In short
The median value of owner-occupied homes in Seattle is $950,800 (Census ACS 2024; owner estimates, not sale prices). The FHFA House Price Index shows Washington prices down 0.9% and Seattle–Bellevue–Kent prices down 2.4% between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026. On that price, Washington's real estate excise tax comes to $11,225.24, paid by the seller. Plus a local real estate excise tax of 0.50% of the whole price in Seattle (Washington Department of Revenue, rates effective May 1, 2026). Selling a main home you owned and lived in for 2 of the last 5 years, the first $250,000 of gain ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly) is excluded from federal income tax (IRS Publication 523).
Calculate for Seattle
In short
The median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of Seattle is $950,800, according to the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey. King County’s median is $885,200. The City of Seattle’s Office of Housing offers down payment assistance of up to $76,000 per household to first-time buyers at or below its income limits, per its Buy A Home page.
How much homes cost in Seattle
The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) asks owners how much they think their home would sell for. The median of those answers is a useful benchmark, but it is not a sale price: it covers every owner-occupied home, including homes bought long ago. Our page on Washington home prices explains the method in detail.
| Area | Median value, 2024 (ACS) | Margin of error (90%) |
|---|---|---|
| City of Seattle | $950,800 | ±$18,888 |
| King County | $885,200 | ±$12,452 |
| Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metro area | $743,000 | ±$6,997 |
| Washington | $602,200 | ±$3,897 |
| United States | $360,600 | ±$618 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024, table B25077. The 2025 estimates are scheduled for October 29, 2026.
Are Seattle prices rising?
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) tracks repeat sales of the same single-family homes. Its purchase-only, seasonally adjusted index for the Seattle–Bellevue–Kent metro division, published August 25, 2026, shows:
| Area | 1-year change (Q2 2025 to Q2 2026) | 5-year change (Q2 2021 to Q2 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle–Bellevue–Kent metro division | −2.4% | +13.7% |
| Washington | −0.9% | +20.0% |
| United States | +2.1% | +33.4% |
Source: FHFA House Price Index, quarterly purchase-only files. Changes calculated by Payotte from the published index values.
Prices in the Seattle area fell about 2% over the past year, after a gain of about 14% over five years.
Closing costs, property tax and transfer tax
On top of the price, buyers and sellers pay closing costs. Several items depend on the loan and on the providers you choose, so there is no single official figure. Our guides cover the Washington rules in detail, and this page does not repeat their numbers:
To see how property tax can be paid through your monthly payment, read our guide to escrow accounts.
Help for first-time buyers in Seattle
At Seattle prices, the price caps in assistance programs matter. The state’s House Key Opportunity loan has a $725,000 purchase-price limit in King County ($775,000 in a Target Area), per the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC). The ACS median is an owner estimate, not a sale price, but it sits above that cap.
The city’s own help comes through nonprofit partners and Seattle Housing Levy funds:
- up to $76,000 per household for open-market purchases;
- household income at or below 80% of area median income: the Office of Housing’s homeownership limits, effective May 15, 2026, are $92,080 for one person and $131,520 for four;
- first-time buyers (no home owned in the last three years), buying inside Seattle city limits, as a principal residence;
- a city-approved homebuyer class plus one-on-one housing counseling.
WSHFC’s Home Advantage down payment assistance (3% to 5% of the loan, income up to $215,000) is available in Seattle too, and the city’s page notes that the former Seattle Downpayment Assistance Program is no longer offered through WSHFC. All the details are in our first-time buyer programs guide.
The Office of Housing also runs the Rainier Valley Affordable Homeownership Initiative, which aims to create at least 100 permanently affordable for-sale homes along MLK Jr. Way S, on former Sound Transit sites.
Washington guides for Seattle buyers
- Closing costs in Washington
- Property tax in Washington
- Seller disclosure in Washington
- First-time buyer programs in Washington
- Do you need a real estate attorney in Washington?
- Community property and buying a home
- Natural hazards and insurance in Washington
- How to verify a license in Washington
- Foreclosure in Washington
- Tenant rights in Washington
- The steps of buying a home
Frequently asked questions
What is the median home price in Seattle?
The Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of Seattle at $950,800 (±$18,888). This is what owners think their home is worth, not the median sale price of recent sales.
Are home prices in Seattle going down?
According to the FHFA purchase-only index, prices in the Seattle–Bellevue–Kent metro division fell 2.4% between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026. Over five years, they rose 13.7%.
Does Seattle offer down payment assistance?
Yes. The Office of Housing offers up to $76,000 per household through nonprofit partners, for first-time buyers at or below 80% of area median income who buy inside the city. The state’s WSHFC programs are also available.
Do I need to be a first-time buyer to get help in Seattle?
For the city program, yes: no home owned in the last three years. WSHFC’s Home Advantage loan and its 3% to 5% down payment assistance do not require first-time status.
Where can I compare Seattle with the rest of the state?
Our Washington home prices page lists the state, the county, the metro area and the United States side by side, with the FHFA trend for each.
More Washington guides
- Closing costs in Washington: what buyers and sellers pay
- Washington real estate excise tax (REET): rates and Seattle
- How Washington property tax works, with a Seattle example
- Seller disclosure requirements in Washington
- Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Washington?
- Foreclosure process in Washington
- Home prices in Washington and Seattle: median value and trend
- First-time home buyer programs in Washington: WSHFC, Seattle
- How to verify a real estate license in Washington
- Community property and buying a home in Washington
- Natural hazards and home insurance in Washington
- Buying a rental property in Washington: tenant rules
Sources
- Table B25077, Median Value (Dollars), ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- 2025 ACS Data Release Schedule (U.S. Census Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- U.S. House Prices Rise 2.1 Percent Year over Year, Up 0.3 Percent Quarter over Quarter (FHFA, August 25, 2026) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- FHFA House Price Index datasets, quarterly purchase-only indexes (state, metro) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Buy A Home (City of Seattle Office of Housing) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Current Income Limits: Homeownership, effective May 15, 2026 (City of Seattle Office of Housing) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Rainier Valley Affordable Homeownership Initiative (City of Seattle Office of Housing) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Downpayment Assistance (Washington State Housing Finance Commission) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- House Key Opportunity: Income Limits, Purchase Price Limits, and Target Areas (WSHFC) (consulted October 13, 2026)