Escrow, Title & Closing in Washington: The Full Timeline

The 30–45 day timeline, step by step

A typical financed King County purchase closes 30–45 days after mutual acceptance. Week 1: earnest money deposited to escrow, inspection completed, title commitment ordered. Weeks 2–3: appraisal, loan underwriting, review of the title report and (for condos) the resale certificate. Week 4+: loan approval, closing disclosure, signing, then funding and recording.

Cash purchases can close in as little as 7–10 days, which is part of why cash offers win in competitive situations even at lower prices.

Title insurance — and who customarily pays

The title company searches public records and insures against defects: forged deeds, unknown heirs, unreleased liens. In Washington, custom is that the seller pays for the owner's title policy (protecting you), while the buyer pays for the lender's policy (protecting the mortgage lender) as part of loan costs. Escrow fees are customarily split 50/50 between buyer and seller.

• Read the preliminary title commitment — easements, covenants (CC&Rs), and reservations run with the land and bind you after closing.
• Older Seattle neighborhoods can carry historical covenant language and utility easements worth understanding before you build a fence or an ADU.

Signing day is not closing day

In Washington you typically sign your loan and transfer documents at escrow one to three days before closing. 'Closing' legally happens when the deed records with the county and funds disburse — that's the day you get keys (contracts commonly say keys transfer on recording, sometimes 9pm on the closing date). Plan movers around the recording date, not the signing appointment.

Wire fraud: the one email that can cost you everything

The single most dangerous moment of your purchase is wiring your down payment. Criminals compromise real-estate email threads and send convincing 'updated wiring instructions.' Always call your escrow officer at a phone number you looked up independently to verbally confirm wire instructions — and be suspicious of any change communicated by email, ever. Escrow companies will tell you: they do not change wire instructions mid-transaction.

What you'll pay at closing

Buyer closing costs in Washington generally run 1.5%–3% of the price on top of your down payment: lender fees, appraisal, lender's title policy, half the escrow fee, recording fees, prepaid property taxes and insurance, and first-year homeowners insurance. See our dedicated closing-costs guide for line-by-line detail and the levers that reduce them.