The True Cost of Selling a House in Florida Revealed (2022 Update)

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  Written by Greg Isaacson

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  Edited by Steve Nicastro

Cost to sell in Florida | Closing costs estimate | How to save | Closing cost calculator | FAQs

The average cost to sell a house in Florida is 7.00% of a home’s final sale price. 

That means it costs Florida home sellers at least $25,980 to sell a home priced at $377,706 (the average Florida home price). 

The total cost to sell in Florida includes realtor commission (5.40% of the sale price) and closing costs (1.6%). 

Thankfully, you can save thousands on your home sale by using an agent matching service like Clever Real Estate. Clever has negotiated a reduced listing commission of 1.5% – far lower than the average Florida rate of 2.70%.

Here’s a complete breakdown of the costs of selling a house in Florida, including tips on how to save on your sale, and a Florida home sale calculator to estimate your costs. 

Cost of selling a house in Florida

*Costs assume a sale price of $377,706. Numbers are rounded off and may not be 100% precise.

It’s a bit more expensive to sell a house in Florida compared to other states, at least on a percentage basis. 

The table above shows that it costs 7.00% when factoring in realtor commissions and closing costs. That’s higher than the national average of 6.53%.

However, given Florida’s relatively high home values, it’s more expensive to sell on a total cost basis. Sellers in the Sunshine State face an average of $25,980 in selling costs, compared to the national average of $21,202.

Florida also has higher costs to sell than neighboring states Alabama and Georgia, where the total average cost to sell is 6.4% and 6.55% of a home’s sale price, respectively.

Here’s how Florida measures up against nearby states in terms of costs to sell:

“I am a broker in both Florida and Tennessee and find the process and related expenses to be very similar” in terms of closing costs, warranties, and the process as a whole, says Shaun Larson, a real estate broker and general contractor with PARKS Realty in Santa Rosa Beach.

However, Florida home values vary quite a bit across the state, so your total home sale costs will also vary. Median prices range from $241,250 in Highlands County to $745,000 in Collier County, home of Naples, according to Florida Realtors.

💰 What is my house worth? Get a free comparative market analysis

Here’s an example of your potential costs at various price points, including realtor fees and seller closing costs.

Factors that may impact your Florida home sale costs include: 

Typical real estate agent commission in your area

While the statewide average rate is 5.40%, rates may be higher or lower depending on what’s normal in your area. 

Your success in negotiating rates

Realtor fees aren’t fixed — they are completely negotiable. Nearly half of sellers (46%) negotiate with their listing agent, while just over half (55%) are successful, according to Zillow. 

You may be able to negotiate a rate lower than what’s typical in your area. Learn how to negotiate lower realtor fees. 

How you find a realtor

You can potentially save thousands in realtor fees by using an agent-matching service like Clever Real Estate to find a realtor. Clever has pre-negotiated a 1.5% listing agent fee with agents in its network. 

If you need to pay optional costs

The estimated total cost to sell of 7.00% in Florida does not include costs like home staging, deep cleaning, and pre-listing repairs, which could add thousands more to your home sale costs. 

Your negotiated contract

Closing costs are split between the buyer and the seller in most Florida home transactions. Generally, sellers pay for commissions as well as title service and closing fees, owner’s title insurance, documentary stamp tax, recording fees, and property taxes.

Some of these items may vary by region or be negotiable depending on the local market. For example, buyers typically pay for title insurance in Miami, whereas in other markets such as Orlando, it’s more common for the seller to pay.

Here’s a deeper look at your expected home sale costs.

1. Florida realtor commission (5.40%)

Using a realtor costs Florida home sellers an average of 5.37% of the home’s sale price. 

Your actual cost depends on your home’s value, as it costs much less to sell a $300,000 home compared to a $1 million home, for example. Get a free CMA from a qualified local agent to determine your potential realtor commission costs.

Commission is the single largest home-selling expense in Florida, making it your best cost-saving opportunity.

How to save on Florida realtor fees

Here are some tips on how to save money on your home sale. 

Use a discount broker

A discount real estate broker is a company that offers sellers a reduced commission fee. The broker’s listing agents charge less than the average rate, such as a 1% listing fee vs. the typical 2.5%-3% rate. 

Selling at a higher price point leads to even bigger commission savings using a discount broker vs. finding a realtor through traditional sources, like through a personal referral. 

For example, Clever offers listing fees of just 1.5%, compared to the average Florida listing commission rate of 2.72% That could save you $7,500 on a $500,000 home sale. 

Agents from these firms still provide all of the services you’d expect to receive from a traditional realtor, too. The service is free to try with no obligation, so it’s worth starting out here. 

» MORE: The Best Discount Brokers for Every Budget

List your home without a realtor

You can avoid paying Florida listing commission entirely by selling without a realtor — also known as for sale by owner (FSBO). That’d save you 2.72% off of your home sale. 

However, studies show that homes sold without a realtor sell for up to 26% less than agent-listed homes, and you’ll be on the hook for all of the tasks normally handled by a real estate professional.

“While sellers often make it through closing on a FSBO, they may not fully realize how they may have benefitted more with professional assistance,” says Shaun Larson, the real estate broker and general contractor with PARKS Realty. “This can come in the form of a smoother process and higher proceeds.”

Selling FSBO is hard, time-consuming, and risky, even in a hot market where buyers are beating a path to your door. We recommend consulting with a local attorney, realtor, or broker for more guidance before making a decision.

Negotiate a lower rate

You can absolutely try to negotiate a lower commission rate with an agent in Florida. There’s no law setting a fixed realtor fee in the state or any part of the country. 

If you decide to go this route, your best bet is to shop around and meet with multiple agents. 

Negotiating commission is more likely to work on a high-value property, since the agent still earns a substantial commission on the home sale, despite the lower rate.

» LEARN: How to negotiate lower realtor fees

2. Closing costs for for sellers in Florida (1.2%)

Seller closing costs typically add another cost of 1.2% or more to the home’s final sale price, according to our data. (Closing costs do not include realtor commission.)

Based on the average Florida home value of $327,514, the typical home sellers pays $3,615 in closing costs. 

Here’s a list of the possible closing costs facing Florida home sellers outside of realtor commissions.

Title insurance

Title insurance protects you against any legal claims made against your home or possible mistakes on your deed. It also usually covers the cost of legal fees when defending a claim. 

The cost of title insurance may or may not be covered by the buyer, or split between both parties, depending on your county. 

Title insurance is a one-time fee, usually due at the time of closing. The fee amount is based on the price of your property. 

The average cost of owner’s title insurance in Florida is $1,071, which is more than the national average of $1,071. 

Actual costs depend on your location, the insurance provider, and the price of your home.

Transfer tax (documentary stamp tax)

The Florida government charges a transfer tax, or documentary stamp tax, on the transfer of your home’s title documents from your name to the buyer’s name at closing. 

Florida state transfer taxes cost an average of 0.70% of the home’s final sale price, resulting in a total average cost of $2,644, according to our data. This is higher than the national average cost of $1,467.

The Florida transfer tax rate is currently $0.70 per $100 in home value. So a home that sells for $500,000 would face a transfer tax of $3,500.

Recording fees

Florida charges average recording fees of $50, higher than the national average of $0.

Your county charges recording fees to register the property’s transfer of ownership. The fee amount varies by county. 

Title search or service fee

The attorneys handling your closing may charge you this fee to examine the public records and transfer title ownership to the buyer.

Typical title search costs hover around the $500 mark, not including the actual policy, according to Larson.

Attorney fees (optional) 

Florida is one state where home sellers aren’t required to hire an attorney to handle the closing, but some realtors recommend it.

Attorneys are responsible for reviewing all of your contracts and legal documents and protecting you from potential issues that may arise during your sale.

“A more complicated transaction with unusual terms or of a higher price level may include an attorney to review documents,” notes Larson.

Most home buyers do not hire independent attorneys for typical transactions, but do rely on the title company’s attorney to handle their closings, he added.

Florida real estate attorneys charge an average of $285 per hour, according to Thumbtack. That figure is a statewide average, and attorneys may charge more or less depending on their experience.

» LEARN: Do I Need a Lawyer to Sell My House?

Prorated property taxes

Florida home sellers are required to pay property taxes on the days they’ve owned their home in the calendar year. Taxes are prorated and, per the sale contract, split between the seller and buyer.

The tax is due at closing. Actual costs depend on your annual taxes, and how many days you live in your home up until the closing date. 

Speak with your agent or attorney for more details on what you might owe in prorated taxes. 

3. Other potential costs

Home preparation costs

The cost to prepare your home for sale could add thousands more to your total upfront costs. 

For example, home staging costs between $745 to $2,659 on average nationwide, according to HomeAdvisor. However, actual costs depend mainly on your market, the size of your home and number of rooms furnished, and how much furniture is needed. 

If your home needs to be deep cleaned by a professional, expect to spend at least $300 for complete cleaning. 

Finally, pre-listing home repairs and improvements could add hundreds, if not thousands more to your budget, depending on how much work your home needs. 

Seller concessions

Home warranty

The cost of a home warranty in Florida typically ranges from $500 to $1,000, depending on the area and if there are any special risks associated with the property, according to Larson. 

There are often different levels of coverage, so a homeowner should be sure about what their warranty actually covers and how service fees are handled, Larson adds.

It’s usually the seller who pays the cost of the homeowner warranty, according to Jeff Tricoli, broker associate with Tricoli Team Real Estate — Keller Williams in West Palm Beach. The coverage period is normally one year.

Buyer’s closing costs 

Closing costs are negotiable between the seller and buyer. The way costs are split may vary depending on the strength of the local market and the seller’s motivation.

It’s not uncommon for sellers to cover some or all of the buyer’s closing costs, the cost of a home warranty, or for repair credits — especially in slower markets, notes Martin Orefice, founder of Orlando-based Rent To Own Labs.

Homeowner’s association dues

You may owe HOA dues or transfer fees if your home is located in an HOA community. 

HOA fees vary widely in Florida, but it’s common to see a range of $200 to $800 per month. Fees depend on many factors including amenities, the general operational costs of the community, and the number of homes in the community.

Larson says that a buyer and seller may be able to negotiate who pays a transfer fee or possibly the initial capital expense to join a newer community. However, the ongoing HOA fees are typically the responsibility of the new homeowner, so they aren’t part of the negotiation.

Florida law caps condominium association transfer fees at $150, but homeowners associations do not have this restriction. Check with your agent, attorney, or HOA board for more information on what you might owe. 

Termite inspection fee

Subterranean termites are a major problem in Florida. Drywood termites are found all over Florida, particularly in coastal locations, according to Ron Wysocarski, broker and CEO of Wyse Home Team Realty in Port Orange.

Termite inspections are typically the responsibility and expense of the buyer in Florida, notes Larson. If lending is involved in the home purchase, the lender may require a termite inspection and a clean report in order to proceed.

The cost of an inspection ranges from around $75 to $150, according to Florida Pest Control.

Capital gains tax

The IRS offers a tax break on capital gains from the sale of your primary residence, as long as you meet certain requirements:

• Single homeowners can deduct up to $250,000 of gains from the sale of their property.
• Married couples can deduct up to $500,000 of gains. 
• You must have occupied the property for at least two of the past five years. 
• You can also deduct certain repairs and improvements from your home’s cost basis. 

» LEARN: How to avoid capital gains on a home sale

Cost of selling a house in Florida calculator

Use our calculator to get a rough estimate of what you might walk away with in your home sale.

Change the home sale price and closing costs to fit your particular situation. You can use a free home value estimator tool to plug in a potential home sale price.

For more accurate numbers, we recommend finding a local realtor to provide you with a free seller’s net sheet: a personalized document that estimates how much you may earn in your home sale. 

Florida closing costs: FAQs

Recommended reading

The True Costs of Selling a Home Revealed: What does it really cost to sell a house in the U.S.? We explore all of the common expenses in a home sale, and how you can save thousands. 

Steps to Selling a House in Florida: Selling your home doesn’t have to be complicated. Our guide covers the entire process from choosing an agent though closing, complete with expert tips.

How to Find a Realtor: Find out how you can connect with a great real estate agent. We help you zero in on the best approach, whether you’re selling or buying. 

Seller Net Sheet Guide: Learn how a net sheet can help you estimate your potential home sale proceeds, and how to get one for free. 

Negotiating Realtor Commission: Knocking your real estate commission down just one percentage point could save you a ton of money on your home sale.