Seattle Sell my house
Sell your Leschi 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 Leschi means leading with the lake, the marina, and the trees — buyers here are drawn to privacy and water access that Madison Park prices out of reach. Waterfront and lake-view homes command the strongest premiums when the setting is showcased and the steep lot inspection story is managed proactively.
- 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
Leschi 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 →Leschi
Lakefront residential neighborhood with a small business district.
View Leschi homes →Madrona
Walkable village vibes, Lake Washington views, and a tight-knit community feel.
View Madrona homes →Lake Dell
Compare Lake Dell listings with Seattle pricing, commute, school-path, condition, and resale context before you tour or list.
View Lake Dell homes →Mount Baker
Hilltop residential neighborhood with classic Craftsman homes and Lake Washington views.
View Mount Baker homes →Lake Washington Boulevard
Compare Lake Washington Boulevard listings with Seattle pricing, commute, school-path, condition, and resale context before you tour or list.
View Lake Washington Boulevard homes →Colman Park
Compare Colman Park listings with Seattle pricing, commute, school-path, condition, and resale context before you tour or list.
View Colman Park homes →
Active homes for sale in Seattle
The latest active NWMLS listings in Seattle, refreshed hourly.
Active78 days active · 78 cumulative$1,075,000
MLS# 259709110737 3rd Avenue NW
Seattle, WA 98177
3 bd1.75 ba2,120 sqftListing courtesy of Windermere RE Greenwood
Active11 days active · 11 cumulative$1,785,000
MLS# 25976274049 40th Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98116
4 bd3.25 ba3,497 sqftListing courtesy of Skyline Properties, Inc.
Early Access · First Look$729,000
MLS# 25881802808 NW 56th Street #B
Seattle, WA 98107
2 bd2.5 ba1,360 sqftListing courtesy of Best Choice Realty LLC
ActiveNew today$760,000
MLS# 25943916204 43rd Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98115
2 bd2.25 ba1,056 sqftListing courtesy of WeLakeside
ActiveNew today$999,950
MLS# 25975222612 NW 62nd Street
Seattle, WA 98107
4 bd2.25 ba1,826 sqftListing courtesy of COMPASS
ActiveNew today$13,500,000
MLS# 25841802900 Westlake Avenue N
Seattle, WA 98109
3 bd5 ba7,400 sqftListing courtesy of COMPASS
Based on information submitted to the MLS GRID as of October 23, 2026 at 10:19 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 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
Leschi seller questions
How much is excise tax (REET) when selling a home in Seattle?
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 Seattle's median asking price of $773K (Stats updated October 2026), the combined state and local REET is $12,850. 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 Seattle?
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 Seattle?
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 Seattle 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 Seattle home?
Run both on the same numbers. At Seattle's median asking price of $773K (Stats updated October 2026), a listed sale with 5% total commission, $15,000 of prep and a 35% mortgage payoff nets about $436,000. 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 $376,797 and $450,462. 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 Seattle home you may sell.
Share the address, condition, timeline, and what outcome matters most. RexMont will help you decide the right sale strategy.