Weekly Real Estate News
Homeowners surveyed by Clever Real Estate reported average expenses of $81,918 to sell a home, up 22% from the $67,245 figure in the company’s 2025 research, according to findings released October 27.
The total is substantially broader than closing costs. Clever’s 2026 study combines expenses such as repairs, real estate commissions, buyer concessions, moving and marketing. The brokerage’s announcement was issued at 8:33 a.m. Eastern.
Expenses Exceed Expectations
Nearly half of respondents, 46%, said their sale cost more than anticipated, compared with 37% in Clever’s 2025 survey. About 24% reported taking on debt to cover selling expenses. Seventy-one percent made repairs or improvements, and 78% offered buyer concessions.
Repairs were the largest individual expense category at a reported average of $27,649, up 32% from the prior study. Closing costs averaged $11,147, while seller concessions averaged $9,914. Clever estimated combined buyer- and seller-agent commissions at $27,448 using a 5.46% commission rate and a typical national sale price.
Four in five respondents reported earning a profit on their sale, averaging $191,304, but 39% said their profit was smaller than expected because of expenses. The findings point to the importance of budgeting for work before listing, transaction expenses and concessions negotiated during a sale.
What the Survey Does—and Does Not—Show
Clever surveyed 1,000 Americans who had sold homes since 2024, with responses collected August 13–16, 2026. The survey reflects respondents’ reported experiences, and some components, including commissions, are estimated rather than directly observed in transaction records. It is not a nationally representative accounting of costs paid at closing. Comparisons with 2025 should also be interpreted cautiously because the research surveyed different respondents.
Homeowners should not assume they will pay $81,918 to sell their own property. Actual costs depend heavily on sale price, location, property condition, commissions, negotiated concessions and moving circumstances.
Sources: Clever Real Estate research; October 27 company announcement.
