Westchester Seller Closing Costs: The Complete 2027 Breakdown

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Seller Guide
Westchester County, NY
2027

Westchester Seller Closing Costs: The Complete 2027 Breakdown

Westchester sellers pay substantial closing costs that most underestimate before listing. Here is the complete 2027 breakdown — transfer taxes, broker commission, attorney fees, flip taxes, and what sellers net after all costs.

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Tami Earnest — Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, Compass • Scarsdale Resident
Published • Updated

What closing costs do Westchester sellers pay in 2027?

Westchester seller closing costs typically run 7-9% of the sale price and include broker commission (5-6%), New York State and NYC/county transfer taxes (1-1.4% combined), attorney fees ($2,500-$4,500), and any co-op flip tax where applicable (1-3% for co-ops). On a $1.2M Westchester single-family sale, total seller costs run approximately $90,000-$110,000 before mortgage payoff. Understanding the full cost structure before listing — not after accepting an offer — is what allows sellers to make informed decisions about their net proceeds.

Westchester sellers consistently underestimate their closing costs until they see the final settlement statement. Here is the full picture before you list.

The Complete Westchester Seller Cost Stack — 2027

Cost Item$700K Sale$1.2M Sale$1.8M Sale
Broker commission (5.5%)$38,500$66,000$99,000
NYS transfer tax (0.4%)$2,800$4,800$7,200
Westchester county tax (1%)$7,000$12,000$18,000
Attorney fees$2,500–$3,500$3,000–$4,500$3,500–$5,000
Co-op flip tax (if applicable, 2%)$14,000 (if co-op)$24,000 (if co-op)N/A (est.)
Total seller costs (single-family est.)~$51,000–$53,000~$86,000–$88,000~$128,000–$130,000

Flip tax varies by co-op building (0-3%). Verify all figures with your attorney before listing. Seller costs above are before mortgage payoff and any pre-sale repair credits.

For the negotiation context where seller concessions occasionally add to these costs, see Westchester seller negotiation strategy in 2027.

The Transfer Tax Picture in Westchester

Westchester sellers pay two separate transfer taxes: the New York State Real Property Transfer Tax (0.4% of the sale price) and the Westchester County Transfer Tax (1% of the sale price). Combined, these total 1.4% of the sale price — $9,800 on a $700,000 sale and $16,800 on a $1.2M sale.

Unlike some other jurisdictions, Westchester County's transfer tax applies to all residential sales without a minimum threshold (unlike NYC's mansion tax, which only applies above $1M). The county tax is paid by the seller at closing through the attorney's escrow process and does not require separate action by the seller.

For co-op sellers: the transfer taxes apply differently because co-op sales involve the transfer of shares (not real property). Confirm with your attorney how the specific transfer taxes apply to your co-op sale, as the structure can vary from building to building based on the proprietary lease terms.

For the co-op-specific seller considerations, see Westchester seller questions I hear most often.

Calculating Your Net Proceeds Before Accepting Any Offer

Before listing — ideally before the first agent conversation — sellers should calculate their estimated net proceeds at several different sale price scenarios. This calculation prevents the surprise of discovering that a sale price that seemed acceptable leaves less than expected after costs and mortgage payoff.

The calculation: Sale price − broker commission − transfer taxes − attorney fees − flip tax (if applicable) − mortgage payoff balance − any negotiated repair credits or concessions = estimated net proceeds. Your attorney can provide the exact mortgage payoff amount; your agent can provide the commission and tax figures. Running this calculation at $1.1M, $1.2M, and $1.3M sale price scenarios before listing gives you a clear picture of what each price level actually means for your financial situation.

Sellers who discover their net is insufficient after accepting an offer are in a difficult position. Sellers who calculated net proceeds before listing have a clear picture going in and can make informed decisions about pricing, timing, and whether to proceed with the sale at all.

For the complete timeline picture that frames when these costs are paid, see the Westchester home selling timeline in 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

What closing costs do Westchester home sellers pay in 2027?
Westchester sellers typically pay 7-9% of the sale price in closing costs: broker commission (5-6%), NYS transfer tax (0.4%), Westchester County transfer tax (1%), attorney fees ($2,500-$4,500), and co-op flip tax where applicable (0-3%). On a $1.2M single-family sale, total seller costs run approximately $86,000-$88,000 before mortgage payoff. On a comparable co-op with a 2% flip tax, add approximately $24,000.
What is the Westchester County transfer tax for sellers?
The Westchester County Real Estate Transfer Tax is 1% of the sale price, paid by the seller at closing. On a $900,000 Westchester sale, this is $9,000. Combined with the New York State transfer tax (0.4%), total transfer taxes for Westchester sellers run 1.4% of the sale price. The county tax applies to all residential sales without a minimum threshold.
What is a co-op flip tax in Westchester?
A co-op flip tax is a charge to the selling shareholder paid to the cooperative corporation upon the transfer of shares. The amount and structure vary by building — most Westchester co-ops charge 1-3% of the sale price, though some calculate it differently (per share or as a percentage of gains). The flip tax is specified in the building's proprietary lease. Sellers should confirm their specific building's flip tax before listing, as it materially affects net proceeds calculation.
How do I calculate my net proceeds from a Westchester home sale?
Net proceeds = Sale price − broker commission − NYS and county transfer taxes − attorney fees − flip tax (co-op) − mortgage payoff balance − any repair credits or concessions. Run this calculation at multiple sale price scenarios before listing. Your attorney can provide the current mortgage payoff amount; your listing agent can estimate commission, taxes, and likely concessions based on market conditions.
Who pays transfer taxes in a Westchester real estate transaction?
In Westchester, the seller typically pays both the NYS Real Property Transfer Tax (0.4%) and the Westchester County Transfer Tax (1%). These are standard seller costs and are reflected in every settlement statement. In commercial or unusual transactions, these allocations can occasionally be addressed in the contract, but in standard residential sales they are seller obligations.
Thinking About Selling in Westchester?
I live in Scarsdale and represent sellers across Westchester every year. Happy to give you an honest current market analysis and walk through what selling looks like in your specific town.

Seller Resources

Westchester seller closing costs in 2027 run 7-9% of sale price: broker commission (5-6%), NYS transfer tax (0.4%), Westchester County transfer tax (1%), attorney fees, and co-op flip tax where applicable. On a $1.2M single-family sale, total seller costs run approximately $86,000-$88,000 before mortgage payoff. Calculate net proceeds at multiple price scenarios before listing — discovering the net is insufficient after accepting an offer creates a difficult position that pre-listing calculation prevents.

Run the net proceeds calculation before listing, not after accepting an offer — knowing your number going in is what makes pricing decisions informed rather than reactive.

Tami Earnest is a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson with Compass and a Scarsdale resident, serving Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Westchester County. 15+ years, 1,300+ transactions, $164M+.
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Tami Earnest
Tami Earnest
Scarsdale Resident • Compass
Manhattan · Brooklyn · Westchester

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