The short answer: selling a California home typically costs several percent of the sale price, made up of agent commission (negotiable), county and sometimes city transfer taxes, title and escrow fees, and a handful of smaller items. Subtract those from your sale price and you get your net — the number that actually matters.
The main line items
- Agent commission. Usually the largest cost. Negotiable, especially since the 2024 commission-practice changes — agree your rate up front.
- County transfer tax. California’s documentary transfer tax is modest at the county level (about $1.10 per $1,000 of value).
- City transfer tax. Some cities add their own on higher-value sales — San Jose is one. This varies a lot by city, so it’s worth confirming for your specific address.
- Title insurance. Protects the buyer’s title; in many California transactions the seller customarily covers the owner’s policy (this is negotiable and regional).
- Escrow fees. The neutral third party that handles the closing; fees are commonly split.
- Smaller items. Recording fees, an HOA transfer/document fee if applicable, any agreed credits or repairs, and prorated property taxes.
(Exact splits and city taxes vary — a certified net sheet pins down your specific numbers.)
Why “customary” isn’t the same as “required”
A lot of what determines who pays which fee — the owner’s title policy, escrow fee splits, and so on — is regional custom rather than law. In practice, that means these items are negotiable between buyer and seller as part of the offer, and what’s “customary” in Santa Clara County can differ slightly from what’s customary in Alameda County. This is one more reason a generic percentage estimate is only a starting point, and why it’s worth confirming the actual split in writing before you’re deep into escrow.
How proration works
Property taxes and any HOA dues are typically prorated as of the closing date — you pay for the days you owned the home during the current tax or billing period, and the buyer picks up the rest. If you’ve recently had a supplemental tax bill from a remodel or a change in ownership, make sure your escrow officer has the current figures, since an outdated bill can throw off the proration and delay closing.
How this fits your bottom line
Closing costs are one piece of the gap between sale price and take-home. See the whole calculation in Seller Net Proceeds Explained. And remember these costs are separate from taxes on your gain — if you’ve owned a while, review Capital Gains on Home Sale California too.
For the full selling process, start at How to Sell Your Home in Silicon Valley. Want an exact, itemized net sheet for your city? Message Laxmi directly on WhatsApp.
Local sources (transfer tax & recording): Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder (Milpitas, San Jose, Santa Clara) · Alameda County Clerk-Recorder (Fremont, Newark, Union City)
Curious how your property tax base could change? Try the Prop 19 Property Tax Calculator.
Laxmi Top Realtor · Intero Real Estate · DRE #02047105. Equal Housing Opportunity. Figures are general estimates and customary practices vary by region and transaction; not legal or tax advice.