What are typical seller closing costs in PA?

The biggest item is usually not a fee at all. It is what you owe on the house. Your mortgage payoff comes first. A HELOC must be paid off in full when you sell, according to the CFPB. Liens and judgments found in the title search must be paid or resolved so the buyer gets clear title.

Request payoff statements early. The figure changes daily because of interest, so ask for a per-day amount.

The state realty transfer tax is 1 percent, and a local tax of 1 percent also applies in most places, though some localities charge more. Philadelphia's combined rate has been 4.578 percent since July 1, 2025, made up of 3.578 percent city tax and 1 percent state tax. Seller and buyer are jointly and severally liable. Most contracts split it, but the contract sets the rule.

As an illustration only, 4.578 percent of a 200,000 dollar sale is 9,156 dollars, or 4,578 dollars each if split evenly.

If you list with an agent, commission comes out of your proceeds, and the rate is negotiable. If you sell directly to a buyer with no agent, there may be none. Title and settlement charges include the title search and the settlement agent's fee. The CFPB describes title service fees as the title search, lender's policy premium and other costs for issuing the policy, and notes that an owner's policy is optional.

Ask the title company for an estimate of seller-side fees early.

Some Pennsylvania municipalities require a certificate on resale. Bensalem's resale permit, for instance, costs 100 dollars to apply and requires certifications that can cost extra. Other places differ, and Philadelphia's requirements were not verified for this answer, so ask your title company.

At settlement, property taxes, water and sewer and sometimes rent or other recurring charges are divided between you and the buyer by closing date. We cover that in a separate answer on prorations.

A cash sale to a buyer who pays no agent commission removes the commission line. It does not remove payoffs, transfer tax or title work. Kaizen Home Buyers charges no agent commission and buys as-is, so there are no repair costs either.

Compare net, not gross. If a listing would net more after commission, repairs and months of carrying costs, list. If the cash number is close, the certainty and speed may be worth the difference.

The last point is easy to miss. Carrying costs are not on the settlement statement, but they are real. Every month you own an unsold house you pay taxes, insurance, utilities and possibly a mortgage. A longer sale can erase part of a higher price.