Who Pays Closing Costs in Kirkland and Bellevue
Washington law and your contract decide who pays what.
Direct answer
Washington law and local custom set typical closing-cost splits, but your signed purchase agreement controls. Sellers usually pay real estate excise tax and owner's title insurance. Buyers usually pay lender fees, appraisal, lender's title insurance, and prepaids. Escrow fees are often split. Any of these can shift if the contract says so.
Seller-side costs in Kirkland and Bellevue
Sellers usually pay Washington's real estate excise tax and owner's title insurance. Brokerage compensation is negotiated in the listing agreement, not required by law. See how these line items add up in the seller closing cost calculator.
Buyer-side costs in Kirkland and Bellevue
Buyers usually pay lender fees, appraisal, lender's title insurance, and prepaid interest, taxes, and insurance. These are loan-related charges tied to financing. Model your numbers with the buyer closing cost calculator.
Real estate excise tax and what if the seller doesn't pay
REET is a tax on Washington property sales unless an exemption applies. The seller usually pays. If the seller doesn't, the buyer becomes responsible, and unpaid REET can create a lien on the property. King County adds a local rate to the state brackets.
Escrow fees and buyer credits are contract-driven
Escrow fees in King County are often split between buyer and seller, but allocation is negotiable. Sellers may agree to credit buyer costs at closing. None of this is automatic. Whatever your purchase agreement states is what escrow will follow.
Why the signed contract and closing statements control
Typical splits are a starting point, not a rule. Your purchase agreement sets the actual allocation. Before closing, compare your Closing Disclosure against your Loan Estimate to confirm final numbers. Run your own scenario in the closing cost estimator.
Washington transaction math
Washington Closing Cost Calculator
Enter your own numbers. Every field is a starting estimate you can edit. Rate, property tax, and insurance stay blank until you enter them, because we never guess your numbers.
Questions
Clear answers first. If one question changes the deal, bring it into the review before you move money.
Who pays REET if the seller doesn't pay it?+
Washington law makes the seller responsible for REET at closing. If the seller doesn't pay, responsibility shifts to the buyer, and the county can place a lien on the property for unpaid tax. Confirm REET payment terms directly in your purchase agreement before closing.
Who pays escrow fees in King County?+
Escrow fees in King County are commonly split between buyer and seller, but this is custom, not law. Your purchase agreement controls the actual split. Some contracts assign escrow fully to one side. Always check the signed agreement, not general assumptions.
Who pays for owner's title insurance?+
Sellers typically pay for owner's title insurance in Kirkland and Bellevue transactions. This policy protects the buyer's ownership interest. Like other allocations, this is a common practice, not a legal requirement, so confirm the specific terms in your contract.
Who pays for lender's title insurance?+
Buyers typically pay for lender's title insurance because it protects the lender, not the buyer. This cost applies only with a mortgage. Cash buyers generally skip this charge since there is no lender to insure.
Can sellers credit buyer closing costs?+
Yes. Sellers may agree to credit some buyer costs as part of negotiations. This is a contract term, not an automatic benefit. Credits typically get written into the purchase agreement and confirmed again on the final Closing Disclosure.
What if my contract differs from typical planning assumptions?+
Your signed contract always wins. Typical splits described here are planning assumptions, not guarantees. If your purchase agreement assigns a cost differently, that language controls. Review your Closing Disclosure against your Loan Estimate to confirm the final numbers before closing.
Next step
Closing-cost splits follow custom until your contract says otherwise. Review your numbers before you sign, and bring questions about your specific Kirkland or Bellevue transaction to a Real Estate Review. Book a Real Estate Review
Book a Real Estate ReviewNext steps
Keep moving forward
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