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What It Really Costs to Sell a Home in South Florida

The price on the listing is not the number that reaches your account. Commissions, deed stamps, title insurance, and concessions add up, and the order of the math matters before you price.

By Nanci Gilbert, PA September 28, 2026
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Every seller asks the same question and too few ask it before pricing: after everything is paid, what do I actually keep? In South Florida the answer depends on the commission you negotiate, the taxes the county charges, the title work, and the concessions a buyer asks for. None of these are surprises if you see them on paper first.

The commission conversation

The largest line item is usually the real estate commission, negotiated between you and your listing agent and typically offered to the buyer's side as part of the marketing. Across South Florida, total commission arrangements commonly fall in the 5 to 6 percent range. The exact number is a conversation, not a fixed rule, and it should come with a clear picture of what the listing includes: photography, staging guidance, marketing, negotiations, and the coordination of the whole contract.

Taxes, title, and the closing statement

Florida charges a documentary stamp tax on the deed at the state rate of 70 cents per $100 of the sale price, and Miami-Dade adds a county surtax on top of that. The seller also commonly pays for an owner's title insurance policy, recording fees, and the closing agent's settlement charges. Prorated property taxes, HOA dues, and past-due amounts surface on the closing statement too, so the estimate your agent prepares should list each line rather than one lump number.

Concessions are part of the net

A buyer may ask the seller to pay for a rate buydown, a home warranty, or repairs found during inspection. These come out of your proceeds, so the highest offer is not always the best offer once concessions are counted. The habit that protects sellers is to compare offers on net proceeds, not on the number at the top.

A number to plan around

A common planning figure: total seller costs, including commission, title, taxes, and typical concessions, run about 6 to 10 percent of the sale price. Before you decide anything, ask your agent for an itemized estimate for your property. The list turns a fearful unknown into a line you can plan around.

See the math before the market decides

Nanci prepares an itemized seller estimate and a market-based pricing plan together, so the number you plan around and the number you list for come from the same conversation.

Nanci Gilbert, PA is a South Florida realtor who guides growing families, sellers, and buyers across Miami-Dade and Broward. Questions about this topic? She answers every message within one business day.