Costs, Duty and 2026 Rules
What selling and buying a home costs in each state: agent commission, transfer duty, first home concessions, foreign buyer rules and capital gains tax.
cost of selling a house and real estate agent fees
The costs of selling and buying a home in Australia, worked out
Agent commission, marketing, stamp duty, conveyancing and tax can take a large slice of a property deal. These guides show where each cost comes from, how it differs between states and how to calculate it before you sign.
- Estimate commission, marketing and net sale proceeds with the calculators
- Check transfer duty, first home concessions and foreign buyer surcharges for your state
- Understand the main residence CGT exemption and the 15% foreign resident withholding rule
Explore by topic
Worked Cost Examples and Checklists
Net sale proceeds, commission structures, duty calculations, conveyancing quotes, marketing budgets and CGT examples with the arithmetic shown, plus checklists.
Costly Mistakes and Official Sources
How sellers and buyers lose money on agency agreements, price guides, concessions and settlement, where to complain and which official sources to check.
Start here
Costs, Duty and 2026 Rules
Cost of selling a house in Australia: every fee, by state, in 2026
What it costs to sell a home in Australia in 2026, including agent commission, GST, marketing, conveyancing, mortgage discharge, CGT and withholding, with a worked total.
Costly Mistakes and Official Sources
Costly mistakes when selling a house in Australia (and how to avoid them)
The mistakes that cost Australian sellers and buyers the most money, from agency agreements and price guides to missing clearance certificates, with the dollar impact of each.
Costs, Duty and 2026 Rules
Foreign resident CGT withholding: the 15% rule and clearance certificates in 2026
Why every Australian property seller needs an ATO clearance certificate since 1 January 2025, how the 15% withholding works, variations for foreign residents and worked examples.
Worked Cost Examples and Checklists
How much will I get from selling my house? A net proceeds worked example
A full worked example of the money left from an Australian home sale after commission, marketing, conveyancing, mortgage payout and settlement adjustments.
Costs, Duty and 2026 Rules
Real estate agent commission by state: how fees are set and regulated
How agent commission works in each Australian state and territory in 2026, the laws and regulators, agency agreement rules, GST and what to negotiate.
Costs, Duty and 2026 Rules
Stamp duty by state in 2026: transfer duty rates, who pays and when
How transfer (stamp) duty works in each Australian state and territory in 2026, current NSW, Victorian and Queensland rate scales, due dates and surcharges.
Tools
Selling Costs and Net Proceeds Calculator
Work out the agent's commission, marketing and other selling costs, and what is left from the sale price before you pay out the mortgage.
Foreign Resident CGT Withholding Calculator
See how much a buyer must withhold and pay to the ATO at settlement if the seller has no clearance certificate, and what the seller receives.
CGT Partial Main Residence Exemption Calculator
Estimate the taxable part of a capital gain when a home was your main residence for only part of the time you owned it.
Selling a Home: Costs and Paperwork Checklist
Every cost and document to check before you sign an agency agreement and before settlement.
Buying a Home: Upfront Costs Checklist
The costs a buyer pays on top of the deposit, from stamp duty to inspections and registration fees.
Ways to sell a home and pay for it compared
| Option | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage commission | Agent is paid a set percentage of the sale price, plus GST, usually on settlement | Simple sales where you want the agent rewarded for a higher price | Each extra $10,000 of price earns the agent only a few hundred dollars, so the incentive to hold out for more is small |
| Tiered or incentive commission | A base rate up to a target price and a higher rate on the amount above it | Sellers who want to reward the agent for beating a realistic target | A target set too low pays the higher rate on money you would have received anyway |
| Flat fee | A fixed dollar fee whatever the price, sometimes with a bonus above a target | Higher-value homes where a percentage would produce a large fee | Check what is included; some flat fees exclude auctioneer, open homes or negotiation |
| Fixed-fee or online agency | A lower fixed fee, often part paid upfront, with fewer services from the agent | Sellers in strong markets willing to do some of the work themselves | Upfront fees may be payable even if the home does not sell |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to sell a house in Australia?
The main costs are the agent's commission plus GST, the marketing campaign, conveyancing, and the cost of paying out your mortgage. Commission is negotiable and is usually the largest item. On an illustrative $950,000 sale at 2.2% including GST, with $6,500 of marketing and $3,500 of other costs, total selling costs are about $30,900. See the overview of selling costs.
Do sellers pay stamp duty in Australia?
No. Transfer (stamp) duty on a residential purchase is paid by the buyer in every state and territory. Sellers pay commission, marketing, conveyancing and, where it applies, capital gains tax. See stamp duty by state.
Is real estate commission set by law?
No. Commission has been deregulated in every state and territory, so it is whatever you agree with the agent. The agency agreement must state it, and the agent cannot charge more than the agreement allows. Commission is normally quoted plus 10% GST.
Do I need a clearance certificate if I am an Australian resident?
Yes, if you want to receive the full price. Since 1 January 2025 foreign resident capital gains withholding of 15% applies to every sale of Australian real property, regardless of price. Unless you give the buyer an ATO clearance certificate before settlement, the buyer must withhold 15% and pay it to the ATO. Apply online early; certificates are valid for 12 months.
Do I pay capital gains tax when I sell my home?
Usually not, if it was your main residence for the whole time you owned it and was not used to earn income. A partial exemption applies if you rented it out or used part of it for business. Foreign residents generally cannot claim the main residence exemption. See the main residence exemption guide.
Can foreigners buy an established home in Australia in 2026?
Generally no. Foreign persons, including most temporary residents and foreign-owned companies, are banned from buying established dwellings from 1 April 2025, with limited exceptions. The ban was announced to run to 31 March 2027; the Foreign Investment Review Board now states it runs to 30 June 2029. New dwellings and vacant land can still be bought with approval. See foreign buyer surcharges and the ban.
Who pays for the conveyancer, buyer or seller?
Each side pays its own conveyancer or solicitor. The seller's lawyer prepares the contract and disclosure documents, so sellers often pay a little more. Get a fixed-fee quote that lists the disbursements separately. See conveyancing fees.
How this site is made
Sold & Settled is an independent information project. Guides are drafted with the help of AI writing tools and checked against official and primary sources before publication; see our Editorial Policy. We are not affiliated with any provider mentioned on the site and do not sell products or services.