Can I make the buyer pay all the closing costs?

Short answer: you can ask, and in a strong seller's market you will sometimes get it. But "buyer pays closing costs" is usually a worse deal than it sounds, and there is a better way to think about the whole question. One of the answers above already put a finger on the right frame, which is net proceeds rather than costs. Let me build that out with the actual mechanics, because nobody has given you any. Here is the thing about shifting costs to a buyer. A buyer has a budget, and it is built around cash to close and monthly payment. Every dollar of your costs you push onto them comes out of what they can offer on price. So you usually are not creating money, you are moving it from one line to another and calling it a win. A buyer who pays $8,000 of your costs will very often offer $8,000 less. Sometimes more than that, because it hits their cash at closing, which is the tightest constraint most buyers have. That is why the number to negotiate is your net, not your costs. Now, the mechanics worth knowing, since you asked how to keep costs low. Commission is negotiable, and it is your largest single line item. It is not set by any association, any MLS or any law. That does not mean shop for the cheapest, because a 1 percent savings evaporates against a 3 percent shortfall on price. It means get each agent's marketing plan in writing, then negotiate the fee against that plan. Ask about a graduated structure too, a lower base rate up to a target price and a higher rate above it, so their incentive to push for the last increment matches yours. Escrow, title and settlement services are often shoppable, though customs on who selects the provider vary by area. Ask your agent what is customary locally and whether there is room. And know which costs are customarily seller-side in your area versus genuinely negotiable, because that varies by state and sometimes by county. Ask your agent for the local custom list. Fighting the custom on a small item can cost you goodwill you would rather spend on a big one. Now the flip side, and this is the piece with real numbers behind it, because it is the direction that actually comes up in most deals. Buyers frequently ask sellers to pay their closing costs, and the amount is capped by the buyer's loan program: Conventional: 3 percent of price if the buyer puts down less than 10 percent, 6 percent at 10 to just under 25 percent down, 9 percent at 25 percent or more. FHA: 6 percent of the lesser of price or appraised value. VA: generally up to 4 percent in seller concessions, with ordinary closing costs treated separately. Know those, because the common structure is a buyer offering a higher price in exchange for you covering some of their costs. That can be a genuinely good trade for you, since your net is what matters and a higher price with a concession can beat a lower price without one. Just run the arithmetic rather than reacting to the headline number. One hard constraint on that trade: if the buyer is financed, the lender lends against the appraisal. Raise the price to fund a concession and it still has to appraise. That is the ceiling on the whole maneuver and it is where these deals fall apart. So the practical answer to your question. In a market with more buyers than houses, you have room to push costs to the buyer and it may stick. In a balanced or slow market, asking a buyer to cover your costs mostly just reduces your offers. Ask your agent for two numbers before you decide: months of inventory and the average sale-to-list ratio in your price band. Those tell you which market you are actually in, and therefore how much of this is available to you. And ask for a seller net sheet at three different price points before you list. Seeing the bottom line side by side settles most of these questions on its own. I am a real estate professional, not a lender or an attorney, so confirm the loan program specifics with a loan officer once you know what your buyer is using. My name is Zoltan Peresztegi and I work in Los Angeles, the South Bay and on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, so I am not your Arizona agent and Jerome is a small and unusual market where local knowledge counts for a lot. If you want an introduction to a strong listing agent in the Verde Valley area, message me and I will make one. Zoltan

Greg, this is not typical. Your costs or financial situation is not the responsibility of the buyer. Keith Jean-Pierre Managing Principal The Dapper Agents Real Estate Operations in ALL 50 States

Yes, but it depends on market conditions and loan type. In a strong seller’s market this is more common, while buyers often negotiate credits in slower markets.

Absolutely!

You definitely need a experienced real estate professional to help you here! They have a fiduciary responsibility to advise you on how to get the highest profit out of the sale of your property. Lean on their advise. Closing costs are always negotiable.

You can negotiate with the buyer to pay the closing costs but that depends on the market. If your home is desired by many buyers then yes if you do not have more than one buyer then it would be harder to negotiate that the buyer pays all costs. They can give concessions for pre-paids, tax prorations and closing costs but they cannot pay your down payment.

Yes, you can. The first thing I would do is make sure your home is in the best condition you can make it so you can maximize showings=offers, Then you want multiple offers to bring the offer price above the listing price. If the buyer is asking for closing costs those are figured into the final price, so that would make any offer with it weaker. Lastly, you always negotiate to maximize your profit.

All of this depends on the market and the current situation. It is possible, however, it will depend on what the normal of market that we are facing at the time of listing and going under contract. There are a lot of factors that go into the listing process and it is really based on your personal situation. A great listing agent can personally walk you through the options to net the most money for your home. After all that is their area of expertise and knowledge to NET you the most money possible. I would recommend asking a professional listing agent in your market to review this for your home and market area to give you the best possible outcome.

Sure, but I would focus on your net proceeds and negotiating the purchase price to meet your goal for net proceeds.