From the Blog
Selling a Home in San Antonio: What Sellers Actually Pay in 2026
Texas sellers typically pay 6% to 10% of the sale price in total closing costs when commissions are included, and about 3.26% excluding commission, per 2026 industry analyses. Texas has no state transfer tax, which keeps the bill leaner than in many other states. On a median-priced San Antonio home around $299,000, that is roughly $18,000 to $30,000 all-in, and it is worth understanding before you decide what to ask and what to accept.
Texas sellers typically pay 6% to 10% of the sale price in total closing costs when commissions are included, and about 3.26% excluding commission, per 2026 industry analyses. Texas has no state transfer tax, which keeps the bill leaner than in many other states. On a median-priced San Antonio home around $299,000, that is roughly $18,000 to $30,000 all-in, and it is worth understanding before you decide what to ask and what to accept.
The big line: the commission
The single largest cost of selling is the real estate commission. Recent 2025 and 2026 surveys put the average total commission in Texas at about 5.6% to 5.9% of the sale price, with most deals landing between 5% and 6%. On a $299,000 home, 5.8% is about $17,300. Since the 2024 NAR settlement, buyer-agent compensation is no longer set by the MLS, so the commission is a negotiated number, not a fixed rule. That is worth asking every agent about in writing before you sign a listing agreement.
The second line: concessions and repairs
After the commission, the next biggest slice is typically buyer concessions and the cost of inspection findings. Industry analyses put buyer incentives and concessions at about 2% of the sale price on average, which can cover a buyer's closing costs or a rate buydown. Then there is the option period, where a buyer can back out for any reason, and the inspection, which usually surfaces a few items to negotiate. The honest way to keep this line low is to price the home right and disclose everything up front. A well-priced, well-disclosed home attracts fewer contingency demands.
The fixed costs that add up
Beyond commission and concessions, sellers pay a set of fixed costs: title insurance, escrow and attorney or closing fees, prorated property taxes, and any HOA transfer fees. Prorated property taxes run around 1.44% of the assessed value on average in Texas. The good news is that Texas has no state transfer tax, which is a meaningful saving compared with many other states. These fixed costs are predictable, and a good agent will itemize them for you before you list so there are no surprises at closing.
The honest total
Put it together and the all-in cost of selling in Texas runs about 6% to 10% of the sale price. On San Antonio's median of about $299,000, that is roughly $18,000 to $30,000. What moves the number: the price point, how much you concede to close a deal, how long the home sits, and whether you negotiate the commission. None of it is hidden if you ask the right questions up front.
What you can control
Most of the cost is within your control. Prepare the home so it shows well and reduces inspection surprises. Price it with current data, not what you paid or what a neighbor once got. Disclose everything, because Texas is a caveat emptor state and hidden problems come back as renegotiations. Negotiate the commission in writing. And time the sale to your life, not to a calendar myth about the perfect month. A clean, well-priced home in a healthy market is the cheapest home to sell.
Written by Phyllis Domingo
REALTOR® · TX License 745926 · 100+ homes sold · Helping families move well in San Antonio and the Hill Country since long before the hard part became normal.
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