Seattle homebuyers have arguably more power than they've had in years, with more than 71% of metro-area sellers offering a financial sweetener to help close the sale of a home, according to a new report.

Why it matters: The sweeteners are being used to combat rising inventory and soften the blow of high home prices, elevated mortgage rates and economic uncertainty, per the report.

Driving the news: The share of Seattle metro sellers offering concessions roughly doubled in the first quarter of 2025, going from 36.4% a year ago to 71.3%, representing the largest increase among the 24 major metros analyzed by Redfin.

What they're saying: "It's super common to see seller concessions for condos and new-construction townhomes," said Stephanie Kastner, a Redfin real estate agent in Seattle.

• "Condos have become a tougher sell because of skyrocketing HOA fees and insurance. And builders are offering concessions because it's in their best interest to keep sale prices high," she said.

The big picture: Researchers looked at 24 metros where Redfin buyers' agents recorded at least 50 closed deals, and they found that more than 44% of sellers nationally are giving buyers concessions — nearly a record high, the real estate site reports.

Zoom in: In Washington state, 24 out of 26 counties in the NWMLS coverage area saw double-digit increases in inventory this year, according to a May snapshot from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

• Active listings across the region jumped 47% year over year, reaching 14,500 in April.
• The six counties with the highest increases in active inventory were Snohomish, Columbia, King, Clallam , Whatcom and Grant, per NWMLS.

Zoom out: Portland saw the next biggest increase in seller concessions, per Redfin, up 14 percentage points to 64%.

• After Seattle and Portland, the cities with the next highest overall concession rates are Atlanta, San Diego and Denver.

The intrigue: Some sellers are both cutting their asking prices and offering concessions, but many deals are falling through altogether.

Yes, but: A $50,000 concession on a $1 million home still leaves a heck of a high mortgage.

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Caffe Vita's 10th location is now open on the ground floor of Seattle's Smith Tower, channeling the old-school charm of the 1914 skyscraper it calls home.

Zoom in: Thanks to the corner location's floor-to-ceiling windows, the space is expansive and full of light.

• Throughout the store, vintage-style tiles mingle with wood paneling and wrought iron accents for an art-deco throwback feel.

If you go: The cafe is equipped with lots of outlets, making it ideal for a brainstorming meeting with colleagues or catching up on emails outside the office.

Dig in: The pastry case is stuffed with sweets from Macrina Bakery and Donut Factory.

• Beer and wine will be available for purchase soon, a staff member told me.

Stop by: 500 2nd Ave. 7am-7pm Monday through Saturday.

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✈️ Alaska Airlines began offering nonstop flights to Tokyo yesterday from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. By the end of the year, Sea-Tac will offer direct flights to three dozen international cities. (KING 5)

🌳 Seattle transportation officials are installing center medians with trees along parts of Rainier Avenue to try to discourage dangerous driving. (Seattle Times)

🦠 Some ready-to-eat foods sold in Washington state have been recalled after the products were linked to a listeria outbreak that sickened people in Nevada and California. (AP)

A new Washington law seeks to increase state oversight of privately run detention facilities, including the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma.

Why it matters: The law — which Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed yesterday — is the latest salvo in a battle over whether state officials can inspect and regulate the immigration detention center, which is run by a for-profit company, The GEO Group, under a federal contract.

Zoom in: The newly signed law allows the state Department of Health to inspect privately run detention facilities at any time to ensure they are meeting minimum standards, including for food safety, access to medical care, and adequate running water.

• Facilities that don't meet those standards can be fined up to $10,000 per violation, or up to $1 million in total.
• The law included an emergency clause, causing it to take effect immediately upon receiving Ferguson's signature.

State of play: Last month, U.S. Rep. Emily Randall (D-Bremerton) told reporters the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma held more than 1,300 people, which she described as a sharp increase from previous months.

Yes, but: Right now, the state Department of Health isn't inspecting conditions inside the facility, with state officials saying they have previously been denied entry.

• Since June 2023, the department has received more than 1,500 complaints about the Tacoma detention center, many of which concerned medical issues, water quality or availability, and unsanitary living conditions, according to data provided by the department.

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Memorial Day travel is projected to beat a 20-year-old record high this year, according to AAA data released yesterday.

By the numbers: 45.1 million Americans, including from Washington state, are projected to travel at least 50 miles from home between May 22 and May 26.

• That's an increase of 1.4 million travelers from last year and surpasses the record 44 million people who traveled in 2005.

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