Realtor fees in Florida

If you’re selling a home in Miami-Dade or Broward County, understanding realtor fees and closing costs is essential. These expenses directly affect your net proceeds and should be considered early when preparing to list your property.

What are realtor fees in Florida?

Realtor fees—commonly referred to as real estate commissions—are negotiated in advance as part of the listing agreement and paid at closing from the sale proceeds.

Although the seller typically pays the total commission, compensation is often shared between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. Some brokerages may also charge administrative or transaction-related fees, which should always be disclosed upfront.

Who pays realtor fees in Florida?

In most Miami-Dade and Broward County transactions, the seller pays the agreed-upon realtor fees at closing. These costs should be factored into pricing decisions to ensure sellers achieve their desired net outcome.

Buyer Broker Agreement (Effective August 2024)

As of August 2024, all NAR-affiliated Realtors are required to use a Buyer Broker Agreement (BBA) before showing properties. This agreement clearly defines the services provided to the buyer and how the buyer’s agent is compensated, increasing transparency across all real estate transactions.

Sellers may still choose to offer compensation to buyer’s agents; however, commission terms are now more clearly established through written agreements.

Additional Seller Costs

Beyond realtor fees, sellers typically pay additional closing costs, which may include title services, lien searches, recording fees, and prorated property taxes.

What other fees do sellers pay in Florida?

Selling your property in Florida typically costs sellers an additional 1% to 2% of the total sales price in closing costs. These costs include recording fees, municipal lien searches, title searches, prorated taxes, among other things.

The state of Florida also requires sellers to pay a tax on the transfer of their property. This is called a "documentary stamp tax" or "doc stamp" for short. Documentary stamp tax in Florida is charged at a rate of $7.00 per $1,000 of the total sales price. For example, a house sold at the average home value of $235,500 in Florida would cost the seller $1,648.50 in doc stamp.

It is important to note that Miami-Dade county has a lower documentary stamp tax: just $6.00 per $1,000 of the total sales price.

Who Pays Closing Costs?

Both buyers and sellers are responsible for their own closing costs. Sellers generally cover expenses related to transferring ownership, while buyers are responsible for lender-related fees such as appraisals and loan-related charges.

Being informed about these costs helps sellers plan confidently, price strategically, and avoid unexpected expenses at closing.