated October 2026), the combined state and local REET is $7,600. The breakpoints step up to $551,000, $1,551,000 and $3,051,000 for sales closing on or after January 1, 2027; the rates do not change.
Who pays real estate excise tax in Washington, and when?
The seller. Escrow calculates the tax on the full selling price and pays it to the county at closing, so it comes out of your proceeds rather than being billed later. A lower sale price lowers the tax; the rate applies tier by tier, not to the whole price at the top rate.
Is the listing commission negotiable in Des Moines?
Yes. Washington has no set commission rate; the listing fee is agreed in your listing agreement, and any compensation offered to a buyer's broker is negotiated separately. RexMont shows the full fee structure in writing before you sign, with the net-proceeds effect of each option.
What does it cost to sell a house in Des Moines?
Five lines decide the number: commission, Washington REET, title and escrow, pre-listing prep, and your mortgage payoff. The net-proceeds calculator on RexMont's Des Moines cost-to-sell page works them line by line from your price, starting with 5% total commission, $2,400 title and escrow and $15,000 prep, all adjustable.
Should I take a cash offer or list my Des Moines home?
Run both on the same numbers. At Des Moines's median asking price of $475K (Stats updated October 2026), a listed sale with 5% total commission, $15,000 of prep and a 35% mortgage payoff nets about $261,250. An instant cash offer 5% to 15% below that price, with no commission or prep but Washington REET, title and the same payoff still due, nets between $231,120 and $275,400. Which end of that range you are offered is the whole decision, and repair credits deducted after inspection move it further. Bring any written offer and RexMont compares it against a broker-tested listing price; the review costs nothing, and you see in dollars what speed buys before you sign.
When do Washington's REET thresholds change next?
On January 1, 2027. The state re-indexes the thresholds every four years under RCW 82.45.060; the rates stay at 1.1%, 1.28%, 2.75% and 3% while the dollar breakpoints move up. A closing date on either side of the change can shift the tax on a mid-tier sale, which is why the calculator asks for an expected closing date.
Start here
Tell us about the Des Moines home you may sell.
Share the address, condition, timeline, and what outcome matters most. RexMont will help you decide the right sale strategy.