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SellingNo single percentage fits every Puyallup sale. Your biggest costs are usually excise tax, the fees you negotiate, title and escrow, and whatever prep you choose to do. A real estimate starts with a line-by-line net sheet, not a rule of thumb.
Quick answer
On a $565,000 Puyallup sale closing in 2026, Washington state and local real estate excise tax comes to about $9,112, plus a $5 state technology fee. The local rate is the same 0.50% inside Puyallup city limits and in unincorporated South Hill. Commission is negotiable and should be its own line on your net sheet. Title, escrow, prorated property taxes, repairs, concessions, and moving depend on your home, your contract, and your plans.
What costs do Puyallup home sellers pay?
| Cost | How it works |
|---|---|
| Real estate excise tax (REET) | Graduated state rates plus a 0.50% local rate. Usually paid by the seller. |
| Broker compensation | Negotiated in writing before you list. No law sets the amount. |
| Title insurance | On the standard Washington purchase agreement, the seller pays for the buyer's owner's title policy. |
| Escrow fee | Usually split 50/50 between buyer and seller. |
| Mortgage payoff and prorations | Your loan balance, any liens, and your share of property taxes and HOA dues up to closing day. |
| Preparation and repairs | Anything from cleaning and paint to fixing inspection items. This is a strategy decision, not a requirement. |
| Buyer concessions | Optional and negotiable, such as paying some of the buyer's closing costs. |
| Moving and overlap | Movers, storage, and any time you're paying for two homes at once. |
How much is the excise tax when you sell a house in Puyallup?
Washington taxes real estate sales unless an exemption applies. The seller usually pays. If not, the buyer is responsible, and unpaid REET can become a lien (Washington Department of Revenue).
The state portion is graduated. For sales in 2026, the Department of Revenue's rate table is:
- 1.10% on the first $525,000 of the price
- 1.28% on the portion from $525,000.01 to $1,525,000
- 2.75% on the portion from $1,525,000.01 to $3,025,000
- 3.00% on anything above $3,025,000
The local rate is added on top. The Department of Revenue's local REET rate table (effective May 1, 2026) lists 0.50% for the City of Puyallup and the same 0.50% for unincorporated Pierce County.
Example: a $565,000 Puyallup sale
We used $565,000 because Zillow's Home Value Index put the typical Puyallup home at about $565,156 as of August 2026 (Zillow). Your home may be worth more or less.
- State tax on the first $525,000 at 1.10%: $5,775
- State tax on the next $40,000 at 1.28%: $512
- Local Puyallup tax at 0.50% of $565,000: $2,825
- Estimated total REET: $9,112, plus the $5 state technology fee
That's about 1.6% of the price. Escrow calculates the final figure.
Will the excise tax change if I close in 2027?
Slightly. The state adjusts the brackets every four years. For sales on or after January 1, 2027, the 1.10% bracket rises to the first $551,000, and the 1.28% bracket runs to $1,551,000 (Department of Revenue). On the same $565,000 sale, REET would be about $9,065, roughly $47 less. That's not a reason to change your timing.
What's the commission to sell a house in Puyallup?
There's no standard or legally set commission in Puyallup. You negotiate it with your brokerage, in writing, before you list. Since the practice changes from the National Association of REALTORS® settlement took effect on August 17, 2024, listing agreements must clearly state that compensation isn't set by law and is fully negotiable. Offers of compensation to buyer's agents also can no longer be published on MLSs that follow NAR's rules (NAR settlement FAQs).
So you're really making two decisions:
- What you pay your listing brokerage, and what's included: pricing, prep, marketing, negotiation, and managing the sale to closing.
- Whether to offer anything toward the buyer's side, either buyer's agent compensation or a concession. That depends on your price point and your competition.
Ask to see both as separate lines on your net sheet, not buried in an "8 to 10% to sell" estimate.
Who pays title and escrow fees in Puyallup?
Most Puyallup resales use the Northwest Multiple Listing Service's standard purchase and sale agreement (NWMLS Form 21). Under its default terms, the seller pays for the buyer's owner's title insurance policy, the buyer and seller each pay half the escrow fee (unless FHA or VA rules require otherwise), and the buyer pays their own loan costs, including the lender's title policy. Your contract can change any of that, so read the terms you actually sign.
Both charges depend on the price and the company, so get quotes early.
What comes out of my proceeds at closing besides fees?
Mortgage payoff and liens. Not selling costs, but they come out of your check. Use a lender payoff statement, not your last monthly balance.
Property tax prorations. Pierce County property taxes are due in two halves, by April 30 and October 31 (Pierce County), and the standard contract prorates the current year's taxes to the closing date. Paid the full year and closing in November? The buyer credits you for the rest of the year. Closing in June? You owe your share through closing day.
HOA dues and documents. Many South Hill neighborhoods have homeowners associations. Expect dues to be prorated, and ask your HOA early what it charges for resale documents.
Does it cost more to sell on South Hill or in downtown Puyallup?
The tax is the same. Inside city limits and in unincorporated South Hill, the local REET rate is 0.50%. What changes is the kind of home and the to-do list that comes with it.
- Downtown and the valley. Many homes are older, so expect inspection items like aging roofs, wiring, and side sewers. Near the Puyallup River, expect floodplain questions. Washington's seller disclosure statement asks about flooding, drainage problems, and whether the property includes floodplains or other critical areas (RCW 64.06.020).
- South Hill. More subdivisions, newer homes, and HOAs. Prep is often lighter, but you're competing with similar homes nearby, so pricing and presentation matter more.
- Puyallup addresses outside city limits. A Puyallup mailing address doesn't mean the home is inside the City of Puyallup. Much of South Hill and the surrounding area is unincorporated Pierce County, and some homes sit in neighboring cities. That can change utilities and paperwork. If your home is on septic, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department requires a Report of System Status before the sale: a certified pumping and inspection plus a Health Department review. It's valid for a year, so start early.
How much should I spend getting my Puyallup home ready to sell?
Fix what protects buyer confidence first: safety issues, leaks, broken systems, and deferred maintenance. Then cleaning, paint, lighting, and yard work. Don't assume a remodel pays you back. Our step-by-step selling guide covers what to fix and what to skip.
Should I offer buyer concessions?
They're optional and negotiable. A credit toward a buyer's closing costs or rate buydown can keep a deal together. Loan programs cap seller contributions, and a credit is still money off your net, so compare it with a price adjustment on your net sheet.
What about moving costs?
Easy to forget: movers, storage, move-out cleaning, and any overlap paying for two homes. If you're buying too, the order of the two closings affects how much cash you need. We plan that before you list.
What should a Puyallup seller net sheet show?
Every line above: price, REET, compensation, concessions, title, escrow, prorations, payoff, and any septic or prep costs. Ask for three versions (conservative, expected, and strong) instead of one optimistic number.
I grew up in unincorporated Pierce County, went to Franklin Pierce High School, and my dad owned an auto body business in downtown Puyallup. This is home, and the sellers I work with here deserve a real number on paper before they decide anything.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the excise tax on a $565,000 home in Puyallup?
About $9,112 for a sale in 2026: $6,287 in graduated state tax plus $2,825 in local tax at 0.50%, plus a $5 state technology fee.
Who pays real estate excise tax in Puyallup?
The seller usually pays REET in a Washington home sale. If the seller doesn't pay, the buyer becomes responsible, and unpaid tax can become a lien on the property.
Is the excise tax different on South Hill than inside Puyallup city limits?
No. As of May 1, 2026, the local REET rate is 0.50% both in the City of Puyallup and in unincorporated Pierce County, which includes much of South Hill.
What is the standard real estate commission in Puyallup?
There isn't one. Commission is negotiated in writing between you and your brokerage, and whether to offer anything toward a buyer's agent is a separate decision.
Will Washington's excise tax change in 2027?
Yes, slightly. For sales on or after January 1, 2027, the 1.10% state bracket covers the first $551,000 instead of $525,000, which lowers the tax a little for most sales above $525,000.
Want a real number for your Puyallup home?
We'll walk through your likely price, the prep worth doing, and a line-by-line estimate of what you'd walk away with, even if you're not ready to sell yet.
Prefer to talk? Call or text (253) 242-2514.
Sources: Washington Department of Revenue, Real estate excise tax and local REET rates effective May 1, 2026; Zillow Home Value Index, Puyallup (August 2026); NAR settlement FAQs; NWMLS Form 21 Residential Purchase and Sale Agreement; Pierce County tax bills and payments; Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department; RCW 64.06.020. Rates checked October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.