What It Really Costs to Sell a Home in Los Angeles County (2025 Edition)

by Ian Ferguson

In Los Angeles County, the range of total selling costs (commission + closing costs + prep) can vary significantly depending on neighborhood, home price, condition, and market speed. Some local sources suggest that the sum of what sellers pay, including all fees and concessions, can run between 5% and 8% of the final sale price. That includes many of the components we’ll unpack below.

A useful benchmark in the market is that real estate commissions themselves, absent other costs, are often between 5% and 6% in LA County. Many agents confirm that typical listings in L.A. still rely on this range.

So when you combine that with closing costs, repair budgets, staging, payoff of your mortgage, and moving expenses, it’s not uncommon for sellers to see 7% to 9% of the sale price as the “all in” cost in many transactions.

1. Agent Commissions: What to Expect in Los Angeles

Commissions are traditionally the biggest piece of the pie but they’ve become more negotiable and transparent post-NAR settlement.

What the Data Shows in L.A.

In Los Angeles, it remains common for the combined listing + buyer-agent commission to land in the 5% to 6% range.
Many listing agents charge around 2.65%, and sellers often offer ~2.41% in buyer agent concessions.
Some sources note that premium or full-service agents in LA may push toward 6.5%, especially for high-end homes.
In California broadly, the average commission is around 5.14% (total of both agents) according to a recent survey.

The NAR Settlement and What Changed (and Didn’t)

In 2024, the National Association of Realtors agreed to reforms aimed at transparency and competition. But for most L.A. sellers, many things remain “business as usual,” though with a bit more paperwork.

One major change: buyer agents now must sign an agreement with their clients ahead of shopping, clearly stating their compensation terms.
Also, listings no longer must display the buyer agent commission in MLS. This gives sellers more flexibility to negotiate or not offer it.
Despite these changes, average commissions haven’t dropped meaningfully. In fact, some markets have seen slight upticks even in early 2025.
The practical implication: sellers can still choose to offer buyer-agent compensation as a “concession” if they feel it helps their listing, but it’s no longer an automatic requirement.

So, while the mechanics and disclosures have shifted, the commission ballpark in L.A. hasn’t suddenly collapsed. The difference is mainly more clarity and negotiation flexibility, not a disadvantage for sellers.

2. Closing Costs & Transaction Fees

Once commissions are accounted for, the next chunk of cost falls under closing and escrow fees: paperwork, taxes, title, and pro-rated items.

What Sellers in L.A. Generally Pay

A local estimate suggests that seller closing costs in LA often run between 5% and 8% of the sale price (including commission).
In many markets, non-commission closing costs alone (title, transfer taxes, recordation, escrow fees, prorated property taxes) may add 1% to 3% of the sale price.
Some sources even advise budgeting 8% to 10% overall (commission + closing) for sellers in many states.

Components of Closing Costs

These often include:

Title insurance and escrow processing
Transfer taxes and documentary stamps (where applicable)
Recording and notary fees
Prorated property taxes or HOA dues
Any special assessments or unpaid bills attached to the property
Attorney or notary fees if required locally

Because California often pushes many of the administrative costs onto sellers (including title insurance, etc.), sellers here tend to see higher non-commission closing expenses than in some other states.

3. Repairs, Staging, & Pre-Listing Preparation

Before listing, most homes require some level of preparation. That might mean painting, minor repairs, landscaping, cleaning, staging, and inspection repairs. Though optional, these often pay dividends in sale price and speed.

Agents near you often report that sellers spend tens of thousands on cosmetic fixes, staging, and curb appeal.
Staging estimates vary widely: for a full home it might cost $4,000 to $10,000+, depending on scale.
Buyers expect move-in readiness, especially in competitive Los Angeles markets with high standards.
Sometimes, sellers bring in a pre-listing inspection and fix major issues ahead of time to reduce buyer demands or renegotiation later.

4. Moving, Storage & Overlap Expenses

Selling doesn’t end when escrow closes. You’ll have costs to physically leave:

Hiring movers or truck rentals
Packing materials, labor
Temporary storage if your move doesn’t align perfectly with closing
Utility disconnects, final cleaning, landscape wrap-up
Interim housing or overlap (if your new home isn’t ready yet)

These can range from modest to significant, depending on scale and distance. Smart sellers factor them in to avoid unpleasant surprises.

5. Mortgage Payoff & Liens

If you have a mortgage on the property:

You’ll need to pay off the remaining principal balance
Any accrued interest, per diem interest through the closing date
If your loan includes a prepayment penalty, you’ll handle that (rare, but possible)
Outstanding liens, judgments, or HOA back fees must be cleared before title can pass

Often your escrow/title team will procure a payoff demand statement a day or two before closing so the final amount is accurate.

6. The Impact of Seller Concessions in L.A.

One trend I’m seeing is that seller concessions (incentives to help buyers) are becoming widespread in L.A. As of 2025 Q1, 56.1% of L.A. home sales included some form of seller incentive.

This might include:

Paying a portion of the buyer’s closing costs
Offering a rate buydown
Repair credits
Temporary occupancy / rent-back offers

Concessions are especially common in neighborhoods where competition is cooling or inventory is rising. In those areas, they help attract more buyer attention while preserving price integrity.

When concessions are common, sellers must build that expectation into their net pricing. But they also allow more flexibility to close deals rather than sit unsold.

Net Proceeds: What You Can Expect (Example for L.A.)

Let’s walk through a hypothetical example using realistic data for Los Angeles County:

Suppose your home sells for $1,200,000.

Commission (5.5%) = $66,000
Closing / transaction & admin costs (2%) = $24,000
Pre-listing repairs / staging = $8,000
Moving / logistics = $3,000
Mortgage payoff + liens = (assume $700,000)

Your net (before taxes) might land around $399,000 in your pocket (of course depending on your starting mortgage, repairs, and local costs). In that scenario, your total “cost of sale” (including commission + closing + prep) is about 8.4% of the sale price.

How to Keep More Money in Your Pocket

Here are strategies to reduce what you pay or capture more net proceeds in L.A.:

Negotiate commission — even in L.A., many sellers are able to discuss lower overall rates or reduce buyer-agent incentives.
Choose high-ROI prep work — focus on cosmetic fixes, paint, landscaping, lighting, staging; avoid oversized remodels.
Leverage concessions smartly — offering buyer closing help or buydown instead of price cuts can preserve your asking price.
Time your listing — list when buyer demand is strongest, so you're less pressured to offer big incentives.
Use flat-fee or discount broker options (with trade-offs) — for simpler listings, you may save on commission cost, though you may give up marketing muscle.
Pre-inspect — fix surprises early so buyer negotiations don’t erode your proceeds later.

Understanding your net proceeds when selling in LA

Yes, selling in Los Angeles comes with a meaningful cost. But it’s not a trap; it’s a known equation you can manage. You don’t have to pay blindly. When you understand the levers, commission, concessions, preparation, closing costs, you can make strategic decisions that protect your bottom line.

The 2024 NAR settlement added transparency and negotiation flexibility. It hasn’t upended the fundamentals: commissions remain expected in many deals, concessions are common, and the standard cost ranges hold. What changed is the clarity and accountability built into how those fees are disclosed and agreed.

If you want a custom net proceeds estimate based on your property, location in L.A. County, and condition, let me know, I’d be happy to run numbers with you so you can see your best case vs. worst case scenario.