The short answer on HomeWise fees: no agent commission, no listing fee, and no service fee, and in most cases the company covers standard closing costs. A $250,000 listing carries roughly $12,500 to $15,000 in commission at 5 to 6 percent, plus seller closing costs. A direct sale carries neither, though the mortgage payoff and prorated taxes still come out of the proceeds.
Consider a homeowner in Macon, Georgia, weighing two paths on a 1996 house in July 2026. Listed at $250,000, she would pay a 5.5 percent commission of $13,750, about $5,000 in seller closing costs, $8,000 to replace roof flashing and repaint before the listing photographs, and roughly $4,200 in taxes, insurance and utilities over three months on the market. That leaves about $219,050 before her $96,400 mortgage payoff. A direct offer of $212,000, with nothing charged for commission or services and standard closing costs covered, leaves $210,820 after $1,180 in prorated county taxes. The gap between the two nets is about $8,200. Every figure here is illustrative.
What does a seller pay in a traditional listing?
Five buckets, and only one of them is the commission.
- Agent compensation. A percentage of the sale price written into the listing agreement, not a rate set by law, which is why a Texas realtor commission and a California one can differ on identical houses.
- Seller closing costs. The owner’s title policy, the settlement or escrow fee, state and county transfer taxes, and recording fees. These are separate from the commission and land on the seller’s side of the statement in most states.
- Work before the sign goes up. Repairs a financed buyer’s inspector will flag, paint, cleaning, sometimes staging. Money spent before any offer exists.
- Carrying the house while it sells. Mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance, and utilities for every month the house sits, plus the 30 to 45 days a buyer’s lender needs after an accepted offer.
- Concessions at the table. Repair credits after the inspection, or a contribution toward the buyer’s costs, negotiated late and deducted at settlement.
Who pays which of those items is a contract question, not a fixed rule. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s answer on closing fees, last reviewed September 11, 2024, names appraisal fees, tax service provider fees, title insurance, government taxes and prepaid expenses among the common charges, and adds a caveat sellers rarely read: “However, depending on the contract or state law, the seller may end up paying for some of these costs.” Buyers such as HomeWise remove the first bucket and, in most cases, the second, which is a different thing from removing the cost of owning the house until closing day.
How much do realtors make on a sale?
Less per transaction than the headline percentage suggests, because a commission is split between two brokerages, then between broker and agent, and the agent pays business expenses out of the remainder. According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2025 Member Profile, released August 6, 2025, the median gross income of members rose to $58,100 in 2024, up from $55,800 in 2023, on a typical ten transactions for the year. The same report states: “The median sales volume per agent also remained steady at $2.5 million.” None of that changes a seller’s arithmetic. It explains why the listing side of the ledger looks the way it does, and why a fee-free sale is not free of every cost.
|
Line item |
Listing at $250,000 |
Direct sale at $212,000 |
|---|---|---|
|
Agent compensation at 5.5 percent |
$13,750 |
None charged |
|
Seller closing costs: title, settlement, transfer tax, recording |
About $5,000 |
Covered by the buyer in most cases |
|
Repairs, paint and listing preparation |
$8,000 |
None asked |
|
Carrying costs over about three months |
About $4,200 |
Ends at the closing date the seller picks |
|
Mortgage payoff, recorded liens, prorated taxes and HOA dues |
Deducted from proceeds |
Deducted from proceeds |
The bottom row is the one sellers miss. A fee-free purchase price is not a net figure: the title company still pays off the mortgage, releases any recorded lien, and settles the seller’s share of property taxes and association dues before wiring the balance. Where a recorded claim or an odd title history is involved, a licensed attorney in that state is the right reader of the payoff numbers.
Where does HomeWise stand on fees?
HomeWise, a direct home-buying company that purchases distressed single-family houses in California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Georgia and other states, publishes its fee position rather than quoting it case by case: no agent commissions, no listing fees and no service fees, with standard closing costs covered in most cases, and prorated property taxes and HOA dues owed at settlement still the seller’s. Requesting an offer is free and carries no obligation; offers can come back in as little as one hour, and the company has purchased more than 500 homes. The fee question is answered in the frequently asked questions on the HomeWise homepage, and the HomeWise closing costs calculator prices the title, escrow, transfer tax, and recording lines a seller would otherwise carry, which is the only way to see what covering them is worth on a specific house.
Zero fees is not the same as more money. The Macon example nets about $8,200 more through a listing, and that is the common result for a house in decent shape in a steady market. The direct sale wins when the repair list is real, when three months of carrying costs are not affordable, or when a financed buyer’s lender is the risk the seller cannot take. Sellers checking for a catch should ask for the terms in writing and read the settlement statement line by line, whoever the buyer is.
Frequently asked questions
Does HomeWise charge anything to request an offer?
No. The company states that an offer is free and carries no obligation, and that no commission, listing fee or service fee is charged if the sale goes ahead. Any buyer asking a seller for an application fee, a processing charge or a deposit before closing is describing something other than a normal purchase.
How much are closing costs for a seller in a normal sale?
The HomeWise calculator page puts typical seller closing costs at 1 to 3 percent of the sale price, separate from commission, with the owner’s title policy, the settlement fee and transfer taxes the largest pieces. Rates differ sharply by state and county, so a percentage from a national article is a starting point, not a quote.
If there is no commission, what still comes out of the proceeds?
The mortgage payoff, any recorded lien or judgment against the property, and the seller’s prorated share of property taxes and HOA dues through the closing date. The title company deducts those from the purchase price and wires the balance. A seller with thin equity can still walk away with very little.
Is a no-fee sale always the better financial outcome?
Not usually, for a house that needs little work. A listed sale on a tidy property often nets more even after commission, closing costs and three months of carrying costs. The comparison worth running is the net figure from each path on the same house, on the same date, with the repair bill included.
Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial advice, investment advice, or any other type of advice. You should seek the advice of a qualified financial advisor or other professional before making any financial decisions.
