Ask most homeowners what it costs to sell a house and they’ll say “6% commission.” The real number is much bigger — and it hides in repairs, concessions, closing costs, and months of holding expenses that quietly eat into your check. Before you list, sign, or accept any offer, you deserve to see the full math.
This guide breaks down every cost of a traditional Texas home sale, shows you the side-by-side against a direct cash sale, and gives you a simple way to calculate what you’d actually walk away with either way.
1. Agent commissions — 5–6%. On a $300,000 home, that’s $15,000–$18,000 off the top, split between the listing and buyer’s agents.
2. Pre-listing repairs and prep — $5,000–$25,000+. Paint, flooring, roof repairs, foundation work, landscaping, staging. Agents ask for this work because listings in poor condition sit on the market or get lowballed.
3. Inspection repair credits — $2,000–$10,000. After the buyer’s inspection, expect a repair request list. You either fix it, credit it, or risk the deal collapsing.
4. Seller-paid closing costs — 1–3%. Title fees, escrow, prorated taxes, and increasingly, buyer concessions to help their financing work.
5. Holding costs while you wait — $1,500–$3,000/month. Mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities, and lawn care keep running for every month the house sits.
6. Financing fall-throughs — the do-over cost. Roughly 1 in 20 deals dies late from lender denial or a low appraisal. When it happens, you relist and pay holding costs all over again.
A typical Texas listing takes 30–60 days to go under contract and another 30–45 to close. That’s 3–4 months minimum — 6 or more if the first deal falls through. At $2,000/month in holding costs, “waiting for a better price” can quietly cost $6,000–$12,000 before you ever reach the closing table.
If you’re carrying two mortgages, facing a foreclosure date, or maintaining an inherited house from out of town, time isn’t just money — it’s stress with a monthly invoice.
Example: a $300,000 market-value home that needs moderate repairs.
Traditional Listing
Cash Sale (Money Fast 4 Houses)
Sale price
$300,000
Fair as-is offer
Commissions
−$18,000
$0
Repairs & prep
−$15,000
$0 (sold as-is)
Inspection credits
−$5,000
$0
Closing costs
−$6,000
$0 (we pay them)
Holding costs (4 months)
−$8,000
~$0 (7–14 day close)
Estimated net
~$248,000
Offer = your net
Timeline
3–6 months
7–14 days
Certainty
Financing can fail
Guaranteed close
The gap between “sale price” and “money in your pocket” is the number that matters. Sometimes listing still nets more — a professional buyer will tell you honestly when it does.
Zillow estimates assume market-ready condition and don’t subtract commissions, repairs, closing costs, or months of holding expenses. A cash offer reflects your home’s current condition with all of those costs already removed — the offer is your net.
With a reputable buyer, yes. Money Fast 4 Houses charges no commissions and no fees, and we pay your closing costs — it’s written into the agreement. The amount you accept is the amount wired to you at closing.
If your home is in good condition, you have no time pressure, and you can comfortably carry the holding costs for several months, a traditional listing will often net more. A cash sale wins when speed, certainty, or as-is condition matter most.
Mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, utilities, and yard care typically total $1,500–$3,000 per month on a mid-priced Texas home. Over a 4–6 month traditional sale, that’s $6,000–$18,000 that never shows up on the closing statement — but absolutely comes out of your pocket.
Never. Our offers are 100% free and no-obligation. Compare us to an agent’s net sheet, another buyer, or any option you like — and only move forward if the math works for you.
For more home selling tips, browse the rest of our blog — or reach us anytime at info@moneyfast4houses.com.
