What Does It Cost to Sell a House in Texas?

Most Texas sellers should plan on roughly 6% to 9% of the sale price in selling costs before their mortgage is paid off. Agent fees are the largest piece. The rest is the owner's title policy, prorated property taxes, HOA paperwork and anything you agree to give the buyer. Texas does not charge a transfer tax.

What are the main costs of selling a house in Texas?

Here is what a seller typically sees on the closing statement, using a $440,000 sale. That is right at the Waxahachie median sale price of $439,999 in August 2026.

Your title company will also charge an escrow fee, and it varies by company, so ask for a quote up front.

How much are agent fees in Texas now?

There is no standard commission in Texas. Every fee is negotiable, and that has always been true. What changed in August 2024 is how the buyer's agent gets paid. Buyers now sign a written agreement with their agent that spells out the fee before they tour homes, and sellers are no longer assumed to cover it.

In practice, most Texas sellers still offer something toward the buyer's agent because it keeps more buyers able to afford the home. A 2026 survey of Texas agents put the average total at about 5.9%, split close to evenly between the two sides. You can offer a percentage, a flat amount, or wait and negotiate it as part of each offer. I walk every seller through all three options before we list.

Who pays for title insurance in Texas?

By custom, the seller pays for the buyer's owner's title policy. It is a checkbox in paragraph 6 of the standard Texas contract, so it can be negotiated, but most buyers in Ellis County expect the seller to cover it.

The price is the same no matter which title company you use because the Texas Department of Insurance sets the rates. Those rates dropped 6.2% on March 1, 2026. For policies between $100,000 and $1 million, the math is $780 plus 0.494% of the amount over $100,000:

How do property taxes work when you sell?

Texas property taxes are paid at the end of the year, so when you sell you give the buyer a credit for the days you owned the home. The buyer then pays the full bill when it comes due.

Say your tax bill is $8,000 for the year and you close on June 30. You would credit the buyer about half, or roughly $4,000. Close in October and it is closer to $6,600. It is not an extra cost, since you would have owed those taxes anyway, but it does come out of your proceeds at closing and it surprises a lot of sellers.

In Waxahachie, the two biggest pieces of the bill are Waxahachie ISD at $1.1545 per $100 of taxable value and the City of Waxahachie at $0.61 per $100. County and other rates are added on top. If your home is in a PID, like many of the newer communities, your annual PID assessment is prorated the same way.

What do HOAs charge when you sell?

If your neighborhood has an HOA, the buyer is entitled to a resale certificate. Texas law caps the charge for that at $375, with up to $75 more if it needs to be updated before closing. Who pays is negotiable, but in our area it usually lands on the seller. Some associations also charge a transfer fee, so ask your management company early. North Grove, Saddlebrook, Sunrise at Garden Valley and most of the newer Waxahachie communities all have HOAs.

What about repairs and buyer requests?

This is the part of the budget you control the most. After the inspection, buyers often ask for repairs or a credit toward their closing costs. A roof at the end of its life, foundation movement and old HVAC systems are the big ones in Ellis County.

I own a metal roofing and general contracting company, so I can usually tell you before we list what an inspector is going to flag and about what it costs to fix. Sometimes a $1,500 repair up front protects $10,000 in negotiating room. Sometimes the right answer is to price it in and leave it alone.

Will I owe taxes on the profit?

Most homeowners do not. If you owned and lived in the home as your main residence for at least two of the last five years, the IRS lets you exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or $500,000 if you are married and file jointly. Rental and inherited homes work differently, so talk to your tax preparer before you list.

Frequently asked questions

How much will I net from selling my house in Texas?

Take your sale price, subtract about 6% to 9% for selling costs, then subtract your mortgage payoff. On a $440,000 sale with a $250,000 payoff, that leaves somewhere around $150,000 to $163,000. A net sheet for your address will tighten that range.

Does Texas have a transfer tax when you sell a home?

No. Texas does not charge a state transfer tax on real estate sales, which saves sellers thousands compared with many other states.

Can I sell my house in Texas without paying the buyer's agent?

Yes. You are not required to offer anything. Just know that many buyers will then ask for it in their offer or ask for a lower price, so it is worth comparing the net both ways.

Find out what you would walk away with

Every home is different, and a quick conversation beats a rule of thumb. Start with a free home value estimate, or contact me and I will put together a net sheet for your address showing every cost and your bottom line.

Dave Budny, Broker Associate, INC Realty
Milestone Real Estate Group, Waxahachie, TX

More for sellers: Sell your home in Ellis County, the Ellis County market snapshot and Waxahachie homes and market trends.