The hidden cost of selling a home is catching sellers off guard
The data carries direct implications for mortgage brokers, whose clients rely on sale proceeds to fund down payments on their next purchase.
Nearly one in four sellers (24%) went into debt covering selling costs. Some 46% said the transaction exceeded their budget, up from 37% in 2025.
Had they known the true cost upfront, 69% of recent sellers said they would have made different decisions, and believe they could have netted $34,139 more.
Repairs and closing costs drive the surge
Repairs were the single largest expense, averaging $27,649, up 32% year-over-year, among the 71% of sellers who made pre-sale improvements.
Closing costs surged 36% to $11,147, from $8,217 in 2025, and sellers ranked them as both the most confusing and most unexpectedly expensive part of the process.
