Cost to Sell a House in Florida

Selling a home in Florida costs more than most owners expect, and almost all of it comes out of your proceeds at closing rather than your pocket up front. Between the real estate commission, Florida’s documentary stamp tax, title insurance, and other closing costs, most sellers part with roughly 7% to 9% of the sale price. The good news: nearly every line is predictable, and several are negotiable. Here is exactly what it costs to sell a house in Florida in 2026, and a calculator to estimate what you would actually walk away with.

The Real Estate Commission

The commission is almost always the single largest cost of selling. Historically it ran about 5% to 6% of the sale price, split between the listing and buyer sides. Since the 2024 changes to how agent compensation works, commission is fully negotiable and is no longer a fixed standard, and buyer-side compensation is now negotiated separately. On a $450,000 home, a 5% total commission is $22,500. It is worth discussing structure and value with your agent up front, because this is the line with the most room to move.

Florida Documentary Stamp Tax

This is Florida’s version of a transfer tax, and it catches many first-time sellers off guard. The state charges documentary stamp tax on the deed at a rate of $0.70 per $100 of the sale price, which works out to about 0.70%. On a $450,000 sale, that is roughly $3,150. In most Florida counties the seller customarily pays it. Miami-Dade County uses a different rate structure, so confirm locally if you are selling there. The exact responsibility can also be negotiated in the contract.

Title Insurance

Florida sets, or “promulgates,” title insurance rates, so the premium is the same regardless of which title company you use. The owner policy runs about $5.75 per $1,000 of price up to $100,000, then $5.00 per $1,000 above that, so a $450,000 home is roughly $2,300. Who pays varies by county custom: in most Florida counties the seller pays for the owner policy, but in Miami-Dade, Broward, Sarasota, and Collier counties the buyer typically does. Like the other costs, it can be negotiated in the contract.

Other Closing Costs

A handful of smaller charges round out your closing costs as a seller in Florida:

• Settlement or closing fee charged by the title company or closing attorney, often a few hundred dollars
• Recording fees for the deed and any release of your existing mortgage
• HOA or condo estoppel fee if your community has an association, typically $200 to $500
• Municipal lien search to confirm no outstanding code or utility liens
• Prorated property taxes for your portion of the year up to the closing date

Together these usually add about $1,000 to $2,000 depending on your community and county.

Your Mortgage Payoff

Your remaining loan balance is not a “cost” of selling, but it comes directly out of your proceeds at closing, so it is the biggest factor in what you actually net. Request a payoff statement from your lender before listing, since the figure includes interest through the closing date and may differ from your statement balance.

Optional Costs That Affect Your Bottom Line

Depending on your situation and the market, you may also weigh pre-listing repairs and updates, professional staging or photography, a home warranty offered to the buyer, and buyer concessions or closing-cost credits negotiated during the deal. None of these are required, but each one changes your net, which is why it helps to model them before you list.

So What Do Florida Sellers Actually Net?

On a typical sale, total selling costs land around 7% to 9% of the price once commission, documentary stamp tax, title, and closing costs are added up, before your mortgage payoff. On a $450,000 home with a 5% commission and a $250,000 loan balance, that is roughly $29,000 in selling costs and about $171,000 in net proceeds. Your numbers will differ, which is exactly what the calculator above is for. Adjust the commission, payoff, and concessions to see your own bottom line.

One More Thing: Capital Gains

Florida has no state income tax, so there is no state tax on your sale. You may still owe federal capital gains tax on profit above the IRS exclusion ($250,000 for single filers, $500,000 for married couples filing jointly) if you meet the ownership and use tests. For most sellers the exclusion covers the full gain, but if you have owned a long time or it was not your primary residence, it is worth understanding before you list. Our guide to capital gains tax on a Florida home sale walks through how it works.

Get a Precise Net Sheet

The calculator gives you a solid estimate, but the most accurate picture comes from a seller net sheet built around your actual property, county, and contract. The DJ & Lindsey team prepares these for sellers across Northeast Florida at no cost. Reach out for your net sheet, or see what comparable homes are selling for in your area.