Seller Closing Costs in Pierce County: REET, Title, Escrow, and What You Net
Hero photo: Mount Rainier from Puyallup City Hall by Chris Light via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Before you list, most sellers want one number: what will I walk away with? The answer is not the list price. It is the list price minus the costs that come out at closing.
This guide is for sellers in Puyallup, Sumner, Tacoma, Bonney Lake, and the rest of Pierce County. It breaks down Washington real estate excise tax, title and escrow, brokerage compensation, and the other line items that show up on a net sheet.
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What sellers usually pay at closing
A net sheet starts with the expected sale price, then subtracts costs. Some costs are set by law. Others are negotiated.
Real estate excise tax (REET)
- Who usually pays
- Seller
- How it is set
- State and local rates
Listing brokerage compensation
- Who usually pays
- Seller
- How it is set
- Negotiated in writing
Buyer brokerage compensation, if offered
- Who usually pays
- Seller, if you agree
- How it is set
- Negotiated, optional
Owner's title insurance
- Who usually pays
- Seller, in many local contracts
- How it is set
- Title company rate
Escrow fee
- Who usually pays
- Often split
- How it is set
- Escrow company schedule
Mortgage payoff and liens
- Who usually pays
- Seller
- How it is set
- Lender payoff statement
Property tax and HOA prorations
- Who usually pays
- Shared by date
- How it is set
- County and HOA records
Buyer credits or repairs
- Who usually pays
- Seller, if negotiated
- How it is set
- Your purchase agreement
Step 1: Calculate Washington REET
REET is usually the biggest tax line on a Pierce County sale. The state portion is graduated by price, and a local rate is added on top.
State rates through December 31, 2026
Per the Washington Department of Revenue and Pierce County's rate sheet:
$525,000 or less
- State REET rate
- 1.10%
$525,000.01 to $1,525,000
- State REET rate
- 1.28%
$1,525,000.01 to $3,025,000
- State REET rate
- 2.75%
$3,025,000.01 or more
- State REET rate
- 3.00%
Local rates in Pierce County
Pierce County's table lists 0.50% for Puyallup, Tacoma, Sumner, Bonney Lake, Edgewood, Gig Harbor, University Place, Lakewood, and unincorporated Pierce County, among others. Eatonville is listed at 0.25%.
Sale price
- Amount
- $600,000
State REET on first $525,000 at 1.10%
- Amount
- $5,775
State REET on next $75,000 at 1.28%
- Amount
- $960
Local REET at 0.50%
- Amount
- $3,000
Estimated REET total
- Amount
- $9,735
These numbers are an illustration for a $600,000 sale in a 0.50% local rate area. Your own price, city, and any exemption change the result. Confirm the current rates with the Department of Revenue or the Pierce County Treasurer before you rely on them.
Step 2: Separate brokerage compensation from the rest
Brokerage compensation is not a tax, and it is not set by a fixed percentage in the law. You negotiate it with your listing brokerage in writing before you list.
Since August 17, 2024 practice changes described in the NAR settlement FAQs, listing agreements must make clear that compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable. Offers of compensation to a buyer's broker also are no longer published on MLSs that follow those rules.
Keep listing side and buyer side as separate lines. That makes it easier to compare offers and strategies.
Step 3: Add title, escrow, and payoff items
Beyond REET and brokerage fees, most Pierce County closings include:
- 1Owner's title insurance for the buyer, which the seller often pays under local custom and the purchase form.
- 2The seller's share of the escrow fee.
- 3Recording or reconveyance fees tied to paying off the loan.
- 4The mortgage payoff, including any per diem interest through the closing date.
- 5Prorated property taxes and HOA dues.
Step 4: Plan for repairs, credits, and timing costs
Not every seller pays for repairs. When you do, it is a strategy choice.
Pre listing repairs or cleaning
- When it shows up
- Before you list
Inspection credits or repairs
- When it shows up
- After the buyer's inspection
Buyer closing cost credit
- When it shows up
- In the offer or a later amendment
Home warranty
- When it shows up
- If the contract calls for it
Moving, storage, or bridge housing
- When it shows up
- Outside escrow, but still part of your real cost
If you are choosing between selling as is and fixing things first, read should I sell my house as is or make repairs.
Step 5: Read the net sheet before you accept an offer
A strong offer is the one that leaves you the cash you need, on a timeline you can live with. Price alone does not answer that.
Once you accept, what happens after you accept an offer covers the path to closing. For pricing strategy, see how to choose the right listing price.
FAQ
Who pays REET in Washington?
The Department of Revenue says the seller usually pays. If the seller does not, the buyer is responsible, and unpaid REET can become a lien on the property.
Does every Pierce County city use the same local REET rate?
No. Most use 0.50%, and Pierce County's published table lists Eatonville at 0.25%. Always confirm the rate for the parcel's exact location.
Are title and escrow fees the same everywhere?
No. Title premiums follow filed rates, and escrow fees vary by company and price. Ask for quotes early.
Can I reduce what I pay to sell?
Some costs are fixed by law, like REET. Others are negotiated, like brokerage compensation, credits, and how much repair work you do before listing.
This article is general information, not tax or legal advice. REET rates, local fees, and contract customs can change, so confirm your numbers with escrow, the county treasurer, and a qualified professional before you list or accept an offer.
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