California Seller Closing Cost Calculator

Buyer’s Agent Fee: $20,825–$24,990

In the past, sellers covered both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent fees. However, following a landmark court settlement by the National Association of Realtors, buyers are now expected to negotiate compensation directly with their own agents. If you’re offering to pay this fee to attract buyers, on a $833,000 median-priced California home, you can expect to pay $20,825–$24,990.

Detailed Closing Costs: $8,330

Closing costs in California average about 1.0% of the home’s sale price. On a median-priced home of $833,000, you might pay $8,330. Below are some of the typical types of closing costs you can expect:

• Home Preparations: These include efforts to improve your California home’s curb appeal, such as professional house cleaning, landscaping, or home staging.
• Renovations/Repairs: Fixing or updating your California property to meet buyer expectations or inspection requests.
• Title Service Fees: Title company work required to verify legal ownership and help manage the transfer of the home.
• Owner’s Title Insurance: A one-time insurance premium paid to protect the buyer from title issues or ownership disputes. While often paid by the seller, this expense is sometimes paid by the buyer, depending on your home’s location.
• Transfer Taxes: California home sellers pay a state transfer tax rate of $0.55 for every $500 of the property’s value. Local municipalities often charge their own additional transfer tax. (See more below.)
• Recording Fees: Fees paid to the local government to officially record the change in property ownership.
• Buyer Incentives: Credits or concessions you might offer buyers, such as paying the buyer’s agent fees or funding a buydown to reduce the buyer’s interest rate.
• Other Costs: Miscellaneous expenses not covered in other categories, such as attorney fees and HOA transfer charges. (An attorney is not required to sell a house in California.)
• Moving Expenses: While not technically a traditional closing cost, you might want to include this expense in your planning, which can range from $883 to $7,000.

In California, the seller is generally responsible for paying the Real Property Transfer Tax, also known as the Documentary Transfer Tax. While it’s customary for the seller to pay this fee, the cost can be negotiated between the buyer and seller. The state’s typical rate is $1.10 per $1,000 of the property’s value (or $0.55 per $500).

In addition, many local governments in California impose their own transfer taxes on a home sale. For instance, San Francisco’s transfer tax ranges from $2.50 to $30.00 per $500 of property value, depending on the price. You can place local transfer tax fees in our calculator using the “Other Costs” field.

More Helpful Seller Tools From HomeLight

Here are some additional tools you may find helpful as you plan your California home sale:

• Listing Agent Match platform
• Home Value Estimator
• Best Time to Sell Calculator
• Agent Commissions Calculator
• Net Proceeds Calculator

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With HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform, you can receive a no-obligation, all-cash offer in 24 hours and close in as few as 10 days. Answer a few questions about your California home to get started. Along with your offer, you’ll also see an estimate of what a top California agent might be able to get for your home. Get both options with one tool.

As you look ahead to your next home purchase, here are some helpful buyer tools:

• Home Affordability Calculator
• Down Payment Calculator
• Closing Costs Calculator
• Buyer’s Agent Match platform