Our research team analyzed housing transaction data from 2024 to 2025, combined with sales insights, to measure the share of homes sold for cash across Washington’s largest cities.
We calculated % of cash sales as cash transactions ÷ total home sales, then compared year-over-year changes.
To ensure accuracy, results are volume-weighted across metro areas. Cities with larger transaction volumes carry proportionally more influence in the statewide percentage. This approach provides both a statewide snapshot and local context, showing where investor activity, retiree migration, or affordability pressures are shaping cash transactions most heavily.
City-Level Cash Home Sales in Washington (2025)
The table below highlights the percentage of home sales completed in cash across Washington’s major markets. Alongside the numbers, we’ve added explanations to show why certain cities trend higher or lower, giving readers both the raw metrics and the underlying drivers.
| City | % of Cash Sales (2025) | Trend vs. 2024 | Key Insights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 26% | +2% | Strong investor and luxury-market presence, but higher prices keep cash share below statewide average. |
| Tacoma | 30% | +3% | More affordable than Seattle, Tacoma attracts cash investors targeting rental properties and fixer-uppers. |
| Spokane | 29% | +2% | Eastern Washington’s affordability and investor activity fuel steady growth in cash transactions. |
| Vancouver | 32% | +3% | Proximity to Portland makes Vancouver attractive to cross-state investors and retirees seeking tax benefits. |
| Bellevue | 27% | +1% | High-income buyers contribute to cash transactions, though luxury competition keeps growth modest. |
In Washington’s 2025 housing market, Vancouver leads the state with 32% of home sales closing in cash, reflecting retiree inflows and investor demand tied to its location near Oregon. Tacoma and Spokane follow with nearly one-third of sales completed in cash, driven by affordability and rental-market competition. Seattle and Bellevue remain strong but sit slightly below the statewide average, reflecting higher prices that reduce all-cash buying power. Overall, Washington’s cash-sale share continues to rise, indicating broad demand for faster, mortgage-free transactions across both urban and secondary markets. For sellers, this means cash offers are increasingly common, offering speed and certainty even in competitive areas.
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