Estimate your net proceeds from selling a house: enter the sale price and mortgage payoff to see cash left after agent commission and closing costs.
Home Sale Proceeds Formula
Net proceeds are what is left of the sale price after paying off every loan on the home and covering all of the costs of selling it:
SC = SP * c / 100 + CC + R NP = SP - (M + L) - SC
Variables:
- NP is the estimated net proceeds — the cash you walk away with at closing
- SP is the expected sale price
- c is the total agent commission percent
- CC is seller closing costs, entered as a dollar amount or as a percent of the sale price
- R is repairs and seller concessions
- M is the remaining mortgage payoff and L is any second mortgage or HELOC payoff
- SC is total selling costs
Enter your expected sale price, your mortgage payoff, and the total agent commission percent, then add seller closing costs as either dollars or a percent of the price. Open Repairs, other loans and profit to include pre-sale repairs, credits to the buyer, a second lien that must be paid at closing, or your purchase price to see your profit. Blank optional amounts mean zero; entered values remain active when the section is closed. Each percentage charge is rounded to cents before totaling. The calculator totals your selling costs and loan payoffs and shows the estimated cash you would take away from the sale.
Watch the sign of the result: a negative number means the sale price would not cover your loans and costs, so you would need to bring cash to closing or negotiate with your lender before selling.
Net Proceeds by Sale Price
This table estimates net proceeds for a range of sale prices, assuming a 5.5% total commission, seller closing costs of 2% of the price, and a mortgage payoff equal to 60% of the sale price. Your own numbers will differ, but the pattern shows how quickly costs scale with price.
| Sale price | Mortgage payoff (60%) | Commission (5.5%) | Closing costs (2%) | Net proceeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $180,000 | $16,500 | $6,000 | $97,500 |
| $350,000 | $210,000 | $19,250 | $7,000 | $113,750 |
| $400,000 | $240,000 | $22,000 | $8,000 | $130,000 |
| $450,000 | $270,000 | $24,750 | $9,000 | $146,250 |
| $500,000 | $300,000 | $27,500 | $10,000 | $162,500 |
| $600,000 | $360,000 | $33,000 | $12,000 | $195,000 |
| $700,000 | $420,000 | $38,500 | $14,000 | $227,500 |
Example Problems
Example 1: A straightforward sale.
You expect to sell for $450,000 with a $255,000 mortgage payoff, a 5.5% total commission, and closing costs of 2% of the price. First total the selling costs:
SC = 450,000 * 5.5 / 100 + 450,000 * 2 / 100 = 24,750 + 9,000 = $33,750.00. Then NP = 450,000 – 255,000 – 33,750 = $161,250.00 in estimated net proceeds.
Example 2: A sale with repairs and a second lien.
You expect $500,000 with a $280,000 mortgage payoff, a 5% commission, $7,500 in closing costs entered as dollars, $4,000 in repairs, and a $25,000 HELOC payoff:
SC = 500,000 * 5 / 100 + 7,500 + 4,000 = $36,500.00 and total payoffs are 280,000 + 25,000 = $305,000.00. NP = 500,000 – 305,000 – 36,500 = $158,500.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to sell a house?
Commission is negotiable and is not set by law; it was negotiable before the 2024 settlement. Enter the seller-paid rate you agreed to and any separately agreed costs, avoiding double counting. Title, escrow, attorney, transfer-tax, repair and other costs vary; the calculator starts with a typical 5.5% commission and 2% closing costs, so replace them with your own rate and quotes when you have them.
Do I pay taxes on my home sale proceeds?
For a qualifying main-home sale, you may exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or $500,000 for a qualifying joint return. Ownership, use, look-back and other requirements apply; exceptions and partial exclusions may apply. See IRS Topic 701 and Publication 523. Taxable gain uses selling price, eligible selling expenses and adjusted basis, not mortgage payoff or the cash proceeds shown here. This calculator does not calculate income tax.
What if I owe more than my home will sell for?
If the calculator shows negative proceeds, the sale would not cover your loans and costs. Your options are to bring cash to closing, wait and build more equity, or ask your lender about a short sale, where the lender agrees to accept less than the full balance. Also request a formal payoff quote before listing — it includes per-diem interest and any fees, so it usually runs slightly higher than the balance on your statement.
