How Much Does it Cost to Sell a House?

The cost to sell a house varies by market but typically averages about 9.05% of a home's final sale price. This includes real estate agent commission and seller closing costs.

That means it costs sellers at least $32,328 to sell a house worth $357,138, the average U.S. home value.

Now for some good news: You can save money on your major home sale costs by shopping around and doing some upfront research.

• You can shop around to save on certain closing costs, like owner's title insurance. 
• Many variable costs, like home staging and repairs, may not be necessary.
• Realtor commission, likely your biggest selling expense, is also the biggest opportunity to save. Using a free agent-matching service that pre-negotiates lower listing commission rates can save sellers an average of $7,500 in fees.

💰 Find top local agents near you, and save thousands!

Cost to sell a house calculator

Use our calculator below to estimate how much it may cost you to sell your house. It includes real estate agent commissions, typical closing costs, outstanding mortgages, and a few other potential costs. 

Note: Our calculator's figures are based on national averages. You may end up paying more or less in fees on your actual home sale. A local realtor can help you find a more accurate estimate.

How much does it cost to sell a house?

Nationwide, we estimate sellers typically pay 9.05% in a home sale, but the total rate can exceed 8% depending on variable and optional costs.

Your actual home sale costs depend on several factors, including: 

• Typical real estate agent commission rates in your market. Rates may be higher or lower depending on what's normal in your area, and commission rates vary widely by state.
• Your success in negotiating realtor fees. Not all sellers will have success negotiating a lower rate.
• If you use an agent-matching service to find a realtor. These services provide sellers with built-in commission savings. 
• If variable or optional costs are necessary, like home staging, repairs, and moving expenses. 
• If your home sale contract requires you to pay buyer incentives, like closing costs or a home warranty. 

Cost to sell a house by state

The costs to sell a house, such as realtor commission and seller closing costs, vary widely by each state. Find out more information about the specific costs where you're selling by picking your state in the drawer below.

1. Real estate agent commission: 5.32%

Realtor commission is usually the single largest cost in a home sale. 

Based on the average home value nationwide ($357,138), the typical home seller pays close to $19,000 in real estate agent commission in a traditional home sale involving two full-time agents. 

Realtor fees vary widely by state. For example, California real estate agent commission costs 4.99%, while Texas realtor commission rates cost an average of 5.76%, according to our data. 

Commission rates can also vary from one agent to the next. Some agents may charge a smaller fee for a high-value home that requires little effort to sell. On the other hand, an agent may ask for a higher rate to sell a lower-value home that takes more work to sell.

Here are a few examples of what total realtor commission (listing agent commission plus buyer's agent commission) would cost at different rates.

Let's say you end up paying the average total commission rate of 5.32%. Here is what you would pay at three different price points:

The fees listed above include both the buyer's agent and the listing agent.

While the buyer is contractually responsible for paying their own agent, the seller often picks up this fee in order to make the home more affordable for the buyer.

🤔 What does realtor commission include?

Here are the typical services included in an agent's commission rate:

• Valuing your home with a comparative market analysis (CMA) report, to help you set a competitive asking price.
• Marketing and listing your home on the multiple listing service (MLS), online home sites, and social media.
• Hosting weekend open houses to attract more buyers.
• Guiding you through all required paperwork and forms, including legal documents like the seller's property disclosure.
• Negotiating offers in your favor, and helping you decide between offers.
• Reviewing the buyer's home inspection results, and negotiating repairs with the buyer's agent.
• Ensuring you meet all contract requirements and deadlines to close your real estate transaction on time.

Can't I just sell a house without an agent?

You can avoid paying a listing agent commission by selling a house without a realtor. So you could potentially save close to $12,000 in fees on a typical U.S. home sale. 

However, FSBO statistics show that these homes sell for 26% less than agent-listed homes, and a lower sale price negates any potential commission savings by selling without a realtor. 

You're also responsible for handling all of the tasks normally handled by a realtor – which could take up weeks, or even months, of your valuable time. It's like giving yourself a very stressful second job!

We highly recommend speaking with a real estate attorney, realtor, or broker for more guidance, especially regarding your legal responsibilities and requirements as a seller. 

2. Closing costs: 2.72%

Other home selling costs typically add another 2.72% or more to a home's sale price.

Based on the average home value nationwide, the home sellers pay about $7,300 for a $268,000 home, $14,600 for a $536,000 home, and $24,300 for a $893,000 home.

However, like realtor commissions, closing costs vary widely by area. You may pay more or less than the average closing cost rate, depending mainly on where you live.  

Here are some common seller closing costs.

Transfer taxes

Also referred to as stamp tax, deed stamps, and real property transfer tax, this fee is imposed by your state, city, or county. It's paid before the new deed is recorded. 

Transfer taxes cost an average of nationwide. The actual fee amount is based on your home's tax assessed value and what your state or city charges. 

Not every state levies a transfer tax. You won't need to worry about state a transfer tax if you sell in one of these states:

• Alaska
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Louisiana
• Kansas
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• Oregon (except Washington County)
• Texas
• Utah
• Wyoming

Recording fees

These fees are charged by your local government to legally record your deed and other legal documents relating to your home sale.

Recording fees cost $121 on average nationwide. 

Prorated property taxes

Sellers are often required to pay property taxes due up to the date of closing.

Taxes are prorated between the seller and buyer. Each party pays tax on the number of days they've owned the house in the calendar year. 

Your fee depends on your annual tax amount, and how many days lived in the house up until your sale date. 

For example, let's say your taxes are $5,000 per year and you sell your home on January 31:

• It costs $13.70 per day in taxes ($5,000 divided by 365 days). 
• You'll owe taxes on the first 31 days of the year ($425).
• The new owner pays taxes on the remaining 334 days ($4,575). 

Prorated property tax example ($5,000)

Ask your realtor, attorney, or title company for more information on what you owe in prorated taxes.

Homeowners Association (HOA) fees

You may owe several HOA fees if your home is located within an HOA community. Here's why: 

• Sellers are usually responsible for covering a prorated portion of membership dues at closing. The cost could range from $100 to $1,000 or more, depending on the amount of your HOA dues and when you sell. 
• Some HOA communities may also charge an HOA transfer fee ($200–$300) to move home ownership records from you to the buyer at closing. 

However, the buyer may be responsible for paying part of all of these costs in some markets. Or the fee may be negotiable in the sales contract. 

Contact your realtor, attorney, or HOA for more information on seller HOA fees, and who is responsible for paying them at closing.

Owner's title insurance

Title insurance may or may not be a required cost, depending on your state.

It protects you and the buyer against any potential problems related to your deed or property ownership and can offer protection in case issues arise during your home sale (or after it closes). 

Nationwide, title insurance costs home sellers Typically paid by buyer
on average. 

However, the cost of owner's title insurance varies widely, from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Actual costs depend on your location, the insurance provider, and the price of your home.

Real estate attorney fees

You may owe this fee if your state requires closings to be performed by an attorney, or if you choose to hire a realtor. 

Real estate closing attorneys either charge a flat fee (typically $800 to $1,500) or an hourly rate ($150 to $400 per hour). Attorneys perform a wide range of legal services, including: 

• Reviewing all of your contracts and legal documents for accuracy. 
• Advising you on issues that may come up during the sale, like buyer-requested repairs, and what happens with earnest money if a buyer backs out of the contract. 
• Recording, filing, and verifying legal documents to make your sale official. 

Real estate laws and fees vary widely by state. Check with your realtor to see if an attorney is required to handle the closing if it's worth hiring one, and how much it might cost you.

» MORE: Do I need a real estate lawyer to sell my house? 

3. Other potential costs: 1% to 2%

Several other expenses could add thousands more to your home sale costs. 

Home staging 

This is the process of preparing your home for potential buyers by cleaning, organizing, and rearranging furniture.

It costs an average of $2,802 nationwide to stage a home, but costs can vary, according to HomeAdvisor. 

Costs depend on factors like your market, the size and number of rooms furnished, and how much furniture needs to be rented. 

Is it worth the cost? 82% of buyer's agents said staging made it easier for their buyer clients to visualize the property as a future home, according to a National Association of Realtors report. 

However, home staging isn't necessary for every home seller. The decision likely depends on the condition and layout of your home, your budget, and other market-specific factors.

Deep cleaning 

Deep cleaning is the process of hiring a professional to thoroughly clean and remove any of a home's dirt, grime, and scum. 

The average cost to deep clean a house averages $152 and ranges from $104 to $199 nationwide, according to HomeAdvisor. However, some companies may charge by the hour ($25 to $50) vs. a flat fee. 

Factors impacting total cost include the size of your home, the number of rooms cleaned, the level of dirt build-up, and if you require add-on services, like carpet and rug cleaning. 

Home repairs and improvements

You may or may not need to make home repairs or cosmetic home improvements before listing.

Actual costs depend highly on your situation. If your home is in poor condition and your goal is to sell for top dollar, you'll probably need to spend more to get it listing ready. 

However, if your home just needs a few cosmetic repairs to improve its curb appeal – like some paint or landscaping – you can probably keep your costs below $1,000.

» LEARN: The most important repairs to make before selling

Seller concessions

This fee refers to the buyer's closing costs and expenses that are negotiated into a purchase and sale agreement before an offer is accepted. 

Here are some common seller concessions to watch out for. 

1. Buyer's closing costs

Buyers and sellers usually just pay their own closing costs. In some cases, a buyer may request you to cover part or all of their costs (2% to 5% of the home's sale price) to keep their out-of-pocket costs down. 

You might agree to do this if an offer has all of the criteria you're looking for and if your home attracts first-time home buyers on a tight budget.

2. Buyer's home warranty

Some home buyers – especially first-timers – ask sellers to pay for a home warranty. It's a one-year service contract that protects buyers against the high cost of unexpected repairs. 

A home warranty costs just over $1,000, but ranges from between $219 to $1,841 nationwide, according to HomeAdvisor. Prices depend mainly on coverage levels, and if any add-on services are included.

3. Repair credits

If a buyer has a home inspection contingency and discovers major issues during their inspection, the buyer may request money at closing in place of repairs. 

However, repair credits are more common in a buyer's market. In a strong seller's market, many buyers avoid asking for repair credits or waive an inspection altogether.

Moving costs

It costs $1,720 to hire professional movers for a short-distance move (under 100 miles).[1]

However, your moving or relocation costs could be much higher for long-distance moves. HomeAdvisor estimates an average cost of $4,703 for a cross-country move and up to $10,000 for larger homes. 

Actual costs depend on the size and number of trucks required, how much your stuff weighs, and if you hire a full-service company or rent a truck. 

Mortgage prepayment penalty or payoff fee 

Some lenders charge borrowers a prepayment penalty or payoff fee for paying off your loan in full early – usually within the first three to five years of loan origination. 

Prepayment penalties usually start at 2% of the outstanding loan balance if you repay your loan in its first year, but fall in each consecutive year.

Read the fine print in your loan documents carefully – the prepayment penalty should be clearly stated. 

Ask your lender for a mortgage payoff quote to see what you might owe, or call them to get more information. 

Capital gains taxes 

You may or may not owe capital gains tax on your home sale. It depends on factors like your total profit, your time living in the home, and if you file your taxes as single or with a spouse.  

Most sellers won't make enough profit on their home sale to owe any capital gains tax thanks to IRS rules. Sellers may qualify to exclude up to $250,000 in home sale profit ($500,000 for married couples) by meeting certain criteria.[2]

Speak with a tax professional for further guidance on capital gains tax. 

» MORE: How to avoid capital gains tax when selling a house

3 ways to save money when selling a house 

The single biggest way to save on your home sale is to reduce commission costs. Shedding just .50% off a commission rate can save you thousands. Here's how to do it.

1. Shop around and negotiate with agents

You can shop around to find a realtor that charges a lower fee, as some realtors are more flexible on price than others.

But it's probably not the best idea to choose an agent just because they offer a lower fee. Consider each agent's experience, skills, and customer reviews in your decision-making process. 

» Next steps: Read our guide on how to choose a realtor for more advice. 

2. Use an agent matching service

Many home sellers don't have the time or experience required to negotiate lower rates with realtors. 

Thankfully, several agent matching services take care of this for you. Real Estate Witch matches up sellers with top local realtors, while also pre-negotiating lower fees. Pay a 1.5% listing fee, compared to the national average listing fee of 2.74%. 

Next steps: Find out which companies offer the lowest real estate commission fees

3. Sell without an agent

You can also choose to sell your house without a realtor to avoid paying the listing agent commission entirely. 

But not having a real estate professional in your corner is risky. For one, FSBO homes sell for up to 26% less than agent-listed homes.[3]

It can also take weeks (or even months) of work to get your home sold. In some ways, it's like having a stressful second job – and one that might not end up paying you anything. 

Next steps: Still set on FSBO? Consider hiring a flat-fee MLS service to get your home listed on the multiple listing service (MLS) to reach the maximum number of buyers. 

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Our team of researchers analyzes publicly available data and surveys consumers and real estate industry experts to find the information you need to make real estate decisions. For this article, we conducted the following research:

• Realtor commission data was gathered using a survey of 734 of agents across the US.
• Home values, list prices, and sale prices are based on Zillow data as of February 2025.
• Transfer taxes, property taxes, mortgage taxes, and recording fees are based on public data as of February 2024.

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