Cost to Sell a House in Ohio: Realtor Fees and Closing Costs

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  Written by Steve Nicastro

Cost to sell in Ohio | Ohio realtor fees | How to save | Seller closing costs | Closing cost calculator | FAQs

The average cost to sell a house in Ohio is 6.95% of a home’s final sale price, which includes Ohio realtor fees (5.81% of the sale price) and seller closing costs (1.1%).

Ohio home sellers pay an average of $14,104 to sell a home priced at $199,518 (the average Ohio home sale price), according to our data. 

Keep in mind that these figures vary widely by market, and you can save big by using an agent-matching service to sell your home. For example, Clever Real Estate has negotiated a reduced listing commission of 1.5% for Ohio sellers – far lower than the average Ohio rate of 3.19%.

Here’s a complete breakdown of the costs to sell a house in Ohio, and a home sale calculator to estimate your costs.

Cost to sell a house in Ohio

*Costs assume a sale price of $199,518. Numbers are rounded off and may not be 100% precise.

It’s relatively expensive to sell a house in Ohio, costing homeowners 6.95% when factoring in realtor fees and closing costs.

That’s higher than the national average of 6.53%. However, Ohio has low home values compared to other states, so it’s cheaper to sell on a total cost basis compared to the national average.

For example, it costs Ohio homeowners an average of $14,104, much lower than the cost to sell nationwide of $21,202. 

Cost to sell in Ohio vs. local states

Ohio’s average cost to sell as a percentage of a home sale price is 6.95%, higher than in the neighboring states of Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. 

However, it typically costs more to sell a home in Michigan, which has among the highest seller closing costs in the country.

What impacts my Ohio home sale costs?

1. Where you live 

Ohio home values vary quite a bit across the state, so your total home sale costs will also vary. Median sale prices as of July 2022 from $202,500 in Cuyahoga County to $705,000 in Delaware County, according to Realtor.com. 

2. How you find a realtor

While the state-wide average commission rate is 5.81%, rates may be higher or lower depending on what’s normal in your area. 

However, Ohio realtor fees aren’t fixed — they are completely negotiable. You may be able to negotiate a rate lower than what’s typical in your area or hire an agent-matching service to do the negotiating work for you. 

For example, you can potentially save thousands in Ohio realtor fees by using Clever Real Estate. Clever has pre-negotiated a 1.5% listing agent fee with agents in its network, much lower than the average Ohio listing agent commission rate of 3.19%. 

3. If you need to pay optional costs

The estimated total cost to sell of 6.95% in Ohio doesn’t include other potential costs like home staging, deep cleaning, and pre-listing repairs and improvements, which could add thousands more to your costs. 

4. Your negotiated contract

Ohio closing costs are typically split between the buyer and seller in most transactions. Sellers typically pay all commissions, realty transfer fees, recording fees, and prorated property taxes.

Home sellers may also be on the hook for attorney fees, home preparation costs, homeowners association (HOA) fees, a mortgage payoff, and any concessions to the buyer.

Buyers take on most of the other expenses including inspection costs, appraisal, and due diligence costs, owner’s title insurance, and buyer closing costs for their mortgage.

1. Ohio realtor fees (5.81%)

Ohio realtor fees cost sellers an average of 5.81% of the home’s sale price, deducted from the seller’s net proceeds at closing. The fee covers both the listing or seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent. 

Commission as a total dollar amount depends on your home’s value. (Not sure what your home is worth? Get a free, instant home value estimate.)

Here’s what you might expect to pay at various price points. 

*Median sale prices as of July 2022 according to Realtor and Redfin data. Commission costs assume an average realtor commission of 5.81%. This table does not include other seller closing costs. 

Ohio realtor fees are expensive, with average costs ranging from $10,000 to as high as $27,000 in various Ohio counties. But they’re also your best cost-saving opportunity.

How to save on Ohio realtor fees

Use a discount broker

A discount real estate broker is a company that offers sellers a reduced commission fee with no strings attached. 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 family member or friend. 

For example, Clever offers listing fees of just $3,000 or 1.5%, compared to the average Ohio listing commission rate of 3.19%. That could save you more than $10,000 on a $400,000 home sale.

Agents that partner with these firms also provide all of the services you’d expect to receive from a traditional realtor. 

The service is free to try with no obligation, so it’s worth starting out here. 

» LEARN: The Best Discount Brokers for Every Budget

List your home without a realtor

You can avoid paying Ohio listing commission entirely by selling on your own. Expect to save 3.19% off of your home sale. 

However, the typical FSBO home sells for about $58,000 less than agent-listed homes, according to the National Association of Realtors, so many sellers actually end up losing money. 

Selling without an agent also requires a ton of your own time and effort, so keep this in mind before deciding to move forward. 

Sell to an iBuyer 

Selling a home traditionally on the public market can take a month or two, from start to finish. 

If that’s not fast enough for you, consider selling your home to an iBuyer. These companies make near-instant cash offers and can buy homes in as fast as a week, and typically offer more money than home flippers. 

» LEARN: The Top 3 iBuyer Companies 

Negotiate a lower rate

There’s no law setting a fixed realtor fee in Ohio, so you can try to negotiate a lower realtor fee with agents. 

However, negotiating commission on your own is not easy. It’s more likely to work on a high-value property, since the listing agent will still earn a substantial commission on the home sale, despite the lower rate.

You also have more wiggle room to reduce the commission rate if you plan to buy a new home with the same agent that’s helping you sell, but there are no guarantees. 

2. Seller closing costs in Ohio (1.1%)

Seller closing costs typically add another cost of 1.1% or more to the home’s final sale price, according to our data. 

Based on the average Ohio home value of $199,518, the typical home seller pays $2,512 in closing costs.

Ohio seller closing costs typically include title company fees, deed preparation, transfer taxes, recording fees, owner’s title insurance, title examination, and prorated property taxes.

Other seller fees may include attorney fees, Homeowners Association (HOA) fees, and mortgage payoff.

Ohio home buyers typically handle the survey fee, appraisal fee, and their own attorneys’ fees, if applicable. 

Title company fees 

Ohio home sellers generally use a title company to handle the closing, as no real estate attorney is required in the state. 

Here are some potential title fees and insurance you may pay in Ohio, according to various local title agencies: 

• Closing fee ($100);
• Title exam fee ($90 – $100);
• Title insurance binder ($50);
• Courier fees ($0 – $50).

» LEARN: What is a property title search?

Title insurance

Ohio sellers pay an average fee of $1,002 in owner’s title insurance, depending mainly on the home’s final sale price. This is on-par with the national average cost of $1,071 

Owner’s title insurance protects homebuyers against any unforeseen legal issues with the home’s title caused by a previous owner, including delinquent property taxes or outstanding liens. 

Transfer taxes

Ohio charges home sellers a transfer tax known as a real property conveyance fee, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation.

On average, Ohio sellers pay an average rate of 0.30% and an average cost of $599, according to our data. This is lower than the national average cost of $1,467.

The fee is charged in two parts: a statewide mandatory tax of $1 per $1,000 of home value sold, and another $1 to $3 per $1,000 of home value sold, based on the county.  A home that sells for $300,000 could face a transfer tax bill of between $300 to $1,200 or more.

Recording fees

Recording fees are charged by the state of Ohio and local counties for registering the property’s transfer of ownership. 

Ohio home sellers face average recording fees of $50, less than half the national average of $0.

Prorated property taxes

Ohio property taxes are paid in arrears, meaning the tax bill you pay in 2022 is actually for the 2021 tax year. 

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

The pro-rated 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. 

We highly recommend consulting with a realtor or attorney for more details on prorated taxes. 

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

Home preparation costs 

Hopefully, you don’t have to do much to get your home ready for sale, as home preparation costs could add thousands more to your total upfront costs.

For example, home staging costs an average of $1,722 in the country, but could cost up to $3,000 or more, according to HomeAdvisor. 

Actual costs vary widely depending on your location, the size of your home, the number of rooms being furnished, and the company you hire. 

Other potential home prep costs include: 

• Deep cleaning ($300 – $500);
• Pre-listing repairs and improvements ($500 – $5,000);
• Landscaping ($100 – $500); 
• Pre-listing home appraisal ($400 – $600). 

Homeowners association dues

You may owe homeowners association (HOA) dues if your property is located in an HOA community. Ohio homeowners are typically responsible for covering a prorated amount of their annual membership dues at closing.

If the HOA charges fees to transfer homeownership records to the buyer at closing, the seller usually pays them. Costs vary between communities, but they generally range from $150 to $500.

Check with your agent, attorney, or HOA board for more information on what you might owe.

Ohio buyer’s closing costs

Home buyers may request that you cover some of their closing costs, also referred to as “seller concessions.”  

Seller concessions often come in the form of seller credits towards the buyer’s closing costs — 2% to 3% of the home’s sale price is common. A home buyer might just ask you for a $3,000 to $5,000 credit at closing, for example. 

Home warranty

A buyer may ask you to pay for a 1-year home warranty in Ohio, to offer some protection from high repair costs on major appliances, electrical and plumbing systems, and other major components of the house.

The annual premium for a home warranty in Ohio is $683, according to Review Home Warranties. Premiums for townhomes and condos are lower at $475 – $578, while premiums for multi-family homes average $1,035. 

Home inspection fees

Home buyers usually pay for home inspections in Ohio, with a standard inspection costing between $350 – $450,  according to North Ohio Property Inspection. Some home buyers may request you to cover this cost. 

Home buyers may also request you to pay for a termite inspection, which costs anywhere from $75 to $150, according to HomeGuide. 

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, while married couples can deduct up to $500,000. 
• You must have occupied the property for at least two of the past five years to qualify. 
• 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 to sell a house in Ohio calculator

Our cost to sell calculator provides you with a rough estimate of what you might walk away with in your home sale, with cost to sell figures based on our estimates. 

Use a free home value estimator for a quick ballpark home value, or contact a realtor for a CMA report for more accurate numbers.

A local realtor can also provide you with a free seller’s net sheet: a personalized document that estimates how much you may earn in your home sale, deducting realtor commissions and closing costs from an estimated sale price.

FAQs

Related 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.

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.

How to Sell a House Without a Realtor in Ohio. Should you try to sell your Ohio house with or without a realtor? Learn the pros and cons and how much you’d really save.