Guide to Buying a Home in Seattle in 2025

Are you thinking about buying a home in Seattle in 2025 and you’re trying to figure out this market? You have arrived at the right spot. I’m writing this as I’m helping a buyer negotiate on a new construction home. The seller dropped the price earlier this week and we are working through getting our clients their full closing costs paid for by the seller. Yes, you read that right—there is still negotiating happening in pockets of Seattle’s real estate market. And in this blog, I’m going to give you all my secrets gathered from my 25 years of working as a successful real estate broker on buying a home in Seattle in 2025.

All The Steps and Guides to Buying a Home in Seattle in 2025

1st Step: Find The Right Real Estate Broker For You In Seattle
2nd Step: Understand The Buyer Agency Agreements Before You Sign!
3rd Step: Define Your Priorities To Buy a Home in Seattle in 2025
4th Step: Complete a Home Buyer Intake
5th Step: Get Pre-Approved for Financing
6th Step: Smart Home Search
7th Step: Submit a Winning Offer
8th Step: You Are Under Contract! Now What?
9th Step: Navigate Inspections and Home Owner Association Reviews
10th Step: Review the Title Report
11th Step: Final Lending Process (For Those Getting a Home Loan)
12th Step: Final Walkthrough
13th Step: Signing Your Closing Documents
14th Step: Closing Day
15th Step: Official Diva Dweller Status!

Predictions for Buying a Home in Seattle in 2025

Seattle’s real estate market is always evolving, and 2025 is no exception. Our team expects 2025 to be a fascinating year. The first part of this year you will see pockets of deals for single-family homes. But snap up these housing deals quickly. Starting in June, we believe it will be a gangbuster and crazy multiple offer market for at least 12 months.

Where Can You Get a Deal Buying a Home in Seattle in 2025?

Condos! It is wild what you can buy right now in the condo market. Our goal is to buy the kiddo a condo as a long-term investment. The deals are so good!
Townhouses: Specifically older townhouses. In fact, Chavi and I are setting up a search now for a townhouse as we work through our downsizing year. More on this later!

Where Are You Going to Pay Top Dollar Buying a Home in Seattle in 2025?

Single-Family Detached Homes! Seattle has seen a slump in prices for condos and townhomes. But not for single-family detached homes. In fact, we saw a wild multiple offer for our Mid-Century Modern listing in North Seattle this last fall. Buckle up Diva Dwellers and prep to have cash if you want to buy a regular old home!

Now let’s dive into the ultimate guide for buying a home in Seattle in 2025.

The Detailed Guide For Buying a Home in Seattle in 2025

Guide to Buying a Home in Seattle in 2025

The year has just begun and already we have had clients get screaming deals on new construction homes and condos. At the same time we are having clients lose on multiple offers where they are escalating way over $100,000 over the asking price. My advice! Get educated by reading this blog and hire someone who is going to take care of you.

Step 1: Find the Right Real Estate Broker For Your Seattle Home-Buying Journey

Buying a home in Seattle is a complex process, and having an experienced broker on your side makes all the difference. At Team Diva, we specialize in representing buyers like you, offering personalized guidance to help you achieve your real estate goals.

Why Choose Team Diva to Help You Buy a Home?

Our Diva Dwellers make smart buys that lead to extraordinary sales.
Over 25 years of experience in the Seattle real estate market.
Deep understanding of how to protect LGBTQ+ folks as they buy a home.
Knowledge of EVERY neighborhood in Seattle.
Commitment to making Seattle a more inclusive and equitable place.
Support and information to navigate the new buyer agency agreement.

Whoever you choose, it is really important to have someone who is going to understand you, has support, and is ready and willing to go to bat for you throughout the transaction and after you close on the home.

Step 2: Understand The Buyer Agency Agreements

Starting in 2024, Washington state requires buyers to sign a Buyer Agency Agreement as soon as they start to provide fiduciary duties. Fiduciary duties extend to showing a home, providing advice about a home, etc. It does not include sitting down and having a conversation with a buyer’s broker to see if they are a good fit.

What Is The Buyer Agency Agreement in Washington State?

The Buyer Agency Agreement outlines the scope of services provided by your broker and clarifies compensation details. At Team Diva, we ensure our clients understand every aspect of this agreement, reinforcing our commitment to transparency and trust. PLEASE do a deep dive into the details of this document BEFORE you sign an agreement with anyone. Check out our blog and video to help you understand this in more detail >

Step 3: Define Your Priorities To Buy a Home in Seattle in 2025

The market in Seattle right now is unlike anything that I have seen in my 25 years of being in real estate. You are dealing with high interest rates, low inventory for single-family homes, and you might have to come up with additional cash to pay for your buyer’s broker.

Defining your priorities is is critical in being a successful Seattle homebuyer in 2025. Yes! Seattle is a city of diverse neighborhoods and home styles. From modern condos in Capitol Hill to charming Craftsman homes in Green Lake, knowing your must-haves will help narrow the search. Where does one even start the process?

Ask yourself:

Size, Condition, and/or Location?

We have a simple philosophy that really helps our buyers and it is called the Size, Condition, and/or Location principle. The idea is that regardless of who is buying or their budget EVERYONE has to choose two of the following: Size, Condition, and/or Location. That premise helps you to really focus on what you need the most in the process.

Speaking of tips on how to buy a home in Seattle in 2025, let’s talk about how to best communicate your priorities and that is to sit down and do a Home Buyer Intake Process.

Step 4: Complete a Home Buyer Intake

I do not know how other real estate brokers do their buyer intake interviews, but I do know that our practiced and well researched process works. Over the years we have taken several key workshops to really help us better understand the psychology behind helping people better understand what they are looking for in a home and a community. It is designed to get the core of what a homebuyer’s priorities are beyond the standard conversation around bedrooms and bathrooms. In addition, we really prioritize educating our buyers about the entire process.

Check out our detailed blog about how to buy a home in Seattle >

AND

Download our homebuyer guides >

Step 5: Get Pre-Approved for Financing

You should not be looking at houses UNTIL you have talked to a legit lender. The pre-approval process is a crucial step for buying a home in Seattle in 2025. Not only do you need to understand what the interest rates will do to your budget, but you also need a strategy on how to deal with them. For instance, do you need a 2:1 buydown? Or do you need the seller to buy down your rate?

Working with a smart lender will help you come up with a strategy that works!

Get Your Financing in Order to Buy a Home in Seattle in 2025

AND

Download our how to get a mortgage guide >

Step 6: Smart Home Search

Remember when we talked about Size, Condition, and/or Location? We take the results of your buyer intake and the parameters size, condition, and/or location into consideration. In addition to these parameters, it is also important to ask yourself the following questions when searching for a home:

Is the seller providing compensation for your real estate broker?
Do you need closing costs?
Can you compete in a multiple offer situation?
Is this an 80% house?
Does it fit your size, condition, and/or location parameter?

And we have a few more questions and items that we go over in your buyer intake when we meet.

Now that you have found the house, let’s submit an offer.

Step 7: Submit a Winning Offer

Every offer is different because every house, buyer, and corresponding seller all have different needs, wants, and benefits. We will sit down with you and come up with a strategy that takes into consideration your financial needs, your ability to do renovations, and the parameters of the buyer agency agreement.

Here are the various scenarios you might find yourself in when buying a home in Seattle in 2025. A bunch of stuff has changed in the last few years as different pockets of the Seattle real estate market require different strategies.

Different Transaction Scenarios in Seattle’s Real Estate Market in 2025

Multiple offer on a single-family home.
New construction offer.
Estate sale offer.
Condo offer.
Co-op offer.
Condoized new construction home offer.
Co-op new construction home offer.

As always we will go over the contract and offer options to give you the best chance to be in a good position to buy your home in Seattle.

Step 8: You Are Under Contract! Now What?

Congratulations! You are on your way to buying a home in Seattle in 2025. Now what? Depending on the type of property you made an offer on, you will have different options as to what happens next. Below are links to blogs we have written about the processes for each type of home.

Start Here:

This is the detailed guide on how to buy a home:

The Details Of What Happens Once You Go Into Contract On a Home in Seattle

You One a Multiple Offer: Multiple offer on a single family home >
Buying New Construction: New construction differences when buying a home >
Estate Sale: Follows the standard home buying process with the exception of the seller disclosure form. Ask us for more information during your intake on this one. Read up here on how to buy a home in Seattle >
Details On How to Buy a Condo: Condos are great deals right now. We are at the point where we are looking for a condo for ourselves as an investment right now. Here is what you need to know about buying a condo >
New Construction Townhouse That is a Condo: There are a lot of condo townhouse new construction homes on the market. These are a bit tricky. I would read what to know when buying a condo and buying a townhouse.
Co-Op New Construction Home: These are popping up in places like Beacon Hill. The big item is that you have to income qualify and make below the Seattle medium income for many of these projects. Outside of the income qualification the process is the same process as buying a co-op.

Step 9: Navigate Inspections and Home Owner Association Reviews

Navigating inspections (and if you are buying a condo, navigating the HOA) is the next critical step in your home buying process after your offer is accepted. I have been through this process hundreds of times with various clients, and I have to tell you that each time is slightly different. Both my team and I are here to help. And the first way we help is by getting you educated about the process.

Comprehensive Guide To Getting a Home Inspection in Seattle

Start here! No one should be buying a home without doing their full due diligence, and that includes doing a home inspection. I do not care if you are buying new construction, a townhouse, or a condo—you have to do an inspection in order to protect yourself legally in case something goes wrong in the process.

Read our Comprehensive Guide To Getting a Home Inspection in Seattle and/or watch the VIDEO!

Additional Review: Review the Condo Documents Like a Pro (If You Are Buying a Condo)

Once again, you also need to review every last part of the condo documents if you are buying a condo. Right now there are a lot of new construction townhouses and stand alone homes that have been categorized as a condo. Not only do you need to do a full inspection BUT you also need to review all of the condo association documents.

Read our guide to reviewing your resale certificate which is part of the condo documents you receive when buying a condo home.

Step 10: Review the Title Report

Unfortunately, many Seattle home buyers do not real the title report or ask questions of the title company about what is included. Months after these people buy a home some of these non-Diva Dwellers reach out because, oops their fence is on the neighbors property, or they do not own access to their driveway. So many things are in the title report.

Start Here – Reviewing Your Title Report

Now we are not going to leave you out there on your own struggling to understand these documents. Chavi did a very detailed video years ago about the title report. And to better understand the terms she also wrote a blog “Reviewing Your Title Report.” Please read it!!!!!

Be a Diva Dweller: Smart and well informed!!!

Step 11: Final Lending Process (For Those Getting a Home Loan)

Throughout your contract timeline, the lender and their underwriters have been hard at work making sure your loan is going through the approval process.

Here are a couple of big highlights that are happening that you need to track:

Appraisal of The Home
Underwriting
Final Loan Approval
Documents Released to Escrow
Signing!

Be prepped to provide last minute bank statements, financials, and answer questions that might come up in your credit reports. There will always be some last minute item that you will need to address.

Step 12: Final Walkthrough

The buyer is allowed to do a final walkthrough about three days before closing. This is a critical step. Technically the home needs to be in the same condition as when you did the inspection AND all work needs to have been completed by this point. Here is a general checklist of what to look for:

Inspection Items Finished: The sellers should have receipts, invoices paid, and warranties available for you.
Major Systems: Heating, plumbing, etc…
Exterior & Interior Changes: Storms happen. Make sure everything looks like it should.

Over the years I have seen hot water tanks leaking, a major building leak that was found in the bathroom, and sellers who did not finish all of the work in the inspection.

Do the final walkthrough!

Step 13: Signing Your Closing Documents

One big piece of advice I have for you all during the final three days of the contract is “BE FLEXIBLE!” No, seriously! The last couple of days can be the most chaotic and can feel super frustrating. But if you know this in advance, you can take the steps to make it work for you.

Here is what you need to do right before closing and singing your final documents:

Fill out your disclosures from escrow.
Schedule your signing appointment.
Transfer remaining funds to escrow.
Have a valid ID available to sign your documents.
Sign your documents!!!

You made it!

Step 14: Close on Your New Seattle Home

You did it! For closing, the work is with escrow. They balance the books, transfer the respective funds, and record the deed with the county. Meanwhile, the seller should be confirming that everything is set up for you to take possession of the property. Typically possession is at 9 PM, but we always ask for the buyers to have access to the home by 5 PM.

As soon as you have legal possession of the property here is what you need to do:

Setup your utilities in your name.
Change the locks on the home.
Set up an alarm system if that is important to you.
Confirm moving dates and details.
Send out your new address details.
Celebrate!!!!

Step 15: Official Diva Dweller Status!!

You are officially a Diva Dweller. This means you get all the goodies and respect. You are also invited to various events we host over the year and we are always available to help. Need some advice on which improvements to make? We got you covered! Need a good resource to help you with that garden? No problem!

Additional Information For Buying a Home in Seattle in 2025

Last but not least, you should do a deep dive and read the following blogs and videos. Diva Dwellers are known for being super smart, savvy, and thoughtful home buyers. They know their stuff before they start the home buying process. And one of our biggest passions is helping people through the home buying process by making sure they have the information they need to make a smart decision.

Start Here on Your Home Buying Journey in Seattle in 2025

At Team Diva, we’re more than real estate agents; we’re your partners in buying a home in Seattle in 2025. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward your Seattle dream home.

We are here to help. Our team understands that this process can take a year or two. Give us a call. Our Team loves helping people develop a personalized listing plan for their homes. Feel free to contact us directly at thediva@teamedivarealestate.com or call/text 206-271-0264.