How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House in Texas?
If you're thinking about selling your home in Texas, you're probably wondering what you'll actually walk away with after everyone takes their cut. The short answer: expect to pay 8% to 10% of your sale price in total selling costs. On a $350,000 home, that's $28,000 to $35,000.
But that range is wide because every sale is different. Let me break down every cost line by line so you can see exactly where your money goes.
The Complete Cost Breakdown
Here's what selling a $350,000 home in Texas actually costs in 2026. I've used real numbers from closings I've handled in the Dallas area.
| Cost | Amount | % of Sale |
|---|---|---|
| Listing agent commission Your agent's fee for marketing, showings, negotiation | $8,750 - $10,500 | 2.5 - 3% |
| Buyer's agent compensation Offered to attract buyer agents (optional post-NAR settlement) | $8,750 - $10,500 | 2.5 - 3% |
| Title insurance (owner's policy) In Texas, the seller customarily pays this | $2,275 | 0.65% |
| Escrow / title company fees Settlement, document prep, wire fees | $750 - $1,200 | 0.2 - 0.3% |
| Prorated property taxes Your share through closing date (Texas has no income tax but high property tax) | $1,500 - $4,000 | varies |
| Repairs / concessions Negotiated after inspection (can be $0 if selling as-is) | $0 - $8,000 | 0 - 2.3% |
| Home prep (staging, cleaning, paint) First impressions drive price; often pays for itself | $1,500 - $5,000 | 0.4 - 1.4% |
| Survey (if required) Lender may require; sometimes split with buyer | $400 - $600 | 0.1 - 0.2% |
| HOA transfer / resale certificate Only if you're in an HOA | $150 - $500 | varies |
| Home warranty (buyer) Common negotiation item, not required | $400 - $650 | 0.1 - 0.2% |
| Total Selling Costs | $24,475 - $41,250 | 7 - 11.8% |
| You Walk Away With | $308,750 - $325,525 | 88 - 93% |
Texas-specific note: Unlike most states, Texas sellers customarily pay for the owner's title insurance policy. This is a state-regulated rate (set by the Texas Department of Insurance), so it doesn't vary between title companies. On a $350,000 sale, it's $2,275. This is non-negotiable in most DFW transactions.
The Biggest Cost: Agent Commissions
Agent commissions are by far the largest selling cost, typically 5% to 6% of the sale price split between your listing agent and the buyer's agent. After the NAR settlement in 2024, buyer agent compensation is no longer required through the MLS. In practice though, most Dallas sellers still offer it because homes without buyer agent compensation get fewer showings.
The average total commission across DFW in 2026 is around 5.44%. That's barely moved from pre-settlement levels. On a $350,000 home, that's roughly $19,000.
Can you negotiate commissions? Yes, and you should have that conversation with your agent. But understand the tradeoff: a lower commission might mean less marketing, fewer showings, or a longer time on market. The question isn't what percentage you pay; it's what you net after everything.
Costs Most Sellers Don't See Coming
Carrying costs while your home is on the market
This is the hidden cost that surprises people the most. While your home sits on the market, you're still paying your mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities, and HOA fees. In DFW, the average home takes 35 to 55 days to sell. At $1,500 per month in carrying costs, that's $1,750 to $2,750 that doesn't show up on the closing statement but absolutely comes out of your pocket.
Prorated property taxes
Texas has some of the highest property tax rates in the country (no state income tax, but property taxes average 1.8% to 2.2% of assessed value in Dallas County). You'll owe your share through the closing date. If you close in April, you owe 4 months of taxes. If you close in October, you owe 10 months. On a $350,000 home with a 2% tax rate, that's $583 per month.
Repair negotiations after inspection
Even if your home is in great shape, buyers in 2026 are asking for more concessions than they were during the pandemic frenzy. Budget $2,000 to $5,000 for inspection-related repairs or credits. The most common items in DFW: HVAC servicing, foundation cracks (very common in North Texas clay soil), roof repairs, and plumbing issues.
The Three Paths and What Each Actually Costs
Most sellers assume listing with an agent is the only option. It's not. Here's what each path actually costs on a $350,000 home:
| Path | Total Costs | You Keep | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| List with an agent | $28,000 - $35,000 | $315,000 - $322,000 | 60-90 days |
| Sell FSBO | $12,000 - $20,000 | $330,000 - $338,000 | 90-180 days |
| Cash offer (direct sale) | $0 - $2,000 | $297,500 - $322,000 | 10-14 days |
The FSBO path looks cheaper on paper, but homes sold without an agent typically sell for 5.5% to 6% less than agent-listed homes according to NAR data. That discount often eats the commission savings entirely.
The cash offer path nets less per dollar, but when you factor in zero carrying costs, zero repair concessions, zero staging, and closing in 10 days instead of 90, the gap shrinks significantly. For some situations (inherited property, relocation deadline, deferred maintenance) the cash path actually nets more.
Want to see your actual numbers?
I'll pull recent comparable sales for your specific property and show you what you'd net all three ways. Real MLS data, not Zillow estimates.
Get My Free Home Value Report →How to Reduce Your Selling Costs
You can't eliminate selling costs entirely, but you can minimize them. A few things I've seen work for sellers I've worked with in Dallas:
Price it right from day one. Overpriced homes sit on the market, rack up carrying costs, and eventually sell for less than they would have if priced correctly. A good comp analysis (not a Zillow estimate) is worth more than any staging investment.
Skip the repairs that don't pay back. Not every repair is worth doing before listing. A full kitchen remodel rarely returns 100% of its cost. But fresh paint, clean landscaping, and fixing obvious deferred maintenance almost always pay for themselves in a higher sale price.
Understand the tax situation. Texas has no state income tax, which means no state capital gains tax. Federal capital gains exclusion lets you keep up to $250,000 in profit ($500,000 married filing jointly) tax-free if you've lived in the home at least 2 of the last 5 years. For most Texas homeowners selling a primary residence, you'll owe zero in capital gains tax.
Compare all three paths. The cheapest option isn't always the one with the lowest commission. It's the one where you walk away with the most money in your pocket, on the timeline that works for your life. That's why I show every seller a side-by-side comparison: listing, FSBO, and cash offer. You can request yours here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Texas sellers typically pay 1.5% to 2.5% of the sale price in closing costs, not including agent commissions. On a $350,000 home, that's roughly $5,250 to $8,750. The largest component is title insurance, which in Texas the seller customarily pays.
Since the NAR settlement in 2024, seller-paid buyer agent commissions are no longer mandatory. However, most Texas sellers still offer 2.5% to 3% to buyer's agents because homes without buyer compensation tend to attract fewer showings. The average total commission in DFW is still around 5.44%.
Texas has no state income tax, so no state capital gains. Federal capital gains exclusion lets you keep up to $250,000 in profit ($500,000 married) tax-free on a primary residence you've lived in 2+ of the last 5 years. Most Texas homeowners selling their primary home owe zero capital gains tax.
It depends on your timeline. FSBO eliminates listing agent commission but homes typically sell for less. Cash sales eliminate all commissions and close in 10 days, but the offer is 85-92% of market value. For most sellers, listing with an agent still nets the most because MLS exposure produces higher sale prices. Get a side-by-side comparison for your specific property.
Looking for home values in specific DFW cities? See our local market pages for Cedar Hill, Plano, Frisco, Garland, Lakewood, McKinney, and all DFW areas.