#United States #St. Louis #Real Estate #Home Selling #Seller Costs

Unprecedented Home-Selling Costs in 2025

A recent analysis from Clever Offers has brought to light some alarming trends in the real estate market for 2025. Home sellers, expecting to spend approximately $18,557 on selling expenses, were confronted with a stark reality: the average cost ballooned to an astounding $67,245. This significant discrepancy has left many sellers feeling financially unprepared and questioning their decision-making processes.

Breaking Down the Costs

The report outlines specific areas where costs have escalated alarmingly. Here's a closer look at the average expenses incurred by sellers:

• - Pre- and Post-Listing Repairs and Improvements: $21,024
• - Listing Agent Commission: $14,204
• - Buyer’s Agent Commission: $13,691
• - Closing Costs: $8,217
• - Concessions to the Buyer: $5,277
• - Moving Costs: $2,439
• - Marketing and Staging: $2,393

This breakdown reveals that sellers are facing costs over three times higher than they initially anticipated. Disturbingly, 55% of recent sellers reported being caught off guard by these expenses, while 48% acknowledged that they significantly underestimated the total costs. As a result, about 40% of sellers felt financially strained throughout the selling process.

The Unexpected Burden

The financial strain has led to drastic measures for some; nearly a quarter (22%) of sellers went into debt just to cover the expenses involved in selling their homes. The report highlights that 41% of sellers neglected to budget for their home sale, with 18% of those who did wish they had allocated their funds differently.

Despite these surging costs, the good news is that the average home seller still made a profit of $166,702—an increase of 14% from 2024's average profit of $144,021. Moreover, 79% of sellers reported turning a profit, a notable rise from 64% in the previous year.

However, this still does not overshadow the fact that over half of sellers (51%) felt their profits were lower than anticipated due to the high costs associated with selling.

Regrets and Realizations

Among the myriad of feelings accompanying the selling experience, a staggering 80% of sellers expressed regrets about their decisions. The predominant concern? Agent commissions were deemed too high by 19% of respondents. Interestingly, 67% of those who chose not to work with an agent believed they saved money, averaging savings of $5,953. However, the report notes a concerning statistic: only 68% of these unrepresented sellers turned a profit, compared to a higher 84% profit rate among those who used an agent.

For sellers who opted for representation, 81% stated that costs were made transparent by their agents, and only 29% of these sellers faced unexpected expenses. In contrast, 41% of those who did not engage an agent reported being surprised by their selling costs.

The conclusion drawn from this report is staggering: 75% of sellers believe they would have made different choices had they fully understood the true cost of selling their homes, with a projected potential for sales to be around $35,915 greater than what they eventually realized.

About Clever Offers

Clever Offers is dedicated to aiding sellers who need swift solutions or wish to secure cash offers by providing a platform for exploring their selling options. Their service connects homeowners with vetted cash buyers and top local realtors, ensuring informed decision-making. Since launching in 2017, Clever has facilitated $14 billion in real estate transactions and saved consumers over $210 million in commissions across a network of 17,000 agents nationwide.

This comprehensive report underscores the necessity for sellers to be well-informed about all potential costs involved in home selling, enhancing the importance of thorough budgeting and financial planning in the current real estate market.