The cost to sell a house in Queens comes down to a handful of items: the real estate commission, your attorney, the New York City and New York State transfer taxes, paying off your mortgage, and any repairs, open violations, or co-op fees that have to be settled before closing. Knowing these numbers early tells you what you will actually walk away with. Empire Fine Homes helps owners across Queens price, prepare, and sell from our office at 98-05 Astoria Blvd in East Elmhurst. Alejandra Fermin (Broker/Owner) and Elias Borjas (Broker) work in Spanish and English. Call 917.554.0546 for a free, no-pressure estimate of your net proceeds.
This guide walks through each seller cost one by one, shows how the transfer taxes are calculated using the official rates, and explains which costs are negotiable and which are not. Every sale is different, so treat this as a checklist to review with your agent and your real estate attorney, not as tax or legal advice.
What Goes Into the Cost to Sell a House in Queens
Most Queens sellers will see some version of these items on their closing statement:
- Real estate commission. The fee for marketing and selling your home.
- Your real estate attorney. In New York, sellers almost always hire an attorney to review the contract and handle the closing.
- NYC Real Property Transfer Tax (RPTT). A city tax on the sale price.
- New York State transfer tax. A state tax on the sale price.
- Mortgage payoff. Your remaining loan balance plus interest up to the payoff date.
- Repairs, violations, and credits. Anything you agree to fix or credit after the inspection, plus any open city violations that must be cleared.
- Co-op and condo fees. For apartments, possible flip taxes, transfer fees, and managing agent charges.
- Moving and carrying costs. Utilities, taxes, insurance, and the mortgage until the day you close, plus the move itself.
Transfer Taxes: The Largest Fixed Cost to Sell a House in Queens
NYC Real Property Transfer Tax
According to the NYC Department of Finance, for a one-, two-, or three-family house, a condominium unit, or a co-op apartment, the RPTT rate is 1% of the price if the price is $500,000 or less, and 1.425% if it is more than $500,000. The tax is usually paid as part of closing costs (NYC Department of Finance). In a typical home sale the seller pays it, but your contract controls who pays, so confirm with your attorney.
New York State transfer tax
New York State charges $2 for every $500 of the price, which works out to 0.4%. The state says this base tax is paid by the seller unless the contract between buyer and seller says otherwise. Residential sales of $3 million or more can owe an additional base tax (New York State Department of Taxation and Finance). The so-called mansion tax on homes of $1 million or more is a buyer cost, not a seller cost, as our guide to buyer closing costs in Queens explains.
Two examples using the official rates
These are simple illustrations using the rates above, not quotes for any real sale:
- $450,000 sale: NYC RPTT at 1% = $4,500. NYS transfer tax at $2 per $500 = $1,800. Total transfer taxes: $6,300.
- $900,000 sale: NYC RPTT at 1.425% = $12,825. NYS transfer tax at $2 per $500 = $3,600. Total transfer taxes: $16,425.
Notice how the city rate steps up once the price goes above $500,000, and it applies to the whole price, not just the part above $500,000. Your attorney will confirm the exact figures for your sale.
Photo: Kidfly182 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Commission and Attorney Fees
Real estate commission
Commissions are not set by law. They are negotiated between you and the brokerage, and the listing agreement spells out the amount and when it is earned. Before you sign, ask exactly what is included: pricing, photos, marketing, showings, negotiation, and coordination through closing. A lower fee with weak marketing can cost you more in a lower sale price than it saves. If you are comparing firms, read our take on a local broker vs. a big brokerage in Queens.
Real estate attorney
Your attorney drafts or reviews the contract, deals with the buyer’s attorney and lender, orders payoff letters, and prepares the transfer tax forms. Fees vary by attorney and by how complicated the sale is, for example an estate sale, a co-op, or a house with tenants. Ask for a written fee quote at the start.
Other Seller Costs to Plan For
Mortgage payoff and liens
Your lender’s payoff letter shows the exact amount needed to release the mortgage on the closing date. Any home equity line, judgment, or other lien also has to be paid from the proceeds.
Open violations
Open Department of Buildings or ECB violations can delay a closing or lead a buyer to ask for a credit. Check early and read our guide on how to clear ECB violation fines before selling in Queens.
Repairs, credits, and preparation
You usually do not need a big renovation. Cleaning, decluttering, and small repairs often matter more than expensive upgrades. See which home improvements before selling in Queens are worth it. After the buyer’s inspection, you may agree to a repair or a closing credit, which comes out of your proceeds.
Co-op and condo charges
Many co-op buildings charge a flip tax or transfer fee when an apartment sells, and managing agents often charge for application processing and closing paperwork. The amounts depend on the building, so ask the managing agent for the current fee schedule before you list.
Capital gains
The IRS lets qualifying owners exclude up to $250,000 of gain from the sale of a main home, or up to $500,000 if married filing jointly, when they meet the eligibility test (IRS Publication 523). If you have owned the home for many years, inherited it, or rented part of it out, talk with a tax professional before you sell. For estate sales, see our guide to selling an inherited home in Queens.
How to Lower the Cost to Sell a House in Queens
- Price it right from day one. An overpriced home sits, and every extra month adds mortgage, taxes, insurance, and utilities. Read our pricing strategy guide.
- Gather your documents early. Missing paperwork delays closings. Use our seller documents checklist.
- Clear violations before you list. It is easier to fix them on your own schedule than under a buyer’s deadline.
- Get every fee in writing. Commission, attorney, and building fees should all be clear before you sign anything.
- Ask for a net sheet. A good agent will estimate what you take home after every cost, not just the sale price.
Questions to Ask Before You List
- What price do recent nearby sales support, and which sales are you using?
- What is your commission, and exactly what does it include?
- Can you give me a written estimate of my net proceeds?
- Are there open violations or liens on my property that we should clear first?
- If I own a co-op, what flip tax or building fees apply?
- How long do similar homes in my area take to sell?
If you need to move on a tight timeline, read how to sell your house fast in Queens for the best price, or visit our sellers page.
Meet Alejandra Fermin and Elias Borjas
Alejandra Fermin is Broker/Owner of Empire Fine Homes, and Elias Borjas is Broker. They are the husband-and-wife team behind Empire Fine Homes, serving buyers and sellers throughout Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island in Spanish and English. They help clients buy and sell one- and multi-family homes, co-ops, condominiums, and inherited property. Learn more on our Meet the Team page.
Viviana Salazar wrote: “We worked with Alejandra Fermin and she was great. She had the patience and knowledge to guide us with the right price and was proactive and persistent bringing potential buyers to the door.” Read more client stories on our testimonials page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost to sell a house in Queens?
It depends on your price, your commission and attorney agreements, your mortgage balance, and your property type. The fixed government costs are the NYC transfer tax (1% up to $500,000, 1.425% above that for one- to three-family homes, condos, and co-ops) and the New York State transfer tax ($2 per $500). Call 917.554.0546 for a free estimate of your net proceeds.
Does the seller pay the transfer tax in Queens?
New York State says its base transfer tax is paid by the seller unless the contract says otherwise. The NYC transfer tax is usually paid by the seller in a home sale, but the contract controls, so confirm with your attorney.
Is the real estate commission negotiable?
Yes. Commission is agreed between you and the brokerage in writing. Compare what each agent will actually do for the fee.
Do I pay the mansion tax when I sell?
No. The mansion tax on homes of $1 million or more is paid by the buyer.
How much is my Queens home worth?
Request a free home value and we will walk you through both the likely price and the costs that come out of it.
Can I sell my home working in Spanish?
Yes. Alejandra and Elias work in Spanish and English. Visit our Spanish-speaking Queens agent page.
Want to Know the Cost to Sell a House in Queens for Your Home? Call Us Today
For a clear, written estimate of the cost to sell a house in Queens and what you will take home, talk with Alejandra Fermin and Elias Borjas at Empire Fine Homes: 917.554.0546. Start at empirefinehomes.com, use our contact page, or visit 98-05 Astoria Blvd, East Elmhurst, NY 11369. Se habla español.
Featured photo: Kidfly182 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0