How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House in California in 2025? All Seller Fees & Expenses

If you’re planning a home sale, it’s only natural to ask the big question: “How much will it actually cost me to sell my house?” Selling a house in California can feel like navigating a maze of fees, taxes, unexpected bills, and costs that add up. Between listing agent commissions, escrow, title, and attorney fees, repair and staging costs, and taxes, those “nice” numbers you see on a purchase contract can shrink fast.

Even in a hot real estate market with high home prices, these expenses eat into your profits. The truth is, while your home might sell for hundreds of thousands—or even millions—in California’s competitive market, you won’t walk away with the full sale price. This guide walks you through every cost a California seller might face and gives you realistic estimates so you know what to expect from your home sale and plan accordingly from Day 1.

The Average Cost to Sell a House in California

The median home price in California sits around $880,000–$900,000 as of late 2025, though exact numbers vary by city and region. Using that as a baseline, most sellers spend 7%–10% of the home’s sale price on fees and expenses when all is said and done.

Let’s put that into perspective: If you sell a home for $883,000, expect total selling costs in the $60,000–$85,000 range, depending on your realtor fees, closing costs, home improvements or repairs, and any last-minute buyer incentives. That’s a big number, so let’s break it down step by step.

• Median single-family home price in California (recent data): about $883,640 as of September 2025, according to data from the California Association of Realtors.
• Typical real-estate commissions in California: roughly 5% of sale price (varies by market; many places run between ~5%–6%).
• Typical seller closing costs (not including commission): ~2.7% of the sale price on average in California — this covers escrow, recording fees, documentary transfer taxes (where applicable), prorations, and other closing line items.

Using the California median ($883,640) as an example, here’s the average cost of selling a house in California in 2025:

• 5% commission = $44,182.
• 2.72% closing costs = $24,035.
  So between commissions + seller closing costs, you could be looking at ~$68,200, and that's before any home repairs, staging, or taxes.

1) Realtor Commissions: The Largest Expense in Most Home Sales

For most homeowners, realtor fees are the single biggest expense in the home-selling process. In California, real estate agent commissions typically range from 4% to 6% of the sale price on average (depending on region, property type, and agent), split between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent, and paid from seller proceeds at closing.

So if you sell your home for $883,000 and agree to a 5% commission, that’s $44,150 gone right off the top. It’s a significant chunk and usually the single largest deduction from seller proceeds, but those fees often cover marketing, photography, open houses, and professional negotiation. Some sellers might negotiate fee splits, hire limited-service brokers, or use flat-fee MLS options, but full-service real estate agents usually charge the market rate.

2) Closing Costs and Transaction-Related Fees

Beyond the commission, sellers are responsible for a variety of closing costs, which usually total around 1%–3% of the home’s sale price in California, with ~2.7% on average (excluding agent commissions). These are the administrative and legal costs involved in transferring property ownership, and they include:

1. Escrow Fees & Title Fees: Sellers commonly pay the escrow company that manages the funds and ensures all legal documents are properly signed, as well as title companies for their title service fees, which include title searches and issuing owner's title insurance.
2. Notary & Recording fees: Charged by the county for officially recording the sale.
3. Transfer Taxes: Documentary transfer tax and local transfer taxes; varies by city/county. California counties typically charge $1.10 per $1,000 of the sale price, but some cities (like San Francisco and Los Angeles) add their own local transfer taxes.
4. Prorated Property Taxes: Sellers pay property taxes up to the date of closing (or a prorated share). Amount depends on tax rate and portion of the year.
5. HOA Documents or Payoff Fees: If your property belongs to a homeowners association, any outstanding dues, transfer fees, or capital assessments are usually settled at closing. These can range from nothing to thousands.
6. Mortgage Payoff: The seller must pay off any outstanding mortgage(s) from the proceeds. The remaining principal (plus interest through closing) is deducted. Mortgage payoff can be the largest single deduction if you have a high remaining balance. It’s not a fee, but it reduces your net proceeds. Check your payoff quote early to avoid surprises.
7. Real Estate Attorney Fees: California doesn’t legally require you to hire a real estate attorney to sell your home, but it’s often a smart move, especially for complex transactions nd trust sales. A real estate attorney typically costs $200–$500 per hour.

Combined, these transaction-related fees usually add up to around 2.5%–3% of your sale price, which in our example for the California median means roughly $22,000–$26,000 toward these closing items. Use this as a planning figure, and expect variance depending on city rules and negotiated items.

3) Capital Gain Tax and Other Tax Implications (Federal & California)

One of the most overlooked costs of selling a home in California is the capital gain tax – the tax on profits from the sale of your property. According to the IRS, if your home was your primary residence for at least two of the past five years, you can exclude up to $250,000 of profit (or $500,000 for married couples filing jointly) from your taxable income.

Anything above that amount is subject to federal capital gains tax, and in California, the state also taxes capital gains as regular income. Check the Franchise Tax Board guidance for state specifics. If you’re selling an investment property or vacation home, you’ll likely owe taxes on the full profit.

Consulting a tax professional or CPA before listing can help you estimate your potential tax liability and explore strategies to reduce it.

4) Home Repairs, Inspections, and Improvements

Even though California homes tend to hold their value well, buyers are still cautious and want assurance that the property is in good shape. That’s where home inspections and repair work come in. Most buyers order a home inspection as part of their due diligence. If issues come up, you may be asked to handle certain home repairs or offer buyer incentives (like seller concessions or credits) to offset the cost.

• Home inspection fees: $300–$600, depending on the size of the property.
• Repair work: Can range from a few hundred dollars for minor fixes to $20,000+ for big-ticket items like roofing, plumbing, or foundation repairs.
• Home improvements: Optional upgrades (like new paint, fixtures, or landscaping) can help increase your home value estimate, but should be weighed carefully against your potential return on investment (ROI). Learn what not to fix when selling a house.

If you decide to skip pre-sale improvements and sell in as-is condition to cash home buyers like SleeveUp Homes, you can avoid much of this spending, especially when time or budget is tight.

5) Staging, Cleaning & Marketing Costs

Once your home is in shape, presentation is everything. Professional staging and photography can dramatically influence how quickly your home sells and how much it sells for on the traditional real estate market.

• Professional staging: $1,000–$3,000 on average for partial staging.
• Deep cleaning: $200–$400, depending on home size.
• Professional photos & 3D tours: $250–$500.

While these costs can add up, a well-staged home and good marketing can attract more bidders and higher offers, especially in competitive coastal markets of the Golden State like Los Angeles, San Diego, or Orange County. That said, if your goal is a quick, straightforward sale, you can avoid paying for all these extras.

These costs are avoidable when selling directly to local Southern California cash buyers, such as SleeveUp Homes, which might be a better option if you don't want to deal with staging, showings, endless open houses, and waiting for weeks or even months for a buyer.

6) Moving Costs, Utility Transfers & Other Final Expenses

The home sale doesn’t end when escrow closes; there are still logistical costs to consider. Professional movers, truck rentals, storage units, and cleaning services can all add to your total selling expenses. Local moves in California typically cost $1,000–$3,000+, depending on distance and volume.

Long-distance moves are higher and can easily surpass $5,000–$10,000. It’s also a good idea to budget for final utility bills, mail forwarding, and any touch-up cleaning or landscaping before your final walkthrough. These are small but real line items.

Calculating the Average Cost of Selling a House in California: Estimate Your Net Proceeds from the Home Sale

To roughly calculate your net proceeds, start with your expected home sale price, subtract anything applicable – your realtor fees, closing costs, repair work, mortgage payoff, etc., and then account for any taxes you might owe.

Here’s an example using California’s median home price and current averages:

• Sale price: $883,000
• Realtor fees (avg. 5%): $44,150
• Seller closing costs and transaction-related fees (avg. 2.7%): $23,841
• Average staging (optional): $1,000–$2,000
• Repairs/concessions: $0–$25,000+
• Transfer taxes: ~$971 (varies by city)

= (Estimated Total Selling Cost Range)

• Low-end estimate (minimal repairs, lower staging): = $69,962
   
• High-end estimate (full repairs/concessions and full staging): $44,150 + $23,841 + $2,000 + $25,000 + $971 = $95,962
   

✅ Estimated total selling cost range: - $70,000–$96,000

✅ Estimated Net Proceeds Before Mortgage & Taxes ≈ $787,000–$813,000
 

Finally, subtract your mortgage payoff and taxes to find the actual cash that will end up in your pocket. These numbers will fluctuate depending on your home’s condition, local market, and negotiation terms, but they give you a good benchmark for planning your home sale budget and getting an idea of the average cost to sell a house in California.

To get an accurate number and see how much it would cost to sell your home:

1. Estimate your mortgage payoff — request a payoff letter from your lender early.
2. Get rough estimates for repairs — a contractor or inspector can help budget likely repair costs.
3. Ask 2–3 agents for comparative market analysis (CMA) — compare their fees and marketing plans.
4. Get an escrow/title quote — ask for itemized closing cost estimates to compare.
5. Talk to a tax advisor if you think you’ll owe capital gains tax (investment property, big gain, recent ownership changes).

Ways to Reduce Home Selling Costs in California

1. Sell to an as-is cash buyer — eliminates agent commissions, marketing, home repairs, closing costs, and other traditional home sale headaches. (More below.)
2. Negotiate the commission — ask for a lower split or a performance-based fee.
3. Shop escrow/title — fees vary by company. Ask for itemized quotes.
4. Do targeted repairs yourself — fix safety or mechanical items and let buyers handle cosmetics to save money.
5. Limit staging to high-impact rooms — living room, kitchen, main bedroom.
6. Price accurately — an overpriced, stale listing can cost you more (price drops, longer days on market), which often reduces final net.

Avoid the Costs & Hassle of a Traditional Home Sale: Sell Your California Home Fast, As-Is to SleeveUp Homes

If you want to avoid real estate agent commissions, closing costs, staging, repairs, and open houses, a quick, as-is sale to a direct cash buyer can be an attractive non-traditional option, especially if speed and convenience matter. You don’t need a real estate agent to sell your property, and with SleeveUp Homes, you can sell your house fast, in any condition, save time and money, and get paid in cash within a week.

Cash home buying companies offer a direct, no-hassle way to sell your home fast without realtor fees or closing costs. This model has become increasingly popular across Southern California, where sellers value convenience and certainty as much as top-dollar offers. Here’s how it works and what makes SleeveUp Homes different:

• No real-estate commissions,  fees, or closing costs: we take care of all escrow, title, and transaction-related fees, so you keep 100% of your proceeds at closing.
• Sell in any condition: No repairs, home improvements, cleaning, or staging needed. We buy houses across Southern California for cash directly from homeowners as-is, including rentals, foreclosed, inherited, and distressed properties.
• Fast, flexible closing: Close on your timeline, in as little as 7 days or longer if you need more time.
• $10,000 guarantee: SleeveUp Homes will beat any legitimate written offer you provide by $10,000.

If you value speed, certainty, and avoiding the repair/inspection/staging treadmill, a direct cash sale to a local cash buyer can be the simplest way to walk away with cash in hand and minimal hassle.

Selling Your California House Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune

Selling a home in California can be profitable, but it’s rarely simple. Between realtor fees, inspection fees, closing costs, repair work, and taxes, many homeowners are surprised by how much of their sale price goes toward expenses. On average, budget roughly 7%–10% of the sale price for total costs when selling your California house the traditional route.

The key is understanding where your money is going, preparing for those costs upfront, and exploring all your options. For many sellers, the math, timing, or hassle makes a cash sale to a direct buyer a smart alternative. If you want to sell quickly, avoid costly home repairs, and skip realtor commissions and most of the fees and closing costs altogether, SleeveUp Homes offers a fast, fair, and guaranteed way to sell your house in Southern California.

You can close in as little as a week (or take as long as you need) and walk away with 100% of your proceeds, no hidden fees, no repairs, and no stress. Request a free, no-obligation cash offer today.

Author:

Cesar Gomez , Broker /

Cesar has worked as a real estate agent and broker in the southern California region since 2013.

  view all blogs by this author