Frank Heron • August 10, 2026
Cash Buyer vs. Listing With an Agent in Southwest Florida: The Real Math
Costs of a traditional listing
- Agent commissions. Commissions are negotiable. Sellers often pay their own agent and sometimes contribute to the buyer’s agent.
- Documentary stamp tax. In Florida, the seller customarily pays doc stamps on the deed at $0.70 per $100 of the sale price. On a $350,000 sale, that’s $2,450.
- Owner’s title insurance. In most Southwest Florida counties, the seller customarily pays for the buyer’s owner’s title policy, often a couple thousand dollars.
- Repairs and prep. Paint, flooring, landscaping, and anything the buyer’s inspector or lender flags, often a roof or AC in older homes.
- Holding costs. Mortgage, insurance, taxes, utilities, pool and lawn care for every month the house sits.
- Buyer concessions. Credits negotiated after the inspection.
- Deals that fall apart. Financing or insurance problems can push you back to square one.
What a cash sale removes
- No commission
- Buyer pays the closing costs
- No repairs, cleaning or showings
- No financing contingency and a closing date you choose
When listing makes more sense
When a cash sale makes more sense