Average cost to sell a house in Iowa | Cost to sell calculator | Home selling expenses | Prep costs | Realtor fees | Closing costs | Moving expenses | Tips for saving $$$
Selling a house in Iowa can be expensive. Between repairs, realtor commissions, closing costs, moving fees, and more, your total expenses can easily eat up 12.98% or more of your home’s final sale price.
While you may not be able to avoid some costs completely, there is one way to save big when you sell in Iowa.
Clever Real Estate can help you save thousands on realtor fees. With Clever, you'll work with a full-service agent from a top brokerage, but pay only 1.5% to list your home.
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Average cost to sell a house in Iowa
Your total out-of-pocket costs will vary based on your situation, but you should expect for around 12.98% of your home’s final sale price to go towards selling costs. If you sell your home for $199,388 — the median home value in Iowa — you'll likely spend $25,890.
Here's how much you can expect to pay at different price points based on the average cost to sell a house in Iowa.
Sale price | Cost to sell |
|---|---|
$250,000 | $32,462 |
$250,000 | $32,462 |
$500,000 | $64,923 |
Common expenses for home sellers in Iowa
The chart below breaks down some of the most common expenses for home sellers in Iowa.
Keep in mind these costs are highly variable — particularly the home prep and relocation expenses. Talk to your realtor for a more accurate and tailored estimate of your costs.
Common expenses | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
$200 to $5,253 | |
🏘️ Realtor fees | $9,052 to $13,558 |
$1,360 to $7,326 | |
$343 to $4,004 | |
Total | $10,955 to $30,141 |
While repairs, closings costs, and relocation expenses may be out of your control, you can still save money on realtor fees by either selling for sale by owner (FSBO) or hiring a discount real estate broker.
How much will I make selling my Iowa house?
How much money you pocket after selling your house will depend on several factors, including:
- How you choose to sell your home (realtor, cash buyer, for sale by owner, etc.)
- Which repairs and improvements you do to prep your home for sale
- Whether you make any concessions or offer incentives to buyers
- State and local taxes and closing costs
- Your remaining mortgage balance
If you don't have a mortgage, you'll get the entire sale price minus the costs of selling your home. That means you could take home $173,498 if you sell your home for $199,388 and pay 12.98% to sell it.
But you may owe money on the property or have other unique expenses that impact your overall cost to sell.
Cost of selling a house calculator
Use this cost of selling a house calculator to get a better idea of how much you'll have to spend to sell your home — and how much you'll take home after!
Home selling costs in Iowa: An in-depth breakdown
🚨 Disclaimer: We’ve compiled an overview of some of the most common home selling costs in Iowa. This guide is not 100% comprehensive, and actual costs will vary from situation to situation. Talk to your real estate agent and lender for the most accurate sense of how much it will cost to sell your home.
Preparing your home for sale: Varies
Unless you’re planning to sell your Iowa house as is or to a cash buyer, you’ll need to spend some money to get your home market-ready to attract qualified buyers.
At minimum, you’ll want to invest in some basic pre-listing improvements to maximize your home value. The table below breaks down some of the most common professional pre-listing expenses. And even if you decide to go the DIY route, remember to budget a few hundred dollars for supplies.
Home prep expense | Average project cost |
|---|---|
Home staging | $95 |
Cleaning service | $153 |
Handyman | $54 per hour |
Interior repaint | $1,470 |
Exterior repaint | $2,851 |
Photography | $257 |
» LEARN MORE: What home improvements to make before selling
Realtor fees in Iowa: 5.66%
Realtor fees in Iowa | % of sale price | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Listing commission | 2.96% | $5,902 |
Buyer’s agent commission | 2.70% | $5,383 |
Total | 5.66% | $11,285 |
Realtor fees are one of the biggest costs for selling a house in Iowa. In a standard real estate transaction — one involving two traditional, full-price agents — you will likely be on the hook for covering the full commission fee for both agents.
The average real estate commission in Iowa is between 4.54% and 6.80% of the home’s final selling price and is typically split between the two agents handling the sale.
Based on the median home value in Iowa, that comes to roughly $11,285.
Closing costs: 2.68%
Common closing costs in Iowa | Estimated cost | Typical % of sale price |
|---|---|---|
Title insurance (owner's policy) | $625 | 0.31% |
Title insurance (lender's policy) | Typically paid by buyer | N/A |
Title service fees | $578 | 0.29% |
Transfer tax | Typically paid by buyer | 0.16% |
Recording fees | $17 | 0.01% |
Attorney fees (optional) | $247 per hour | N/A |
Buyer incentives | $3,988 | 2% |
Total | $5,348 | 2.68% |
Closing costs are a blanket term for the various fees and expenses (not including realtor commission) paid at the close of a real estate transaction.
Expect to pay roughly 2.68% of your home’s final sale price at closing. Based on the average home value in Iowa of $199,388, that translates to $5,348.
Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to negotiate for the buyer to pay some of them. However, it's just as common for buyers to ask sellers to pay their closing costs to seal the deal.
» READ: How much are seller closing costs in Iowa?
Don't forget property taxes
At closing, you'll also pay prorated property taxes. The total amount will depend on when you sell your home and where you live in Iowa. The overall average rate for property taxes in Iowa is #N/A, however it varies greatly across the state. For example, in Dickinson County, the property tax rate is 1.01%, but in Polk County, it's 1.97%.
Moving expenses: ~1%
Depending on factors like the distance of your move, how much you want to DIY, and how much stuff you have, these expenses can really add up.
Moreover, don’t forget to account for potential overlap periods. If there’s a gap between when you move out of your current home and close on your new one, you may need to pay for a storage space and/or temporary housing. Or you may have to pay carrying costs (e.g., utilities, HOA fees, property taxes, etc.) on two properties at once.
Common relocation expenses | Cost |
|---|---|
Movers | $225 per hour |
Overlap and carrying costs | $49 per day |
How to avoid losing money on your Iowa home sale
Whether you’re selling a single family home in Des Moines, a student-friendly condo in Iowa City, or a quaint home in the corn fields near Mason City, this is how to maximize your profits from your Iowa home sale!
1. List with a low commission real estate agent
Realtor commission fees are a huge expense for Iowa home sellers, often making up a large portion of your total selling costs. Thankfully, finding a way to save on commission is one of the best ways to make more money when you sell your home!
You can negotiate commission rates on your own, but the easiest option is to find a low commission real estate agent through an agent-matching company like Clever.
» LEARN MORE: Ways to save money when selling your house
2. Negotiate like a pro
Negotiating is a delicate balance between getting as much money as you can for your home and keeping the buyer happy and interested.
Buyers may request you pay for repairs, closing costs, or a home warranty. These fees can add up quickly and eat into your profits if you're not careful.
» READ: How to successfully sell your home
3. Time your sale to get top dollar for your Iowa home
In Iowa, the best month to sell in is in June, as demand is typically healthy and the market is more active than usual. Based on past data, selling in this month can net you over 15% more in profits, and homes sell 10 days faster than average. Meanwhile, the worst time to sell is during the winter, with January being the slowest month and October the least profitable.
The biggest reason for this trend is the weather — in colder months, buyers are more reluctant to go out, and with the holidays, budgets are typically tighter. During the summer, people have more time to go out and house hunt. Also, June in particular is when families are looking for homes to settle into before the school year starts.
As you get ready to sell, time your repairs and your listing so you can hit the ground running when summer rolls in. Also try highlighting your area’s school districts and family-friendly amenities to make your listing stand out.
Take note, however, that local trends typically vary from the overall state. To stay updated, work with an experienced realtor. Besides providing you with advice, they can make the sales process much easier while ensuring you get the most out of the transaction.
» MORE: When is the best time to sell a house in Iowa?
Methodology
Our data on the costs to sell a home are compiled from the following sources:
- Home values (Zillow, August 31, 2022)
- Average real estate commissions (Clever Real Estate, survey of 630 agents)
- Service costs like attorney fees, photography, movers, title insurance, etc. were compiled from over 8,500 professional service quotes
- Tax rates are based on publicly available information
FAQs about costs to sell in Iowa
Realtor fees will be your biggest selling expense in Iowa making up 44% of your total selling costs! Paying less in realtor commissions is the best way to save money when you sell your home. You could try to sell your home without a realtor, but you take on a lot more risk. Your best option is to work with a low commission realtor who will give you the same level of service as a traditional agent for a fraction of the cost. Find the best low commission companies here
You should expect to pay about 2.68% of your home's final sale price in closing costs, plus 5.66% in realtor fees when you sell a house in Iowa. However, your actual closing costs will vary depending on your situation and working with a local realtor can help you better estimate your costs.