What are the true costs of selling your home?

Why selling costs are often higher than expected

The sale price is just the headline. In the US, seller's agent commission typically runs 2.5–3%, and offering a buyer's agent concession (common post-NAR 2024 settlement) adds another 2–2.5%. On a $500,000 home that's $22,500–$27,500 before you've paid for title insurance, escrow, or closing fees.

State transfer taxes vary widely — Pennsylvania charges 2%, Washington state uses a graduated rate up to 3%, while Texas, Florida (doc stamps aside), and several other states charge nothing. Title insurance and escrow add another 0.5–1% depending on your state and title company.

Staging and pre-sale repairs are optional but high-ROI. NAR data shows staged homes sell 3–30 days faster and for 1–5% more — meaning a $2,000 staging investment on a $400k home can return $4,000–$20,000 in additional sale price.