Selling a Home in Mill Creek, WA in 2026: Why Some Listings Sell Over List While Almost Half Cut Their Price

Short answer: Mill Creek homes are selling, but almost half of listings are cutting their price first. In Redfin's September 2026 data, 47.3% of Mill Creek homes had a price drop, 27.3% sold above list, and the average home sold for 99.4% of its list price. Single-family homes sold in a median of 19 days at a median of $1,029,590, down 6.4% from a year earlier. In a market like this, the first list price does most of the work.

Mill Creek sales by home type, September 2026

Source: Redfin, Mill Creek WA housing market, September 2026 data by property type, checked October 29, 2026. The all-types row is Redfin's three-month figure ending September 2026. Only 7 condos and 5 townhouses sold in September, so those rows can swing a lot from month to month. Redfin rates Mill Creek "very competitive" (Compete Score 80) and says homes get about 2 offers on average. October 2026 figures were not out yet when we checked.

Mixed signals from a year ago

The Mill Creek numbers look contradictory until you split them apart.

• More homes are selling over list than a year ago. 27.3% sold above list in September, 9.4 points higher than September 2025. The sale-to-list ratio was 99.4%, 0.9 points higher.
• More listings are cutting, too. 47.3% of homes had a price drop, 2.3 points higher than a year earlier.
• Fewer homes sold. 56 homes sold in September, against 67 in September 2025.
• The price trend depends on the measure. The three-month median for all home types is up 5.2% at $999,693, while the September single-family median is down 6.4% at $1,029,590. Redfin also shows the median price per square foot at $434, down 4.7%.

One reading: buyers are paying up for homes they see as priced right and waiting on the rest until the price comes down. A seller who lists high to "leave room" is more likely to end up in the price-drop group than the above-list group.

What last winter looked like

If you're deciding between listing now and waiting, last winter is the closest guide. Redfin's monthly figures for all home types:

• December 2025 to February 2026: 101 homes sold in the three months, against 132 from April through June 2026.
• January 2026: a median of 30 days on market, 3.2% of homes sold above list, and an average sale-to-list ratio of 97.8%.
• March 2026: the median fell to 9 days, and 26.7% sold above list.

Winter sellers last year faced fewer sales and less pricing power, so a winter listing has to be priced against the homes buyers can see that week, not against last spring's sales.

How to price a Mill Creek home this fall and winter

1. Start from the active listings near you. Buyers are comparing your home with what is for sale now. If similar homes nearby have already cut, start where they ended up.
2. Put the adjustment plan in writing before you list. Decide what happens at two and four weeks without an offer: a price change, a presentation change, or different terms.
3. Know your net, not just your price. When you negotiate repairs or closing-cost help, the number that matters is what you walk away with after excise tax and costs.
4. Get your HOA paperwork early if you have one. Buyers will ask about dues and rules. For a condo or a townhouse in a community covered by RCW 64.90, the association must provide the resale certificate within 10 days of your request, for a charge of no more than $275. Ask your association which statute it operates under if you're unsure.

Excise tax and the seller disclosure

DOR lists Mill Creek's local real estate excise tax at 0.50%. At the $1,029,590 single-family median, state plus local REET is about $17,382 if you close by Dec 31, 2026, or $17,335 from Jan 1, 2027. At the $607,007 townhouse median it is about $9,860 (or $9,813 in 2027), and at the $516,697 condo median about $8,267 either way.

The state portion is graduated. For sales through Dec 31, 2026 it is 1.1% on the part of the price up to $525,000, 1.28% from $525,000 to $1,525,000, 2.75% from $1,525,000 to $3,025,000, and 3.0% above that. For sales beginning Jan 1, 2027, DOR has raised those thresholds to $551,000, $1,551,000 and $3,051,000 at the same rates. DOR says the seller usually pays, penalties and interest apply if it isn't paid within one month of the sale date, and DOR adds a $5.00 technology fee to each transfer. Escrow normally collects it at closing.

Under RCW 64.06.020, unless the buyer waives it or the sale is exempt, you deliver the seller disclosure statement no later than five business days after mutual acceptance, unless otherwise agreed. A revised form takes effect Jan 1, 2027, so a 2027 closing should use the new version.

FAQ

How long does it take to sell a house in Mill Creek?

Redfin shows a median of 19 days on market for Mill Creek single-family homes in September 2026, and 19 days for all home types over the three months ending September. Last January the all-types median was 30 days.

Are Mill Creek home prices going down?

It depends on the measure. Redfin's three-month median for all home types was $999,693 through September 2026, up 5.2% from a year earlier, while the September single-family median was $1,029,590, down 6.4%. Both describe recent sales, not a forecast.

How many Mill Creek listings are cutting their price?

Redfin shows 47.3% of Mill Creek homes had a price drop in September 2026, 2.3 points higher than a year earlier. At the same time 27.3% sold above list, 9.4 points higher than a year earlier.

How much is REET on a Mill Creek home sale?

Mill Creek's local rate is 0.50%. At the $1,029,590 single-family median, state plus local REET is about $17,382 if the sale closes by Dec 31, 2026, or $17,335 from Jan 1, 2027.

Is winter a bad time to sell in Mill Creek?

Last winter was slow. In January 2026, Redfin shows a median of 30 days on market, 3.2% of homes selling above list and an average sale-to-list ratio of 97.8%. By March the median was back to 9 days. A winter sale can still work, but the price has to be right from the first day.

Talk it through with a local agent

Peter Kim and Odigo Real Estate Club price Mill Creek homes against the listings buyers are touring that week and put the adjustment plan in writing before the sign goes up, with 25+ years combined experience, 593+ closings, and 122 five-star Zillow reviews. See why sellers choose us, our property valuation, the true cost of selling in Washington, or our Mill Creek page.

Odigo Real Estate Club · REAL Brokerage, WA #112064 · 16108 Ash Way, Suite 201, Lynnwood, WA 98087 · (425) 409-3823 · Mon–Sat 9 AM–6 PM, closed Sunday

Sources

• Redfin, Mill Creek WA housing market (September 2026 figures by property type, monthly history, and sale-to-list / above-list / price-drop shares, Compete Score, price per square foot), https://www.redfin.com/city/11701/WA/Mill-Creek/housing-market , accessed Oct 29, 2026.
• Washington State Department of Revenue, Real estate excise tax (state graduated rates for 2023–2026 and for sales beginning Jan 1, 2027; who pays; fees; penalties), https://dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/other-taxes/real-estate-excise-tax , accessed Oct 29, 2026.
• Washington State Department of Revenue, Local real estate excise tax rates effective May 1, 2026, https://dor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/84-0013-May26_REET.pdf , accessed Oct 29, 2026.
• Washington State Legislature, RCW 64.06.020 (seller disclosure statement; current version and the version effective Jan 1, 2027), https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=64.06.020 , accessed Oct 29, 2026.
• Washington State Legislature, RCW 64.90.640 (resale of units; resale certificate), https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=64.90.640 , accessed Oct 29, 2026.

‍