What Are Closing Costs When Selling a House?
Last updated: February 2026
Max Cohen
Licensed General Contractor · FL Home Buyers
Quick Answer
In Florida, sellers typically pay 6-10% of the sale price in closing costs. On a $300,000 house, that's $18,000-$30,000. When you sell to us, we pay all closing costs, you keep more of the sale.
Breakdown of Seller Closing Costs
| Cost | % of Sale | On $300K Home |
|---|---|---|
| Realtor Commissions | 5-6% | $15,000-$18,000 |
| Owner's Title Insurance | 0.5-1% | $1,500-$3,000 |
| Documentary Stamps | 0.7% | $2,100 |
| Title Search & Settlement | 0.5% | $500-$1,500 |
| HOA Estoppel Letter | , | $150-$500 |
| Prorated Taxes/HOA | Varies | Varies |
| Total | 6-10% | $18,000-$30,000 |
Florida-Specific Closing Costs Explained
Every state handles closing costs differently. Florida has a few line items that catch sellers off guard.
Documentary stamps on the deed: Florida charges $0.70 per $100 of the sale price statewide. Miami-Dade County is the exception, charging $0.60 per $100 plus a $0.45 surtax on non-single-family properties. On a $300K home outside Miami-Dade, you'll owe $2,100. The seller pays this in most Florida transactions.
Title insurance: Florida regulates title insurance rates, so there's no shopping around for a better deal. The owner's policy costs $5.75 per $1,000 for the first $100K, then $5.00 per $1,000 from $100K to $1M. On a $300K home, that's roughly $1,575. In most Florida counties, the seller pays for the owner's title policy. Miami-Dade and Broward are exceptions where the buyer traditionally pays.
HOA estoppel letter: If your home is in an HOA, the title company needs an estoppel letter confirming your account balance. Florida law (HB 1203, effective 2024) caps estoppel fees at $250 for standard delivery. Rush fees can add $100-$150. The seller pays this.
Prorated property taxes: Florida property taxes are paid in arrears. If you close in June, you owe taxes for January through June. The closing agent calculates this down to the exact day, and that amount comes out of your proceeds at the closing table.
Recording fees: The buyer typically pays these. They're minimal: $10 for the first page, $8.50 for each additional page.
Cash Sale vs. Agent Sale: What You Actually Keep
On a $300,000 home, the total seller costs through a traditional agent sale add up fast: $15,000-$18,000 in commissions, $2,100 in doc stamps, $1,575 in title insurance, $500-$1,500 in settlement fees, and prorated taxes. That's $19,175-$23,175 before you spend a dime on repairs or staging.
Then there's the hidden cost of time. The average Florida listing sits on the market for 60-90 days. During that window, you're paying the mortgage, insurance, utilities, and HOA dues. Add another $3,000-$6,000 in carrying costs.
When you sell to FL Home Buyers, your closing costs are $0. Our offer is your net. So even if our cash offer comes in 10-15% below retail price, you often walk away with comparable net proceeds because you aren't losing 8-10% to fees, commissions, and carrying costs. And you close in 7-14 days instead of 3-4 months.
When You Sell to Us
When you sell to FL Home Buyers, the math changes:
- No realtor commissions: Save 5-6% immediately
- We pay title fees: Title insurance, title search, settlement fees
- We pay doc stamps: The 0.7% documentary stamp tax
- Our offer = your net: What we offer is what you get at closing
Want to see what you'd net? Call (561) 258-9405 or get a cash offer.