Free home sale calculator
Estimate your take-home after commissions, Washington's real estate excise tax, closing costs, repairs and your mortgage payoff. Then compare it to a cash offer.
For education only. All figures are estimates, and not every possible cost is included. This isn't financial, legal or tax advice. Your actual proceeds depend on your home, your market, negotiated terms and your closing statement. Excise tax uses the Washington Department of Revenue's graduated state rates; confirm your local rate with your county.
Washington closing costs
Washington taxes home sales on a sliding scale, and it's usually the seller's second-biggest cost after commissions. Each rate applies only to the part of the price inside its bracket.
| Portion of the sale price | State rate | From 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $525,000 | 1.10% | Up to $551,000 |
| $525,000 to $1,525,000 | 1.28% | $551,000 to $1,551,000 |
| $1,525,000 to $3,025,000 | 2.75% | $1,551,000 to $3,051,000 |
| Over $3,025,000 | 3.00% | Over $3,051,000 |
Source: Washington Department of Revenue. Rates stay the same in 2027; only the brackets move up. Most cities add a local rate of 0.25% to 0.50%.
The first $525,000 is taxed at 1.10% ($5,775). The remaining $75,000 is taxed at 1.28% ($960). The local 0.50% adds $3,000.
Total excise tax: $9,735, about 1.6% of the sale price.
The seller usually pays it at closing, though a purchase agreement can say otherwise. It applies whether you list or sell for cash.
Selling guide
Commissions, excise tax, title and escrow, repairs after inspection, concessions and months of holding costs all come out of your price.
On a typical Washington listing they often add up to 8–12% of the sale price, before your mortgage payoff.
Commissions are negotiable. Get more than one offer, limit concessions, and only fix what a buyer will actually pay you back for.
A faster sale also cuts holding costs, which can matter as much as a higher price.
Listing usually brings a higher price but adds commissions, prep, repairs and time. A cash offer trades some of the price for speed and certainty.
Which one nets more depends on your home and timeline. That's why we show both, side by side.
FAQ
Want a personalized breakdown? Call us at (360) 525-1782. We'll walk through your numbers with you.
See all FAQsStart with your expected sale price, then subtract the typical costs of listing in Washington: agent commissions, the state and local real estate excise tax, title and escrow, repairs, prep, concessions and holding costs. Finally it subtracts your mortgage payoff. What's left is your estimated net proceeds.
Net proceeds are what you actually take home after every selling cost and your remaining loan balance are paid at closing.
For sales in 2026, the state rate is 1.10% on the first $525,000 of the price, 1.28% from $525,000 to $1,525,000, 2.75% from $1,525,000 to $3,025,000 and 3.00% above that. Most cities add a local rate of 0.25% to 0.50%. On January 1, 2027 the brackets rise to $551,000, $1,551,000 and $3,051,000, and the rates stay the same.
In Washington the seller usually pays the real estate excise tax at closing. A purchase agreement can assign it differently, and if the seller doesn't pay, the buyer can be held responsible.
Total commissions in Western Washington typically run about 5–5.5% of the sale price in 2026, split between the listing and buyer's agents. Commissions are negotiable, and since the 2024 NAR settlement, buyer agent pay is negotiated separately.
Besides commissions and excise tax, sellers commonly pay for the owner's title insurance policy, their share of escrow fees, recording and notary fees, and any credits they agree to give the buyer. Your closing statement lists the final numbers.
It's a planning tool built on typical Washington costs and the state's published excise tax rates. Your actual numbers depend on your home, your local rate, what you negotiate and your final closing statement, so treat the result as an estimate.
If the calculator shows a negative number, the sale may not cover your loan. Talk with your lender about options such as a short sale. If you're behind on payments, Washington's free housing counselors can help at 1-877-894-4663.
The excise tax applies to every sale, cash or not. With a cash offer there are no agent commissions, repairs, staging or concessions, and a much shorter holding period. A written West Sound offer lists every cost before you sign.
Request a free, no-obligation cash offer, usually within 24 hours, or call us at (360) 525-1782 and we'll walk through your numbers with you.
Get a free, no-obligation written offer, usually within 24 hours. Then put it next to your listing estimate and choose.