Closing Cost Calculator for Seattle​ Home Sellers

Buyer’s Agent Fee: $20,850–$25,020

In the past, most home sellers covered both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent commissions. However, following a landmark court settlement by the National Association of Realtors, buyers are now expected to negotiate compensation directly with their own agents. If you’re offering to pay this fee to attract buyers or help close a deal, on a $834,000 median-priced Seattle home, you can expect to pay $20,850–$25,020.

Detailed Closing Costs: $20,850–$25,020

Closing costs in Seattle typically average 2.5%–3.0% of the home’s sale price. Whether your property falls in the high or low end of this range depends on its value, condition, the purchase agreement, and what services you end up paying for. On a median-priced home of $834,000, you might pay $20,850–$25,020. Below are some of the typical types of closing costs you can expect in a Seattle home sale:

• Home Preparations: To help make your Seattle home stand out, you’ll want to invest in curb appeal improvements such as professional cleaning, landscaping, or home staging..
• Renovations/Repairs: Fixing or updating your Seattle home to meet buyer expectations or accommodate inspection requests.
• Title Service Fees: Title company work required to verify legal ownership and help manage the transfer of the property to a new owner.
• Owner’s Title Insurance: A one-time insurance premium paid by the seller in Seattle to protect the buyer from title issues or ownership disputes.
• Transfer Taxes: Seattle home sellers pay a state real estate excise tax (REET) rate of 1.1% of the property’s value. They also pay a local REET on top of the state’s rate. (See more below.)
• Recording Fees: This is a relatively small fee you’ll need to pay to the local city or county recording office to record the change in property ownership officially.
• Buyer Incentives: With buyers being more hesitant in the current Seattle market, you may need to offer concessions or credits to sweeten a deal, such as paying the buyer’s agent fees or funding an interest rate buydown.
• Other Costs: You’ll likely have some miscellaneous expenses that are not covered in other categories, such as attorney fees and HOA transfers. (An attorney is not required to sell a house in Washington.)
• Moving Expenses: While paying for movers or a rental truck is not technically a closing cost, you might want to include this expense in your budget, which can range from $883 to $7,000.

Washington has a graduated REET based on the sale price of the home. As of 2023, the rates are:

In addition to the state rate, cities and counties can charge their own REET. Seattle charges an additional REET of 0.50%. The seller’s total REET is the combination of the state and local taxes.