How Much Are Seller Closing Costs, Really?
Published by Cash Flow Deals · Last updated 2026-08-04 · Published and reviewed for compliance by Camilo Palacio, a Florida Licensed Realtor
Seller closing costs run about 1.8 percent of the sale price nationally, not counting agent commission, according to CoreLogic data reported by Bankrate. Add a typical commission on top and total seller costs usually land between 8 and 10 percent of the sale price. On a $400,000 home, that's several thousand dollars most sellers don't fully see coming until the settlement statement lands in front of them.
| Factor | Traditional Route | Cash Flow Deals |
|---|---|---|
| When you learn your net number | Often not finalized until near closing, after commission and fees are calculated | Net price is locked before repairs are even scoped |
| How the company is paid | Commission is typically a percentage baked into the transaction | A separate line item on the closing statement, not a markup on price |
| Repair costs | Frequently renegotiated after inspection, cutting into net proceeds late | Factored in after the price is already locked |
What's Actually Inside Seller Closing Costs
Seller closing costs, separate from agent commission, average close to 1.8 percent of the sale price nationally, based on CoreLogic ClosingCorp data reported by Bankrate. That typically covers transfer taxes and recording fees, owner's title insurance, escrow and settlement fees, a title search, prorated property taxes up to the closing date, an HOA transfer fee if one applies, and in some states, attorney fees. On a median-priced home, that adds up to roughly $7,000 to $7,500 in direct fees alone.
Commission Is the Real Number to Watch, and It's Negotiable
Commission is usually the largest single cost a seller pays at closing, and the rules around it changed in a real way. The Sitzer/Burnett settlement, which took effect August 17, 2024, made real estate commissions negotiable and moved buyer-agent compensation off the MLS. There's no fixed or mandatory commission rate anymore. Sellers negotiate what they'll pay directly with their agent, and buyer-agent compensation is no longer advertised through the MLS listing itself.
Who Pays What at Closing
In most traditional sales, the seller's proceeds get reduced by their share of closing costs and commission before the check gets cut. The buyer pays their own set of closing costs on top of the purchase price, things like their lender's fees, their own title insurance policy, and prepaid items like homeowner's insurance and property tax escrow. What each side pays can be negotiated as part of the purchase contract, it isn't fixed by law in most cases.
A Different Way to See the Number
Cash Flow Deals is paid as a separate line item on the closing statement, not folded into the price as a markup. The seller's net price gets locked before repairs are scoped, which means the number a seller agrees to early in the process is the number they can actually plan around, instead of watching it shrink after an inspection or an appraisal comes back.
Common questions
What percentage of the sale price are seller closing costs?
Excluding commission, national data puts it around 1.8 percent of the sale price. Including a typical commission, total seller costs usually run 8 to 10 percent.
Do seller closing costs come out of the sale proceeds?
Yes. They're deducted at closing, so the seller receives the sale price minus closing costs, commission, and any mortgage payoff, not the full sale price itself.
Can a seller negotiate who pays which closing costs?
Yes. Which party pays which fee is often negotiable as part of the purchase contract, and it can vary by local custom and by what each side is willing to concede.
Is commission still fixed at 6 percent?
No. Commission has never been legally fixed, and since the Sitzer/Burnett settlement took effect on August 17, 2024, it's explicitly negotiable and no longer advertised through the MLS.
How can I estimate my net proceeds before I sell?
Start with your expected sale price, subtract your remaining mortgage balance, subtract an estimated 1.8 percent for standard closing costs, and subtract whatever commission you negotiate. That gives a rough net number to plan around.
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What this means for your options
A value estimate is a starting point, not a guaranteed number. Our process tests your home against the real market -- real buyers, real comps -- before you commit to a price.
Wait and see
Keep the property as-is and hope conditions improve. The mortgage, insurance, and upkeep keep costing money while you wait, with no set date for things to turn around.
List with a traditional agent
Standard MLS listing, typically 5-6% in commission, and a financed buyer whose deal depends on appraisal, inspection, and lender approval — any of which can fall through after weeks on market.
Sell to Cash Flow Deals
No repairs, no showings, no financing contingency on your side — our novation structure connects you with a bank-financed buyer at a price locked at signing. Usually within one business day.
See your selling options before you decide anything.