Average cost to sell a house in Montana | Cost to sell calculator | Home selling expenses | Prep costs | Realtor fees | Closing costs | Moving expenses | Tips for saving $$$
Selling a house in Montana can be expensive. Between repairs, realtor commissions, closing costs, moving fees, and more, your total expenses can easily eat up 10.82% 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 Montana.
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% or $3,000 to list your home. For a typical home in Montana, that could save you $7,671 and reduce your cost to sell by over 16%!
» SAVE: List your home for 1% or $3,000 today!
Average cost to sell a house in Montana
Your total out-of-pocket costs will vary based on your situation, but you should expect for around 10.82% of your home’s final sale price to go towards selling costs. If you sell your home for $456,588 — the median home value in Montana — you'll likely spend $49,389.
Here's how much you can expect to pay at different price points based on the average cost to sell a house in Montana.
Sale price | Cost to sell |
|---|---|
$500,000 | $54,085 |
$750,000 | $81,127 |
$1,000,000 | $108,169 |
Common expenses for home sellers in Montana
The chart below breaks down some of the most common expenses for home sellers in Montana.
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 $10,538 | |
🏘️ Realtor fees | $21,003 to $27,943 |
$1,133 to $12,243 | |
$494 to $4,112 | |
Total | $22,830 to $54,837 |
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 Montana 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 $407,199 if you sell your home for $456,588 and pay 10.82% 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 Montana: An in-depth breakdown
🚨 Disclaimer: We’ve compiled an overview of some of the most common home selling costs in Montana. 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 Montana 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 | $2,802 |
Cleaning service | $151 |
Handyman | $77 per hour |
Interior repaint | $2,634 |
Exterior repaint | $4,138 |
Photography | $194 |
» LEARN MORE: What home improvements to make before selling
Realtor fees in Montana: 5.36%
Realtor fees in Montana | % of sale price | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Listing commission | 2.68% | $12,237 |
Buyer’s agent commission | 2.68% | $12,237 |
Total | 5.36% | $24,473 |
Realtor fees are one of the biggest costs for selling a house in Montana. 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 Montana is between 4.60% and 6.12% 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 Montana, that comes to roughly $24,473.
Closing costs: 2.25%
Common closing costs in Montana | Estimated cost | Typical % of sale price |
|---|---|---|
Title insurance (owner's policy) | $554 | 0.12% |
Title insurance (lender's policy) | $68 | 0.01% |
Title service fees | $461 | 0.10% |
Transfer tax | N/A | No transfer tax in Montana |
Recording fees | $50 | 0.01% |
Attorney fees (optional) | $247 per hour | N/A |
Buyer incentives | $9,132 | 2% |
Total | $10,265 | 2.25% |
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 2.25% of your home’s final sale price at closing. Based on the average home value in Montana of $456,588, that translates to $10,265.
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 Montana?
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 Montana. The overall average rate for property taxes in Montana is 0.83%, however it varies greatly across the state. For example, in Fallon, the property tax rate is 0.48%, but in Blaine, it's 1.57%.
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 | $117 per hour |
Overlap and carrying costs | $71 per day |
How to avoid losing money on your Montana home sale
Whether you’re selling a duplex in Missoula, a single family home in Butte, or a ranch house in Kalispell, these tips will help you take home the most money from your Montana home sale!
1. List with a low commission real estate agent
Realtor commission fees are a huge expense for Montana 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 Montana home
If you want to sell for top dollar in Montana, then shoot for June. Based on historical data, listing prices shoot up during this time, going as high as 15% over the annual average. It's also when turnaround times are fastest, with homes selling in about half the time it would take in other months.
One reason for this active market is because of pent up demand after winter, as the season’s holiday obligations and cold weather deter a lot of people from going out or making huge purchases. This demand then blows up in June, when the weather is nice and people have more time to attend open houses and shop for a home. It’s the perfect time for families to find a home to settle into before the school year starts again.
If you plan on selling in this peak market period, then work with a realtor — they can help you find a competitive price and create a strong marketing strategy. You can also highlight nearby school districts in your listing, as this is something many buyers are concerned about.
Take note trends vary wildly in local markets, so make sure to consult with a local expert before deciding on anything. They'll know the ins and outs of your particular market and the best way forward.
» MORE: When is the best time to sell a house in Montana?
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 Montana
Realtor fees will be your biggest selling expense in Montana making up 50% 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 2.25% of your home's final sale price in closing costs, plus 5.36% in realtor fees when you sell a house in Montana. However, your actual closing costs will vary depending on your situation and working with a local realtor can help you better estimate your costs.