A listing price and a bank deposit are two very different numbers, and the distance between them surprises most sellers.
Where the equity leaks
Commission on both sides. Seller concessions and closing cost credits, which have become common again. Repair credits negotiated after inspection, which are almost never zero. And carrying costs for every month the property is on the market and through closing.
The arithmetic
On a half million dollar sale, commission alone runs into the tens of thousands. Add typical concessions, a repair credit and a few months of mortgage, taxes, insurance and utilities, and the gap between the sale price and what actually lands in your account is routinely ten percent or more.
What to do with that
None of this argues against listing. It argues for running the number correctly before choosing a path. A lower offer with no commission, no repairs, no concessions and a closing in two weeks sometimes nets more than a higher price three months out.
Compare net to net. It is the only comparison that reflects what you keep.
Read the full breakdown on HouseCashers.com