What It Really Costs to Sell in Texas
Texas seller costs typically land between 7% and 9% of the sale price before the mortgage payoff: agent compensation (negotiable, and the biggest line), the owner's title policy (customarily seller-paid in Texas, on a premium schedule set by the Texas Department of Insurance, so it costs the same at every title company), your prorated share of the year's property taxes (Texas pays in arrears, so a December closing owes nearly a full year while a January closing owes almost nothing), and roughly $1,000 to $2,000 of escrow, recording, HOA transfer, and document fees. The two levers you actually control are the commission you negotiate and the closing date's tax proration. Start with a real number for your home's value with a free home valuation, and if you're selling to buy your next home, the affordability calculator shows what your equity plus income supports on the purchase side; the Houston seller guide walks the whole process.
Selling Cost Questions
How much does it cost to sell a house in Texas?
Typical Texas seller costs run roughly 7% to 9% of the sale price: agent compensation (negotiable, commonly 5% to 6% total across both sides), the owner's title policy (customarily seller-paid in Texas, roughly 0.5% to 0.7% of price on the state's promulgated schedule), your prorated share of the year's property taxes through closing day, and around $1,000 to $2,000 in escrow, recording, HOA transfer, and document fees. On a $400,000 Houston home that totals roughly $30,000 to $36,000 before paying off the mortgage.
Who pays the title policy in a Texas home sale?
By custom in most Texas contracts, the seller pays for the owner's title policy, though it is negotiable in the contract. The premium follows a schedule promulgated by the Texas Department of Insurance, so it is the same at every title company; on a $400,000 sale it runs in the low $2,000s. The buyer typically pays for their lender's policy.
How does property tax proration work when selling in Texas?
Texas property taxes are paid in arrears, so at closing the seller credits the buyer for the portion of the year the seller owned the home. Sell on July 1 and you owe roughly half the year's tax bill as a credit. Because Houston-area taxes commonly run $6,000 to $15,000 a year, the closing date meaningfully moves your net; a January closing owes almost nothing, a December closing owes nearly the full year.
Is the agent commission negotiable when selling?
Yes, commissions are always negotiable and there is no set rate. The total typically splits between the listing side and a buyer's agent offer, and since 2024 the buyer-side offer is a separate negotiation rather than a fixed MLS rule. What matters to your net is the total percentage you agree to; the calculator lets you set it to whatever you are quoted.
What happens to my mortgage when I sell?
The title company orders a payoff statement from your lender, good through your closing date with daily interest included, and pays it directly out of your proceeds at closing. Your online balance understates the payoff slightly because interest accrues through the payoff date, and any escrow account balance comes back to you separately as a refund a few weeks after closing.
How can I sell and buy at the same time in Houston?
The common paths are a sale-then-purchase with a leaseback (you sell, then rent your home back briefly while you close the next one), a purchase contingent on your sale, or bridge-style financing that uses your equity before the sale closes. Because InSync handles both the sale and the next mortgage under one roof, the timing, payoff, and qualification numbers all come from one team, which is where most sell-and-buy deals go wrong when split across companies.
Do I pay taxes on the profit from selling my house?
Most primary-residence sellers do not. Federal law excludes up to $250,000 of gain for a single filer and $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly if you owned and lived in the home for two of the last five years. Texas has no state income tax, so there is no state-level tax on the gain either. Investment properties follow different rules; talk to a CPA about your specific situation.
How do I find out what my Houston home is worth?
Automated estimates are a starting point, but Houston values swing block by block with flood history, school zones, and renovation level. A comparative market analysis from an agent who pulls actual closed sales on your street is the number worth planning around. InSync prepares these free, with no listing obligation.