What it costs to sell a house in South Australia
Most people know roughly what it costs to buy. Far fewer know what it costs to sell. The real cost of selling a house in SA is mostly the agent's commission, but there is GST, marketing and conveyancing on top, and a few myths worth clearing up before you sign an agency agreement.
When you sell a house in South Australia, the sale price is not what lands in your account. Between you and that number sits a set of selling costs, and the biggest by a wide margin is the agent's commission. Knowing the real cost of selling a house in SA before you list means you can negotiate from a position of knowledge, and you will not get a nasty surprise at settlement.
How much does it cost to sell a house in South Australia?
There is no fixed selling fee, but the costs fall into a predictable shape. Here is what a typical sale looks like.
| Cost | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Agent commission | 1.8 to 2.5 percent of the sale price |
| GST on the commission | 10 percent of the commission |
| Marketing / campaign | 1,000 to 5,000 dollars |
| Conveyancing (sale side) | 800 to 1,500 dollars |
| Mortgage discharge fee | 150 to 400 dollars (if you have a loan) |
On an 800,000 dollar sale, a 2 percent commission is 16,000 dollars, plus 1,600 dollars GST, plus say 3,000 dollars marketing and 1,200 dollars conveyancing. That is around 21,800 dollars before you touch the mortgage. The commission is the number worth focusing on, because it is both the largest cost and the most negotiable.
Is real estate agent commission negotiable in SA?
Yes, and it is worth doing. South Australia does not set or cap commission, so the rate is whatever you and the agency agree to. On a higher-priced home even a quarter of a percent is real money: 0.25 percent on 800,000 dollars is 2,000 dollars. When you compare agents, compare three things, not just the headline rate:
- The commission percentage, and whether GST is on top or included.
- What the marketing fee covers, and whether you pay it win or lose.
- Whether there is a flat fee, a tiered bonus above a target price, or a straight percentage.
A slightly higher rate with a genuinely better campaign can net you more than the cheapest quote. Look at the whole picture, not just the percentage.
Do sellers pay stamp duty in SA?
No, and this trips people up constantly. Stamp duty, or transfer duty, is a buyer cost in South Australia. As a seller you do not pay it. Your costs are the commission plus GST, marketing, conveyancing, any mortgage discharge, and, if the property was an investment rather than your home, possibly capital gains tax. If you are also buying, the stamp duty on your next purchase is covered by our True Cost Calculator, but it belongs on the buying side of the ledger, not the selling side.
Watch this one: capital gains tax can apply if you are selling an investment property or a home you did not always live in. It depends on your ownership period and income, so ask your accountant before you rely on any net figure. It is out of scope for a quick selling-costs estimate.
What will I actually walk away with?
The number that matters is your net proceeds: the sale price minus every selling cost, minus whatever is left on the mortgage. Our free Vendor Net-Proceeds Calculator runs the whole sum in one page. Enter the expected sale price, the commission rate, marketing and conveyancing, and your loan balance, and it shows what you actually pocket, plus your total selling costs as a percentage of the sale. If the sale does not cover the loan and the costs, it tells you that too, which is exactly when you want to know.
If you are weighing whether to sell at all, it is worth checking your suburb's current median in the Price Estimator first, so your expected sale price is grounded in real Valuer-General data rather than hope.
The bottom line
Selling a house in South Australia costs most people somewhere around 2 to 3 percent of the sale price once commission, GST, marketing and conveyancing are added up. The commission is the big lever, and it is negotiable, so compare agents on the full package and not just the rate. Then run your real numbers before you sign anything. For the official duty rules on the buying side, RevenueSA publishes them at revenuesa.sa.gov.au.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to sell a house in South Australia?
The biggest cost is the agent's commission, commonly 1.8 to 2.5 percent of the sale price plus 10 percent GST. Add a marketing fee of roughly 1,000 to 5,000 dollars, sale-side conveyancing of about 800 to 1,500 dollars, and a mortgage discharge fee if you have a loan. On an 800,000 dollar sale that is often around 20,000 to 30,000 dollars all up.
Is real estate agent commission negotiable in SA?
Yes. SA does not set or cap commission, so the rate is negotiable. A common range for houses is 1.8 to 2.5 percent, but it varies. Get the rate, the GST treatment and what the marketing covers in writing before you sign.
Do sellers pay stamp duty in South Australia?
No. Stamp duty is paid by the buyer. A seller's costs are commission plus GST, marketing, conveyancing, any mortgage discharge, and possibly capital gains tax on an investment property.
How do I work out what I will actually make from selling?
Subtract the commission plus GST, marketing, conveyancing and other selling costs from your expected sale price, then subtract the remaining mortgage plus the discharge fee. What is left is your net proceeds. The Vendor Net-Proceeds Calculator does it in one page.
See what you would actually walk away with
Enter a sale price, commission and your loan balance. The free Vendor Net-Proceeds Calculator shows your real net proceeds and your total selling costs as a percentage of the sale.
Open the Vendor Net-Proceeds Calculator →