This is the number I would use to compare very different options
If the homes you are touring in Seattle, WA feel impossible to compare, I would come back to square-foot pricing right away. Over the previous 30 days, recently closed homes averaged a typical $592 per square foot, and that gives me a fast way to spot when a price deserves more scrutiny.
A typical closed home in Seattle, WA sold for $592 per square foot over the previous 30 days. Pair that with the typical sale price of $830,000 and the typical size of 1,430 square feet, and I have a practical framework for comparing homes that are different in age, finish level, and layout.
That framework matters most when the photos are persuasive but the pricing feels hard to explain. I would not make an offer in Seattle, WA until the square-foot cost and the total price both make sense together, because a home can look compelling and still be misaligned with what has actually closed.
Use square-foot cost to screen, not to decide alone. Check the total price against recent sales and keep your focus on homes that justify their premium clearly. If the math is fuzzy, slow down.
