The sale price on the contract is not the number that hits your bank account. Most Jacksonville sellers give up somewhere between 8% and 12% of the sale price in commissions, repairs, closing costs, holding costs, and concessions. On a $300,000 house, that's $24,000 to $36,000. Here's the honest breakdown — I'm a licensed agent and a cash buyer, so I see both sides of these settlement statements every month.
1. Agent Commissions: ~5–6%
The biggest line item. In Northeast Florida, total commission typically runs 5–6% of the sale price, split between the listing agent and the buyer's agent. On a $300,000 sale, that's $15,000–$18,000. Commission is negotiable, and recent industry changes give sellers more flexibility on the buyer-agent side — but in practice, most Jacksonville sellers still end up covering some or all of it to keep their listing competitive.
2. Repairs and Prep: $0 to $20,000+
This is the wild card. Before a house even hits the MLS, most sellers spend money on paint, flooring, landscaping, and deep cleaning — often $2,000–$10,000. Then comes the inspection. Buyers in today's market routinely ask for roof work, HVAC repairs, plumbing fixes, or a credit instead. An older Jacksonville home with a 20-year-old roof or original wiring can rack up serious inspection-repair demands. If your house needs more than cosmetics, read our guide to selling a house that needs repairs in Florida.
3. Closing Costs: ~1–3%
Even with no agent, sellers pay closing costs. In Florida these typically include:
- Documentary stamp tax on the deed — $0.70 per $100 of the sale price ($2,100 on a $300,000 sale)
- Title insurance and title/settlement fees — in Duval County the seller customarily pays for the owner's title policy
- Prorated property taxes through the closing date
- Recording fees, lien searches, HOA estoppel letters if applicable
Figure 1–3% of the sale price all-in, depending on local custom and what you negotiate.
4. Holding Costs: The Silent One
Every month the house doesn't sell, you keep paying for it: mortgage interest, property taxes, homeowner's insurance (no small thing in Florida), utilities, lawn care, and HOA dues. For a typical Jacksonville home, that's easily $1,500–$2,500 a month. The average listing takes 30–60 days to go under contract plus another 30–45 days to close — so three to four months of holding costs is normal, and a slow listing or a deal that falls through can double it. Cutting that holding period is the single biggest lever you control; we break down what selling your house fast in Jacksonville actually looks like, week by week.
5. Seller Concessions: 1–2% (Sometimes More)
When buyers are stretching to afford today's interest rates, they ask sellers for help: closing-cost credits, rate buydowns, home warranties, repair credits. Concessions of $3,000–$8,000 are common in the Jacksonville market right now, and on harder-to-sell homes they go higher.
Adding It Up: A $300,000 Example
- Commission (5.5%): $16,500
- Pre-list prep + inspection repairs: $7,500
- Closing costs (2%): $6,000
- Holding costs (3.5 months): $6,000
- Concessions: $4,000
That's roughly $40,000 off the top, netting about $260,000 before paying off the mortgage. Your numbers will differ — a turnkey house in a hot pocket of town sells faster with fewer concessions — but this is a realistic middle case, not a scare tactic.
The Cash-Sale Trade-Off, Honestly
A direct cash offer works the opposite way: the offer is below full market value — there's no way around that, because the buyer takes on the repairs and the risk. But there's no commission, no repairs, no concessions, almost no holding period, and we typically cover standard closing costs. So the real comparison isn't "list price vs. cash offer" — it's net vs. net, after costs and time.
For a move-in-ready house where you can wait a few months, listing usually nets more. For a house that needs work, has tenant issues, or needs to close fast, the cash route often comes out surprisingly close — and sometimes ahead. We lay both columns side by side on our compare your selling options page, and since I'm a licensed agent as well as a buyer, I'll tell you straight which column wins for your house.
Want the actual numbers for your property? Request a free cash offer or call/text 904-606-9163 — no pressure, no obligation.