On average, sellers in Florida can expect to pay 3.22% of their home's final sale price in closing costs. For a $405,489 home — the median home value in Florida — you'd pay around $13,059.
In most cases, your Florida closing costs will simply be deducted from your sales profits. In rare instances where your takeaway won't completely cover closing costs, you might have to pay some fees out of pocket.
The biggest closing expense for sellers in Florida is usually realtor commission fees. However, this is also the one fee that you can easily save on. By using an agent-matching service like Clever Real Estate, you can reduce your listing agent commission by thousands.
Clever pre-negotiates low listing fees with experienced agents from top brokerages so you can keep more money in your pocket after selling your home.
Keep reading to find out which closing costs sellers typically cover in Florida and how much you can expect to pay for each of them. Need estimates for your sale? You'll also find our Florida seller closing costs calculator!
How much are seller closing costs in Florida?
Seller closing costs are fees you pay when you finalize the sale of your home in Florida. These include the costs of verifying and transferring ownership to the buyer, so most are unavoidable.
Florida seller closing costs | Average rate | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
0.30% | $1,235 | |
0.19% | $774 | |
0.70% | $2,838 | |
0.02% | $77 | |
2% | $8,110 | |
Varies | Varies | |
Total* | 3.22% | $13,059 |
*Based on a sale price of $405,489, the typical home value in Florida (Zillow August 31, 2022) and assumes paying a full year of property tax | ||
In Florida, you'll pay about 3.22% of your home's final sale price in closing costs, not including realtor fees.
Keep in mind that this is only an estimate. While closing costs will always have to be paid, your real estate agent can often negotiate who pays them — you or the buyer.
If you want to get the most out of negotiations, you'll need an experienced agent who has your best interests in mind. Clever can help by matching you with a top agent in your area who can score you a great deal.
» MORE: See how Clever can help match you with the perfect agent
Title fees: 0.30%
Title fees cover the costs of the title search and title transfer.
When you sell your home, you have to transfer legal ownership of the property to the buyer. To ensure there are no claims or liens on your home, your settlement agent will complete a title search.
In Florida, buyers and sellers usually pay for their own title company or closing agent, but don’t expect this for every sale. Ask your realtor if you're not sure.
Owner's title insurance: 0.19%
An owner's title insurance policy protects the buyer in case there's a problem with the property title. Potential issues may include anything from clerical errors in the paperwork to full disputes over ownership. Title insurance will cover any legal fees or reimburse the value of a home if mistakes are found.
In Florida, title insurance usually costs around 0.19% of your home's final sale price — or $774 for a $405,489 home. However, the specific rate for your property may vary. Title companies in Florida often use tiered pricing to determine how much you'll pay for a policy based on your home's value.
Seller cover the cost of an owner's title insurance policy in most cases in Florida, but it's not uncommon for both parties to negotiate who pays this closing cost.
» MORE: What Is title insurance, and why do you need it?
Florida Documentary stamp tax: 0.70%
Florida charges you about 0.70% of your home's sale price to transfer the title to the new owner. For a $405,489 house — the median home value in Florida — you'd pay around $2,838. However, your county or city may charge their own additional documentary stamp tax. Check with your realtor and title company to see what you'll owe in your area.
» FIND: Learn more about transfer taxes in Florida
Florida recording fees: 0.02%
Your city or county will charge a fee to legally record your property's deed and mortgage information. The exact amount will vary based on your location, but you can expect to pay around $77 in Florida — although you might be able to negotiate for the buyer to cover this cost.
Buyer incentives: 2%
Buyer incentives can help you secure a sale in tough markets by making it easier or more appealing for a buyer to purchase your property. You can pay some of the buyer's closing costs, offer repair credits, or include valuable items in the sale of the home.
The average amount sellers spend on buyer incentives in Florida comes to about $8,110.
Don't forget about property taxes!
When you sell a home in Florida, you'll still have to pay property taxes for the months you owned the property. Using this prorated system, you won't be on the hook for the full 12 months of taxes. However, this does make it more difficult to estimate how much you'll owe at closing.
The average property tax rate in Florida is 0.86%, but this can vary quite a bit depending on your county.
For instance, DeSoto County has the highest property tax rate in the state at 1.28%. Meanwhile, Walton County residents have the lowest property tax rate at just 0.53%.
Be sure to check with your real estate agent so you can find out exactly you'll need to pay in property taxes.
Other Florida closing costs for sellers
Every Florida home sale is unique, and many come with a few surprise fees. For example, you may have to pay out-of-pocket for a property appraisal on your Miami penthouse, or you may get hit with a penalty for paying off your Jacksonville single family home’s mortgage early.
» LEARN: The total cost of selling a house
Whatever your situation, you should be prepared to handle a few unforeseen expenses. Here are a few of the most common:
- Homeowners Association (HOA) fees
- Settlement or attorney fees
- Property appraisal fees
- Mortgage payoff and/or prepayment penalties
Your realtor will have a better idea of the closing costs you can expect to pay, depending on the Florida neighborhood you're selling in and other factors.
An experienced agent can do a lot more than market your property and negotiate with buyers. Top realtors — like the ones Clever partners with — will have the local knowledge necessary to maximize your profits and understand what buyers in the area are looking for in a new home.
Florida closing costs calculator
Your exact closing costs will vary based on your home's value, local fees, and your arrangements with the buyer.
Use this Florida closing costs calculator to see how much money will come out of your proceeds at closing — and how much you'll take home after the sale.
How to save on Florida closing costs
While closing costs aren't usually the biggest expense for sellers in Florida, there are a few ways to reduce these fees.
Negotiate for the buyer to pay
If you're selling in the middle of a hot seller's market with low housing inventory, you could ask the buyer to cover some of your closing costs.
Competition among buyers is fierce in these market conditions, so they're typically more willing to make concessions so you'll accept their offer on your Florida home.
» MORE: How to negotiate with buyers before accepting an offer
Shop around for better prices
It might be possible to save some money by shopping around for cheaper rates on services like title insurance and closing fees.
However, these costs are relatively low and tend to be fairly consistent among different companies. When you're already navigating inspections, repair requests, and appraisals, calling several different companies to find a $50 discount probably isn't worth the hassle!
Save on realtor fees
The best way to reduce your selling costs is to find a realtor who charges lower listing fees. In Florida, real estate commission costs an average of $21,896 — that's usually more expensive than the rest of your closing costs combined!
Thankfully, there's a way to save big by selling with Clever. With listing fees of just $3,000 or 1%, you'll save an average of $6,893 on a median-priced home in Florida.
Frequently asked questions
In Florida, expect to pay about 3.22% of your home’s sale price in closing costs — not including realtor fees. At the median home value of $405,489, this equates to around $13,059 at closing. Learn more about what makes up seller closing costs in Florida.
Buyers and sellers each pay for different closing costs to finalize a sale. In Florida, sellers typically pay for title fees, documentary stamp taxes, owner's title insurance expenses, and recording fees at closing. Learn more about who pays closing costs in Florida.