Closing Costs in King County: Who Pays What in 2026

Closing costs in King County typically run 2% to 4% of the purchase price for buyers. On a home at the county’s $950,000 single-family median, that is roughly $19,000 to $38,000. Sellers pay a separate set of costs, led by Washington’s real estate excise tax, which comes to about 1.68% on a median-priced King County sale.

I have spent more than 25 years closing loans around Puget Sound, and I do not sell, I educate. This guide walks through closing costs in King County line by line: what buyers pay, what sellers pay, how the excise tax changes from Federal Way to West Bellevue, and the steps that actually lower the check you bring to signing. For the full financing picture, start with my King County home loans hub.

Closing Costs in King County: The Short Answer

Closing costs are everything you pay to complete the purchase other than the down payment. In Washington, a sale closes through an escrow company, not an attorney. The escrow officer collects the money from both sides, pays every line on the settlement statement, and releases funds once the deed records with the King County Recorder’s Office.

Local custom decides who pays what, and it is consistent across the county. Sellers customarily pay the excise tax, the real estate commissions, and the owner’s title insurance policy. Buyers pay their loan costs, the lender’s title policy, half of the escrow fee, recording, and the prepaid taxes and insurance that start their escrow account. Everything is negotiable in the purchase contract, but that split is where nearly every King County transaction begins.

What Buyers Pay: Closing Costs in King County Line by Line

Buyer costs fall into four groups. Here is what each one is and how it behaves at King County prices.

Step 1: Know your loan costs

These are the lender’s origination, underwriting, and processing charges, plus any discount points you choose to pay. They appear in Section A of your Loan Estimate, and they cannot increase at closing once disclosed. Ask me to walk you through Section A line by line, so you know exactly what each charge is for.

Step 2: Expect third-party services

The appraisal is the largest one. Some jumbo programs require a second appraisal on larger loans, which matters on the Eastside where many purchases are jumbo. You will also see a credit report and a flood certification. You cannot skip these, and they are set by outside companies, not the lender.

Step 3: Title, escrow, and recording

You pay for the lender’s title insurance policy, which protects the lender’s lien, and customarily half of the escrow fee. Both scale with price, so they run higher in King County than in most of the state. Recording is set by the county: the King County Recorder’s Office charges $303.50 for the first page of a deed and $304.50 for the first page of a deed of trust, plus $1 for each additional page.

Step 4: Plan for prepaids

Prepaids are not fees. They are your own future bills, collected up front: the first year of homeowners insurance, a few months of property tax for your escrow account (the account your lender uses to pay tax and insurance for you), and interest from your closing date to the end of that month. They are often the biggest single group, which is why they surprise buyers who only budgeted for fees.

Here is how those groups look on an illustrative $950,000 purchase with a conventional loan. These are planning ranges, not quotes. Your Loan Estimate is the real number for your file.

Add discount points if you choose to buy down your rate, and any HOA transfer or setup fees on a condo or townhome. The total lands inside the 2% to 4% planning range for most buyers.

Who Pays Closing Costs in King County: Buyer vs Seller

The settlement statement has a buyer column and a seller column. This is the customary split I see on almost every King County file.

The purchase contract can move any of these lines. In a multiple-offer situation, a buyer may take on a seller cost to strengthen an offer. In today’s more balanced King County market, it is more common for sellers to credit money back to the buyer. If you are working with an agent, they will know how the current market is treating these terms. I work closely with agents on this, and my page for real estate agents explains how.

How Much Is the Excise Tax on a King County Home Sale?

Washington’s real estate excise tax (REET) is graduated by price, like income tax brackets. Each state rate applies only to the part of the price inside its tier. These state rates from the Department of Revenue are in effect through December 31, 2026.

On top of the state tax, every city in King County and unincorporated King County adds a local excise tax of 0.50%, except the small town of Skykomish at 0.25%, according to the Department of Revenue’s local rate table effective May 1, 2026. Starting January 1, 2027, the state tiers shift up to $551,000, $1,551,000, and $3,051,000.

Here is what that means at real King County prices. These are illustrative examples using medians from my King County housing market 2026 report, with the 0.50% local rate.

Notice how the effective rate climbs. On a $650,000 Federal Way sale, the tax is about 1.63% of the price. On a West Bellevue sale, the 2.75% and 3.00% tiers push it to about 2.65%. That is why Eastside sellers planning a move should build the excise tax into their net-proceeds math early, not in the last week. Escrow takes it from the seller’s proceeds at closing, so no one writes a separate check. REET applies to sales only, so refinancing does not trigger it.

Prepaids and Property Taxes in King County

Property taxes deserve their own planning line in King County, because the bills are large and they arrive on a fixed schedule. Washington property taxes are paid in two halves, due April 30 and October 31. At closing, escrow divides the current year’s bill between you and the seller based on the closing date, then your lender collects a few months of reserves to start your escrow account.

For a first budget, I use about 0.91% of the purchase price per year, then replace it with the actual figure from the King County Assessor once you choose a home. On an illustrative $950,000 home, that planning estimate is about $8,600 a year, or roughly $720 a month. Levy rates vary by city and by voter-approved levies, so two homes at the same price can carry different bills. This is not tax advice; talk to a tax professional about your own situation.

Homeowners insurance is the other big prepaid. Your lender collects the first year’s premium at closing plus a small cushion. Getting insurance quotes early, especially on older Seattle homes or waterfront property, helps you avoid a surprise in the final week.

How to Estimate Closing Costs in King County Before You Write an Offer

You do not have to guess. Within three business days of a complete application, your lender must send a Loan Estimate, a standardized three-page form. Page two is where closing costs live:

• Section A is the lender’s own charges, which cannot increase once disclosed.
• Section B lists required services you cannot shop for, like the appraisal.
• Section C lists services you can shop for, which in King County mainly means title and escrow.
• Sections E through G cover recording, prepaids, and your initial escrow deposit.

At least three business days before signing, you receive the Closing Disclosure with the final figures. Hold it next to the Loan Estimate and ask about anything that changed. Before you even apply, my Seattle mortgage calculator gives you a monthly estimate with tax, insurance, and mortgage insurance built in.

How Can You Reduce Closing Costs in King County?

Four levers do most of the work, and they can be combined.

Seller credits. The seller can credit money toward your costs at closing, within each program’s limits. Conventional loans typically allow 3% of the price with less than 10% down, 6% with 10% to 25% down, and 9% with more than 25% down. FHA allows 6%. VA allows up to 4% in concessions and separately lets the seller pay customary closing costs. In today’s more balanced King County market, especially on the Eastside and in Seattle, this is often the most effective lever.

Lender credits. Your lender can cover part of your costs in exchange for a slightly different rate structure. It is a trade, not a gift, and the right choice depends on how long you expect to keep the loan. I show both versions side by side so you can see the break-even point.

Down payment assistance. The Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s Home Advantage program can cover closing costs as well as down payment, with an income cap of $215,000. The City of Seattle and ARCH, which serves East King County cities, have their own programs for qualifying buyers. My first-time home buyer programs guide explains how they work.

Timing and Section C. Closing later in the month lowers prepaid interest, though it does not change your total cost of the loan. Choosing your own title or escrow company can save a few hundred dollars, which is worth one phone call.

Can You Roll Closing Costs Into Your Loan in King County?

On a purchase, generally no. The loan is capped by the price and your program’s loan-to-value limit, so there is no room to add fees on top. The exceptions are fees built to be financed: the FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium of 1.75% and the VA funding fee can both be added to the loan balance. Everything else on a purchase is covered with cash, seller credits, lender credits, or assistance funds. See my FHA loan guide and VA home loan guide for how those program fees work.

On a refinance, rolling costs into the new balance is routine. The trade is a slightly larger loan. My refinance guide walks through when that makes sense.

King County Closing Costs Checklist

Before you write an offer, run through this list:

• Get a pre-approval and a written Loan Estimate for your target price.
• Budget 2% to 4% of the price for closing costs and prepaids, on top of your down payment.
• Get a homeowners insurance quote for the type of home you are shopping.
• For condos and townhomes, ask about HOA dues, transfer fees, and any special assessments.
• If you are selling too, estimate your excise tax and net proceeds before you list.
• Decide with your agent whether to ask for a seller credit, and size it to your real estimate. A credit larger than your actual costs is usually lost.
• Plan your wire: cash to close is your down payment plus closing costs, minus your earnest money and any credits. Confirm wire instructions by phone with escrow, never by email alone.

Buying above the conforming limit? Jumbo loans can carry larger reserve requirements and sometimes a second appraisal, so read my jumbo home loan guide before you set your budget. Buying north of the county line? Compare with my guide to closing costs in Snohomish County.

Frequently Asked Questions: Closing Costs King County

Ready to See Your Real Cash to Close in King County?

Closing costs in King County are knowable before you ever write an offer, and knowing them turns the final week into a confident one instead of a scramble. Tell me your price range and the city you are shopping in, and I will build the line-by-line version for your situation. Everything is subject to a full loan estimate and underwriting approval.

Keep exploring: King County home loans, the King County housing market 2026 report, the Bellevue and Kent guides, and closing costs in Snohomish County. This article is general education, not tax or legal advice, and every figure is a planning estimate, not a quote.