At the end of the real estate transaction come the closing costs. For seller costs, this can come to a significant amount of money on the closing date. However, the more you know about how closing costs are calculated, the better prepared you'll be for completing your home sale. Here are the most important things to know:
How do I calculate closing costs?
Closing costs for sellers vary based on multiple factors. Luckily, there are plenty of online calculators and other tools available for estimating your total closing costs. You'll need to combine property taxes, closing fees, title insurance fees, escrow fees and attorney fees with commissions paid to real estate agents.
Should you pay the buyer's closing costs?
Sometimes a seller can offer to cover the whole closing costs for the purchaser. This can help you win over a potential buyer in a competitive marketplace. A purchaser can ask for concessions in exchange for completing negotiations.
In some cases, buyers may ask for an offer to cover an issue found in a home inspection. Talk to your sales agent to find out if there's an alternative option to match your goals.
Average closing costs for sellers
Closing costs will vary from one sale to the next, but sellers can typically expect to pay around 8% to 10% of the home's total sale price. The largest part of this percentage comes from real estate agent commissions, which can be as high as 6% of the purchase price. Other cost variables include local tax rates, homeowners association fees, legal fees and title insurance fees.
When are closing costs due?
Your total seller closing costs will be due when you sign your final loan documents on the closing day. Make sure to have everything prepared to complete the transaction, as delays in closing can end up costing you more.
Once the seller pays closing costs and all the paperwork is signed, the sale is considered completed. Keep these basics for how and why sellers pay closing costs, and you'll be better prepared for every step of the process.
About the Author
Robin Anderson Real Estate
“My Passion is people and relationships and I promise to provide my clients with exceptional service tailored to their individual needs.” -Robin Anderson
Georgia native, Robin Anderson brings her passion for people and her love of homes to work for her clients. She and her husband, Andy, have been married for over 30 years and have two adult children, Ellen and Drew. They currently live in Fulton County, but Robin has lived and invested in properties throughout metro Atlanta as well as helped clients buy and sell. She has been integral to many real estate endeavors including designing and building several custom homes, remodeling homes, subdividing land, managing rental properties, and buying and selling properties. She spent her first 3 years in real estate working with a new home builder, and she has spent the last 6 years working with buyers and sellers in her own community. Robin is highly motivated but sensitive to the fact that buying and selling homes can be an emotional experience, so she makes it a priority to keep clients closely informed throughout the process and strives to produce quick results. She appreciates the opportunity to help her clients navigate the real estate process, and she aspires to deliver quality customer service that is both informative and positive. She is driven to provide outstanding service for her clients and she is focused on building successful and lasting relationships with her clients. This personalized service earns her enthusiastic referrals from clients she is pleased to call friends.Edit
