Costs to buy a house in Washington | Washington closing costs | Washington house buying calculator | Homeownership costs | How to save when buying a home in Washington
The average home buyer in Washington spends between $47,110 and $167,071 when purchasing a $613,674 home — the state median value.
Keep in mind, this is just the cost of buying a home. After you close, you'll still need to budget for all the ongoing costs of homeownership.
Luckily, Clever Real Estate can help make buying a home more affordable. Working with a Clever agent means you'll not only get great service from start to finish, but you could also be eligible for up to 0.5% cash back after closing. That's about $3,068 back on an average-priced home in Washington!
Average cost to buy a house in Washington
Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
$6,137 to $18,410 | |
$21,479 to $122,735 | |
$5,581 to $8,372 | |
$12,205 | |
$230 | |
$230 | |
$1,250 to $4,890 | |
Total | $47,110 to $167,071 |
Buyer closing costs in Washington
While the other costs to buy a house in Washington are pretty transparent, Washington closing costs are a bit more nuanced. They're actually a series of smaller costs lumped together into one total. Here's a breakdown of all of the Washington closing costs you'll likely pay when buying a home.
Closing cost | Amount |
|---|---|
Closing fee | $614 |
Recording fee | $119 |
Title service fees | $1,044 |
Origination fee | $3,068 |
Underwriting fee | $600 |
Discount points | $4,909 per point |
Lender's title insurance | $720 |
Owner's title insurance | $1,131 |
Prorated property tax | Varies |
Real estate excise tax | Typically paid by seller |
Total | $12,205 |
Keep in mind, closing costs are often negotiable. However, to win the negotiation battle, you'll need a great agent who can work out a deal with the seller. Clever can match you with a top agent in your area that can get the seller to shoulder more of the above costs.
Contact us at Clever for top agent recommendations.
Cost to buy a house in Washington calculator
Ongoing costs of homeownership in Washington
Unfortunately, the cost to buy a house is just the beginning. After closing, you'll officially own the home and begin paying for the ongoing costs of homeownership.
Expense | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|
Mortgage (principle and interest) | $2,791 |
Homeowners insurance | $98 |
Taxes | Varies but averages $490 statewide |
Maintenance | $510 |
Utilities | $379 |
Total | $4,267 |
Note: All numbers are estimates based on state averages and a median home value of $613,674 and a down payment of 20%. | |
Besides the expenses outlined above, you'll also want to consider private mortgage insurance (PMI) and homeowner's association (HOA) fees.
- If you pay less than 20% as a down payment on your house, you'll probably have to pay PMI monthly until you get to 20% equity. For the average Washington homeowner, this is between $267 to $904 a month.
- Some neighborhoods have HOA fees for the care and maintenance of common areas. The national average is around $250 per month.
» MORE: The true cost of homeownership
Top ways to save money when buying a house in Washington
1. Look into better financing options
Paying off debts and getting your credit in the best shape possible before applying for a loan will help you get a better interest rate, which will lower your monthly payments for the life of the loan.
You can also shop around to compare lenders so you get the lowest fees and interest rates available. It may be a good idea to enlist the help of a mortgage broker if you're not sure how to go about vetting lenders.
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Get matched with a lender who can tell you how much house you can afford. To get started, where do you plan on buying?
2. Participate in home buyer programs Washington
The Washington State Housing Finance Commission offers several programs to make home buying more affordable, such as the Home Advantage Program. This is a low fixed-rate loan with the option for down payment assistance.
There's also the House Key Opportunity Program, a favorable loan option for first-time homebuyers. It also offers down payment assistance to eligible buyers, as well as Mortgage Credit Certificates (MCC).
There’s also a number of regional-specific programs that you may apply for — the HUD lists a few.
» MORE: First-time home buyer programs everyone should know about
3. Partner with an expert agent
Some real estate companies, like Clever, offer home buyers a percentage of their home's price back after the sale finalizes.
That means if you work with a Clever agent, you'll not only get the expertise that helps you get the best deal possible — you could also get up to 0.5% of your home price back after closing!