How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House in 2026?

Are you preparing to sell your home? Whether you’re downsizing or upsizing, it’s important to understand the typical costs of selling a house. Especially if you’re planning to purchase another property with your proceeds, knowing the amount of money you’ll ultimately walk away with at closing can help you budget more accurately. If you're wondering how much it costs to sell a house, read on to learn about the cost of selling a house and how you can best prepare financially during the home-selling process.

Set Your Expectations

In a seller’s market, you’ll typically have more leverage when negotiating costs; however, you should still expect roughly 5% to 10% of the sale price to go toward commissions and other fees. Simply having that percentage in mind can help you set realistic expectations around the likely net proceeds you’ll receive from your home sale.

Conversely, in a buyer’s market, you may have less negotiating power and may need to make concessions to make your property more appealing. Often, this means paying a portion of the buyer’s closing costs or offering a credit for an item that will need immediate repairs, such as a roof credit if an inspection reveals that your roof will need replacing in the next few years.

Listing Agent Commission

An essential cost you can expect when selling your home is the real estate agent's commission. This is the fee for the work agents do on your behalf, which includes marketing and advertising your home, listing it on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), fielding calls, hosting open houses and tours with prospective buyers, reviewing offers with you, negotiating with buyers, scheduling inspections, managing the transaction, and much more.

Historically, the commission for an agent’s work has been 6% of the cost of a property’s sale price, split evenly between the seller’s and buyer’s agents, and paid for at closing by the sellers. However, a recent National Association of Realtors (NAR) settlement reshaped how real estate commissions are managed, providing more flexibility and negotiating power for both sellers and buyers. Buyers are now responsible for paying their own commission fees, and sellers are only required to pay their own listing agent’s commission. Negotiations can always come into play in transactions, but overall, this is good news for sellers since they’re not automatically on the hook for both agent commissions.

Home Staging Cost

You may believe your furniture and interior decorations are exceptionally stylish, yet tastes differ among prospective buyers. Your agent may suggest staging your home, which means a professional staging company furnishes and decorates it to make it more visually appealing to a broad range of prospective buyers. You sign a contract with the staging company that covers pricing and the duration the items will remain in the home.

There are two “types” of staging: full-service and partial staging.

• Full-service staging involves furnishing and decorating the entire property, resulting in a complete transformation of the spaces.

• Partial staging involves using some of the homeowner’s existing furniture and décor in combination with the staging company’s items.

Sometimes, sellers will opt to only stage key areas of their home, such as the kitchen/dining area, living room, and primary bedroom, and leave less important spaces like guest bedrooms or offices unstaged.

While home staging costs vary, keep in mind that it can help your home show well during open houses and when people view it online. Plus, staged homes frequently sell significantly faster and often for more money than non-staged homes. Because of this, sellers often recoup the cost of staging their homes, which is advantageous since staging can cost anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars. The cost depends on square footage, local market conditions, and whether you opt for partial or full staging treatment. Weigh that against how quickly homes are currently selling in your area, and the added storage costs for your own furniture during staging. Your agent can help you determine whether staging will be cost-positive for you.

Related: Learn how to boost curb appeal and create an impactful open house when selling a home.

Home Inspection Cost

Typically, the buyer or buyer’s real estate agent schedules a home inspection, and the cost is included in the buyer’s closing costs. The fee depends on your home's square footage and the region you live in, but fees generally range from $500 to $1,000 for a basic inspection.

As a seller, you can be present at home during the inspection. If you would like to be prepared ahead of time and perhaps avoid any costly surprise repairs down the road, you can also order a home inspection report of your own before you’re ready to sell. If you have a First American seller's home warranty plan, it can help pay for repairs (and even replacements) when covered home appliances and systems break while your home is on the market.

Related: Home Inspection Checklist: A Comprehensive Guide.

Home Repairs

As a seller, be prepared to address any issues that a home inspection reveals. These typically can include safety standards and building code violations, structural problems, and plumbing or roofing leaks. If you have budgeted using the 1 percent rule as a homeowner — setting aside 1% of your home’s value each year in a savings fund for home maintenance — you can use those funds to repair any major problems that surface during an inspection.

Often, certain home repairs are negotiable, and your agent will help monitor these discussions. In a seller's market, you may have more negotiating power when it comes to paying for repairs than you would in a buyer’s market.

Pro tip: Your real estate agent is a valuable resource throughout the selling process. As a seller, you want your home to stand out and get noticed, so tap into their expertise for recommendations on what home repairs you should make before selling, as well as what not to fix when selling a house.

Related: See how a seller’s home warranty plan can help you manage repairs and replacements.

Transition Costs

Most home sellers are in the process of buying their next homes and, for that reason, desire clean, quick sales. However, if the home you’re purchasing runs into unexpected transaction delays, you could find yourself without a place to live. This could also happen if you’re purchasing a newly built home that runs into construction delays.

Sellers in these situations often negotiate with their buyers to rent back their homes, continuing to live in them for a set period of months until their new homes are ready for them to move into. Agents recommend that sellers estimate 1% of their home's closing price for these “overlap” costs, if needed.

Mortgage Payoff

You know how much you owe on your existing mortgage, so the payoff amount should come as no surprise to you. In addition, ask your agent if you will have any other payments to factor into this cost. These can include a pre-payment penalty, missed payments, late fees, or any interest that accrued after your expected payoff date. Do your homework early in the closing process to avoid these sorts of surprises at close.

Attorney Fees

While not required in every state, your agent will know whether you can avoid the closing services and/or the presence of an attorney to sell a home where you live. Your agent can also be a good resource if you need a real estate attorney recommendation. Most attorneys charge either a flat fee or an hourly rate, typically ranging from $500 to $1,500 for a straightforward real estate transaction.

Closing Costs and Property Taxes

You can expect to spend an additional 2% to 5% of your home’s price on seller closing costs.  These typically include transfer taxes, title insurance, recording fees, escrow (settlement) fees, a portion of your property taxes (and HOA fees if you have one), and any outstanding liens on the property.

Related: How Much Are Closing Costs for Home Buyers?

Help Manage Costs with Home Warranty Protection

A seller's home warranty can help you manage unexpected costs that arise while your home is on the market, and even after you close. When a covered home appliance or system breaks during the listing period, your home warranty plan can help you manage repair costs (and even a full replacement if needed).

Additionally, issues that surface during the home inspection may be covered under your plan, offering a budget-friendly solution. And even after you move out, your coverage with a real estate home warranty can help manage post-sale disputes, if the problems are covered under your plan.  

Get more details about what a First American home warranty covers and how coverage can offer you financial protection and peace of mind. Your agent can order seller’s home warranty coverage for you as soon as your property is listed on the MLS, giving you peace of mind throughout the home-selling process and beyond.

FAQs About Selling Your Home

What does a seller’s closing costs typically include?

The cost of selling a house can vary depending on local market conditions and the area you live in. Generally, however, they include recording fees, transfer taxes, title insurance, escrow (settlement) fees, a portion of your property taxes (and HOA fees if you have one), and any outstanding liens on the property.

Should you make home repairs before selling?

While it may be tempting to let the buyer handle repairs once they move in, addressing them before listing helps your home achieve the best value. This means improving its curb appeal and making sensible updates. Your agent can advise you on the renovations that make the best financial sense for your situation.

How much does it cost to stage a home?

The home staging cost depends on whether you choose full or partial staging, your home's square footage, and where you live. Staging can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, but what you pay in staging your home, you often recoup, because homes that are staged typically sell significantly faster than non-staged homes, and frequently for more money.  

What is the seller’s home warranty coverage?

Seller’s coverage can help protect your budget when covered home appliances and systems break during the listing period and require immediate repairs or replacements. It can also help manage issues that arise during the home inspection and protect you from disputes once the home has been sold. Your agent can order your seller’s home warranty coverage once your home is listed on the market.

The contents of this article are provided for general guidance only. First American Home Warranty does not assume any responsibility for losses or damages as a result of using this information.