The cost of selling a house in Massachusetts goes well beyond the agent's commission. Between the commission, the state deed excise tax, attorney fees, and a handful of smaller items, sellers should budget for the full picture before they list, not discover it at the closing table. Here is what makes up the total for a typical Lowell sale, and how to get your exact number.
The Commission
For most sellers, the brokerage commission is the largest single cost of the sale. Commission is negotiable in Massachusetts and is set in your listing agreement, so there is no fixed standard rate anyone can quote you honestly. What your commission covers, how the home is marketed, and what is offered to a buyer's broker all get spelled out in that agreement before you sign. Because it is the biggest line item, it is also the one worth discussing carefully with any agent you interview.
The Massachusetts Deed Excise Tax
Massachusetts charges a deed excise tax when the deed is recorded, and by custom in this state the seller pays it. The rate is $4.56 per $1,000 of the sale price. On a $500,000 sale that comes to $2,280. It is not huge compared to the commission, but sellers who do not know about it are always surprised by it, and it shows up on every Massachusetts closing statement.
Attorney Fees
Most Massachusetts sellers hire a real estate attorney to review the purchase and sale agreement, clear title issues, and handle the closing paperwork. Attorney fees vary by firm and by the complexity of the transaction. A straightforward Lowell single family sale costs less than an estate sale with title problems or a multifamily with tenants. Budget for it, and use an attorney who does real estate every day.
The Smaller Items That Add Up
Expect a smoke and carbon monoxide detector certificate from the fire department, which carries a modest inspection fee. If your home is on septic, a Title V inspection is required for most transfers, and that is a real cost whether the system passes or not. Condo and loft sellers in downtown Lowell will pay for a 6D certificate from the condo association confirming dues are paid. There are also final water and sewer readings and adjustments, recording fees, and payoff processing on your existing mortgage. None of these items is large alone. Together they are real money.
Costs You Control
Some selling costs are choices, not requirements. Prep work like paint, cleaning, staging, and repairs is discretionary, and so is any credit you agree to give a buyer after inspection. Moving costs are yours to manage too. When I sit down with a seller in Belvidere, the Highlands, or anywhere in Greater Lowell, we sort the costs into required, smart, and optional before the house lists, so there are no surprises later.
The Only Number That Matters Is Your Net
Gross sale price is a vanity number. What matters is what lands in your account after the mortgage is paid off and every cost above comes out. A good agent should be able to estimate that net for you at different price points before you list, and a net sheet is how you do it.
If you want your numbers run for your house, call me and I will prepare a seller's net sheet estimate alongside a free, no obligation home valuation, so you can see what would actually land in your account at a realistic price. Call Doherty Properties at (978) 746-0124.
Chris Doherty is the #1 selling agent in Lowell, ranked #1 in the city again and again, including in 2024 and 2025, and he is one of Greater Lowell's top-producing agents. He personally sells 100+ homes a year, with 3,000+ career transactions, and Doherty Properties, the company he leads, has handled over $1 billion in real estate transactions.
Doherty Properties LLC, 14 Jackson Street, Lowell, MA 01852 | 160 Main Street, Unit 7, Haverhill, MA 01830 | 4 Courthouse Lane, Suite 2, Chelmsford, MA 01824 | (978) 746-0124 | [email protected]
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