King County, Washington: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in King County is worth $811,200, property taxes on it run about $6,785 a year (0.84%), the FHA loan limit is $1,063,750, and closing on it means about $13,494 in transfer tax plus $2,051 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $811,200 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $6,785 a year, 0.84% of value | Property tax page → |
| FHA loan limit (1 unit) | $1,063,750 | Loan limits page → |
| Conforming loan limit (1 unit) | $1,063,750 | Loan limits page → |
| Transfer tax on the median home | $13,494 (incl. King County local REET) | Washington transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $1,243 owner's + $808 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Recording fees (deed + mortgage) | $623 | Recording fees page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $16,168 | Closing costs page → |
| Down payment help | 6 local programs found | First-time buyer page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $164,400; low-income limit $116,650 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in King County?
The median owner-occupied home in King County is valued at $811,200, per U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units).
How much are property taxes in King County?
The median King County homeowner pays $6,785 a year in real estate taxes, about 0.84% of the median home value ($6,741 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in King County?
$1,063,750 for a one-unit home in 2026 (a high-cost limit above the national floor), per HUD; the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $1,063,750, per FHFA.
What does it cost to close on a home in King County?
On the $811,200 median home: transfer tax $13,494, title insurance $2,051 for both policies, recording fees about $623, about $16,168 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in King County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for King County (Seattle-Bellevue, WA HUD Metro FMR Area) is $164,400. A family of four counts as low income below $116,650 under HUD's 80% tier (adjusted for local housing costs, so it can sit above 80% of the median), which is the line many first-time buyer assistance programs use.
Nearby Washington counties
- Grays Harbor County $279,500
- Island County $535,300
- Jefferson County $495,100
- Kitsap County $505,700
- Kittitas County $459,900
- Klickitat County $388,700
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid)
- HUD, FHA forward mortgage loan limits for calendar year 2026 (CHUMS county limits file, Mortgagee Letter 2025-23)
- FHFA, conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026, by county
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians and schedule computations, not quotes.
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