Washington closing cost calculator

Typical Washington home value, September 2026: $587,533 (Zillow Home Value Index). Our rounded example uses $588,000, a $117,600 down payment and $470,400 borrowed.

Cash to close means what you hand over on closing day: closing costs plus your down payment. Expect to hand over about $128,131 on closing day, which covers your $117,600 down payment and $10,531 in closing costs.

That title insurance figure for the owner comes from a national estimate rather than a Washington-specific rate, so what you actually pay may vary. Washington home values span $385,651 in the bottom third of homes up to $974,947 in the top third; buyer costs with 20% down run from $7,169 to $16,173 across that range. Add your own numbers for price and down payment, and you'll see an estimate of your cash to close before making an offer.

Washington calls its transfer tax the real estate excise tax. For the first $551,000, the rate is 1.1%; it reaches 3% above $3,051,000. The Department of Revenue lists band amounts for sales beginning January 1, 2027; thresholds change every 4 years.

Among the 36 places, counting DC, that charge this tax, it ranks 4th for a $400,000 sale at $4,400. This tax is usually paid by the seller. You become responsible if the seller doesn't pay, and unpaid tax may place a lien on the home, making a check before closing day worthwhile.

Farmland and timberland sales that qualify pay a single rate of 1.28% rather than the tiered bands. A transfer of a controlling interest in a landowning company requires a tax return to be filed within 5 days afterward.

Washington sellers incur $4,400 in costs for a home priced at $400,000, before commission and mortgage payoff. Sellers here pay $3,960 more than the median state, which has a cost of $440.

Buyer costs are much closer to the typical figure. Put 20% down on a $400,000 home in Washington and you pay $7,790. Across all 50 states and DC the median comes to $7,850, so you pay $60 less.

This total doesn't include commission. Nationally, buyer's agents charge 2.42% on the sale price, on average, according to Redfin; the calculator adds that charge only after you supply a rate. Type the rate from your agreement to see the full breakdown.

In King County, a tax affidavit is signed by everyone, and payment of the tax happens before the deed is recorded. That information comes from King County.

If no tax is owed, the affidavit costs $10; if tax is due, it costs $5 plus that tax. The minimum fee is $10 in either case.

Alongside the buyer costs, the calculator shows the seller's excise tax, helping you see which side covers each cost.

Recording charges differ from county to county, so a single statewide price does not apply. Under the county fee schedule, King County's Recorder's Office lists $303.50 for "All other documents," where deeds fall, plus $1 for each extra page.

There is no recording line for Washington in the calculator, so this fee sits on top of the total you get.

What the calculator counts: the lender's origination charge; a credit check; an appraisal; prepaid interest for 15 days; a full year of home insurance; the owner's title policy. The calculator starts with 20% down, keeps that until you give your own number, and adds commission only after a rate is entered.

For sellers, the calculator calculates the excise tax based on the sale price and provides a total without commission or payoff. An attorney fee isn't included in the total, so add that charge if you hire an attorney.

You keep paying property tax once the home is yours. According to the US Census data, owner-occupied homes in Washington carry a median property tax bill of $4,556 each year, about 0.81% of median home value.