What Are Closing Costs When Selling a House?
Last updated: October 11, 2026
Max Cohen
Founder · FL Home Buyers
Quick Answer
Start with the written sale price and ask: which amounts will be deducted, which will the buyer pay, and what will I receive? Compare offers using the same payoff date and cost assumptions. Keep bills you already paid separate so they are not subtracted twice.
Closing charges and seller deductions are different
Title services, deed taxes, and recording charges are transaction expenses. A mortgage payoff repays an existing debt. Both can reduce the money available to you, but labeling everything “closing costs” makes offers harder to compare.
Ask your chosen closing professional for a written seller net sheet, then review the final settlement statement before signing. Have them identify estimates, missing amounts, and anything that could change. The Florida Bar's contract and closing guide explains why the agreement and closing documents deserve careful review.
What should the estimate include?
Mortgage payoff and other liens
Use current payoff information for the proposed closing date, including any additional loans or liens. Ask which obligations must be paid or otherwise resolved. A monthly mortgage balance may differ from the amount needed to release the lien.
Brokerage compensation
Use the amount in your signed agreements. Compensation is negotiable; do not assume a standard percentage. A direct sale does not automatically cancel an existing brokerage obligation. NAR's seller guide explains compensation choices.
Title insurance and closing services
Ask which title services are included in the insurance premium and which closing, recording, or other charges are additional. Confirm which party pays each item and whether a prior owner's policy makes a reduced rate available.
Deed documentary stamp tax
Have the closing professional calculate the tax for the actual transfer, county, and taxable consideration. Cash payment alone does not remove the tax. Check the contract's allocation and the example below.
Association charges
Separate the fee to obtain an estoppel certificate from unpaid dues, assessments, and other association obligations. Confirm approval requirements, who orders the certificate, and the current applicable fee.
Prorations, credits, and repairs
Ask how the closing date affects tax, rent, or dues adjustments. Record agreed buyer credits and any remaining repair costs. Keep receipts for expenses already paid and check whether any amount is being counted twice.
Two Florida charges you can understand before getting a quote
These are separate examples for a hypothetical $300,000 transaction. They are not a complete seller budget, a closing quote, or a statement that you must pay both charges.
Deed-tax example outside Miami-Dade
The Florida Department of Revenue lists $0.70 for each $100, or portion of $100, of taxable consideration outside Miami-Dade. On $300,000: 3,000 taxable units × $0.70 = $2,100.
Miami-Dade has a different rate and surtax rules. Exemptions and the form of transfer can affect the calculation. Ask for the calculation that applies to your transaction.
Original owner's title-premium example
For $300,000 of original owner's coverage, the Florida Department of Financial Services rates give $575 on the first $100,000 plus $1,000 on the next $200,000: $1,575.
This is the base premium, not the entire closing bill. Applicable reissue rates, endorsements, policy charges, and separately quoted services can change the total. Ask the issuing agent to review your prior policy and quote the correct coverage.
The contract can allocate who pays deed tax, but the Department of Revenue says the parties remain liable regardless of that agreement. A “buyer pays” clause is not a tax exemption.
Association fees also need a current quote. Section 720.30851 for HOAs and section 718.116(8) for condominiums govern estoppel certificates. Ask the association or closing professional to identify the applicable charge rather than using a generic “typical” fee.
How to compare a direct offer with listing
A buyer may agree to cover specific transaction charges. That does not automatically remove your mortgage, liens, tax obligations, or association balances. Ask FL Home Buyers or any other buyer to identify the covered charges, exclusions, and seller deductions in the written offer.
- Use a price you can identify: distinguish a signed offer from an agent's suggested listing price or a verbal estimate.
- Use the same deductions: compare current payoffs, seller-paid fees, taxes, association charges, credits, and other known obligations. Mark missing amounts as unknown.
- Review what can change: ask about inspection terms, repair requests, price adjustments, approval conditions, and the proposed closing date.
- Account for costs outside closing: repairs already paid, carrying costs, moving expenses, and any separate tax obligation belong in your overall budget. Do not deduct the same item twice.
Listing may produce more money after costs; a direct offer may better fit your property's condition or timing. Compare the actual written terms and likely carrying costs. The selling-cost guide and illustrative worksheet show a fuller budget, while our pricing explanation describes what affects an as-is offer.
Before you agree to close
If estimated deductions exceed the sale price and any credits, ask the closing professional and your attorney what must be resolved. A buyer's willingness to purchase does not by itself settle a debt shortfall or release a lien. Get any required creditor agreement in writing before relying on the proceeds estimate.
Ask for an explanation of changes between the estimate and final statement, and confirm when funds can be released. Signing alone does not confirm that you have been paid. For questions about your rights or obligations, confirm whether the closing attorney represents you or whether you need your own counsel.
Request a written offer or call (561) 258-9405. Use the offer and an itemized closing estimate together to understand what you could receive.