Published May 25, 2026

What It Actually Costs to Sell a Home in Palm Beach County

Written by Lisa Treu

What It Actually Costs to Sell a Home in Palm Beach County

What does it cost to sell a home in Palm Beach County?

Selling a home in Palm Beach County typically costs between 7% and 9% of the sale price when you include real estate commissions, documentary stamp tax ($0.70 per $100 of sale price), owner's title insurance, settlement fees, and prorated property taxes. On a $900,000 home, that's $63,000 to $81,000 in closing costs before your mortgage payoff. Knowing the exact breakdown before you list lets you plan around the actual number, not a guess.

The most common surprise I see with sellers isn't the market — it's the math.

Someone calls me with a $1.2 million home, a $400,000 mortgage balance, and the assumption that they'll walk away with $800,000. By the time we run through the actual closing costs, the real number is closer to $715,000–$725,000. That gap doesn't change whether they want to sell — but it changes what they plan to do next.

Here's the complete breakdown.

Your Closing Costs, Line by Line

Documentary Stamp Tax (Doc Stamps) on the Deed

Seller pays $0.70 per $100 of sale price — a state tax with no county add-on in Palm Beach County.

$500,000 sale: $3,500
$750,000 sale: $5,250
$1,000,000 sale: $7,000
$1,500,000 sale: $10,500
$2,000,000 sale: $14,000

Owner's Title Insurance

In Palm Beach County and Martin County, the seller customarily pays the owner's title insurance. In Broward County, the buyer pays. State-regulated rates: $5.75/$1,000 on the first $100,000; $5.00/$1,000 to $1,000,000; $2.50/$1,000 above $1,000,000. On a $900,000 home: ~$4,575. On $1.5M: ~$6,325.

Real Estate Commissions

Commissions are negotiable — full stop. Since the NAR settlement took effect in mid-2024, the listing side and buyer's agent side are now structured and negotiated separately.

The listing (marketing) commission — what you pay your agent to price, market, and sell the home — typically ranges from 2.5% to 4.5% depending on marketing scope, property type, and market conditions.

The buyer's agent commission typically runs 2.5% to 3%+. Whether you offer this as the seller depends on the market. In a strong seller's market, buyers may need to cover their own agent's commission. In a buyer's market, sellers are typically willing to offer buyer's agent compensation to attract competitive offers. Your agent should help you think through what makes sense.

Transaction Fee

Most brokerages charge a transaction or compliance fee — separate from the commission — typically $500 to $1,000. Confirm this is in your listing agreement before you sign.

Settlement and Title Company Fees

Title search, exam, document preparation, and wire fees. Typically $500–$1,500 for a standard residential closing in Palm Beach County.

Prorations

Property taxes (paid in arrears in Florida) and HOA dues are prorated at closing — you credit the buyer for the portion of the year you owned the home. A mid-year closing on a home with $14,000 in annual property taxes could mean a $7,000+ credit to the buyer. These adjustments directly reduce your net proceeds and belong in your planning numbers before you finalize your plans.

HOA Estoppel Fee

Sellers typically pay the HOA estoppel fee ($100–$400) to certify dues status and any pending assessments — required before closing on any HOA property.

What You'll Actually Net: Real Numbers at Three Price Points

The tables below use a listing commission of 3% and buyer's agent commission of 2.5% as illustrative examples. Prorations (property taxes, HOA dues) are not included and will further adjust your final proceeds based on your closing date.

$750,000 Sale

Cost	Amount
Doc stamps on deed	$5,250
Owner's title insurance	~$3,825
Listing commission (example: 3%)	$22,500
Buyer's agent commission (example: 2.5%)	$18,750
Transaction fee	$750
Settlement/title fees	$1,000
HOA estoppel	$200
Total estimated closing costs	~$52,275

$1,200,000 Sale

Cost	Amount
Doc stamps on deed	$8,400
Owner's title insurance	~$5,575
Listing commission (example: 3%)	$36,000
Buyer's agent commission (example: 2.5%)	$30,000
Transaction fee	$750
Settlement/title fees	$1,200
HOA estoppel	$200
Total estimated closing costs	~$82,125

$2,000,000 Sale

Cost	Amount
Doc stamps on deed	$14,000
Owner's title insurance	~$8,075
Listing commission (example: 3%)	$60,000
Buyer's agent commission (example: 2.5%)	$50,000
Transaction fee	$750
Settlement/title fees	$1,500
HOA estoppel	$200
Total estimated closing costs	~$134,525

These are estimates using illustrative commission figures. Your real numbers depend on your commission structure, HOA, and closing date. Prorations will further adjust your proceeds.

The only way to know your actual net is a full net sheet prepared specifically for your property — that's the first thing I put together for every seller before we discuss pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who pays closing costs when selling a home in Palm Beach County?

In Palm Beach County, sellers customarily pay the documentary stamp tax on the deed ($0.70 per $100 of sale price), the owner's title insurance policy, title company settlement fees, and real estate commissions. Buyers typically pay the intangible tax and doc stamps on their mortgage note, lender fees, and their own title search costs. These are customs, not laws.

How much are doc stamps when selling a home in Florida?

Documentary stamp tax on the deed is $0.70 per $100 of the sale price statewide (except Miami-Dade). In Palm Beach County, a $1,000,000 sale generates $7,000 in doc stamps, paid by the seller at closing.

Does the seller pay title insurance in Palm Beach County?

Yes — in Palm Beach County and Martin County, it's customary for the seller to pay the owner's title insurance premium. In Broward County, the buyer typically pays. Florida title insurance rates are state-regulated — county custom determines who pays.

What percentage of the sale price goes to closing costs when selling in Palm Beach County?

Closing costs typically total 7–9% of the sale price when commissions are included, or 2–3% for costs alone. The largest single cost is almost always the commission, followed by owner's title insurance and documentary stamp tax.

What is an HOA estoppel and do I have to pay it?

An HOA estoppel certifies the current status of dues, outstanding balances, special assessments, and pending violations. Sellers typically pay the estoppel fee in Palm Beach County ($100–$400 depending on the association).

Knowing your net before you list is the difference between pricing with confidence and repricing after a slow first month. If you're thinking about selling in Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Delray Beach, Wellington, or anywhere in Palm Beach County, the first step is a net sheet that shows your actual proceeds. Connect with the Treu Group at treugroup.com to get started.

About Lisa Treu

Lisa Treu is the CEO of Treu Group Real Estate and has been helping buyers and sellers in Palm Beach County since 1989, with a focus on Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, and Delray Beach. She specializes in luxury homes, waterfront properties, new construction, and residential resale, and her team has earned 107 Google reviews, 265 Zillow team reviews, 79 Realtor.com reviews, and 21 Yelp reviews.