Title: The Seller’s Surprise: Don’t Let Closing Costs Shrink Your Profit

If you’re dreaming about your net profit from selling your home, you’ve likely done the math: Sale Price minus Mortgage Payoff equals Money in My Pocket.

But here’s the reality check every seller needs: A collection of mandatory, but often surprising, fees waits for you at the closing table. These are your seller closing costs, and they are the biggest difference between a happy estimate and a disappointing final check.

What’s Lurking in the Fine Print?

While the buyer shoulders costs related to their loan, as the seller, you are typically responsible for the expenses tied to the transfer of the property. These costs can easily range from 2% to 4% of the sale price, not including real estate commissions (which are your largest single expense, often an additional 5-6%).

The primary culprits that chip away at your profit include:

• Transfer Taxes (or Stamp/Deed Taxes): A government tax levied for the official transfer of ownership. This cost varies wildly by state and city—some areas charge next to nothing, while others charge thousands.

• Title-Related Fees: This usually includes the premium for the buyer’s Owner’s Title Insurance Policy, which protects them against any future claims on the property’s ownership history.

• Escrow or Settlement Fees: The fee paid to the title company or attorney for managing all the paperwork, holding the funds, and coordinating the closing.

• Prorated Property Taxes: You are financially responsible for property taxes up to the day of closing. If you haven’t paid the taxes for the current year yet, you’ll owe a prorated share.

  Stop Guessing and Start Budgeting

  Knowing what these fees will be is the most critical step in calculating your true “walk-away” money. Relying on national averages is risky, as a transfer tax in one city could be ten times higher than in the next.

  I specialize in creating a precise Seller Net Sheet for every client. This detailed breakdown takes your estimated sale price, subtracts your mortgage payoff, and accounts for every local and transactional closing cost you can expect to pay.

  Don’t wait until the closing table to get the full financial picture.

  Ready to know exactly how much you’ll profit from your home sale? Let’s connect today for a free, personalized Seller Net Sheet—it’s the clarity you need to move forward with confidence.