Selling a house in Birmingham at June 2026’s median sale price of $1,020,000 costs roughly $39,802 to $81,202 all in, about 3.9% to 8.0% of the sale price. That is a negotiable listing commission, an optional buyer agent concession, Michigan’s fixed transfer tax, and title and closing fees, line by line below. The model and sources are the same ones behind our statewide cost to sell a house in Michigan guide; the numbers here are computed at Birmingham’s own market prices from our June Birmingham housing market report.
What selling costs in Birmingham at the June median
| Line item | Low end | High end | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listing agent commission (2.5% to 3%, negotiable) | $25,500 | $30,600 | Clever Feb 2026 MI survey; fully negotiable post NAR |
| Buyer agent concession (0% to 3%, optional) | $0 | $30,600 | NAR settlement rules (Aug 2024) |
| Michigan state transfer tax ($7.50 per $1,000) | $7,650 | $7,650 | MCL 207.525, seller pays |
| Oakland County transfer tax ($1.10 per $1,000) | $1,122 | $1,122 | MCL 207.504 |
| Owner’s title insurance (est. 0.5% to 1%) | $5,100 | $10,200 | Houzeo MI rate guide; get an exact quote |
| Settlement and closing fee | $400 | $1,000 | Houzeo and Clever estimates |
| Recording the mortgage discharge | $30 | $30 | Clever MI closing cost data |
| Total | ≈ $39,802 (3.9%) | ≈ $81,202 (8.0%) | computed at the June median |
At Zillow’s steadier $750,135 typical value, the same model runs about $29,388 to $59,994, with $6,454 of that being transfer tax.
Transfer tax on a Birmingham sale
Michigan’s transfer tax is fixed by statute at $8.60 per $1,000 of sale price: $7.50 to the state under MCL 207.525 and $1.10 to Oakland County under MCL 207.504, and the seller pays it under MCL 207.523. On a $1,020,000 Birmingham sale that is $8,772, collected when the deed records with the Oakland County Register of Deeds in Pontiac. The statute rounds the taxable amount up to the next $500 increment.
Commission in Birmingham is negotiable, in writing
Michigan agents quoted an average total commission of 6.20% in Clever’s February 2026 survey, but since the NAR settlement took effect in August 2024 every commission is negotiable by law and disclosed in writing. In practice Birmingham listing commissions commonly land between 2.5% and 3%. Ask any agent you interview to defend their fee with a marketing plan and net proceeds math; our guide to choosing a Birmingham realtor covers exactly what to ask.
What Birmingham’s market does to your selling costs
Read Birmingham’s June median carefully before you budget: $1,020,000 printed on just 38 closings in a luxury heavy month, and Zillow’s typical value of $750,135 is the steadier gauge for most homes. At a 54 day median, Birmingham rewards patient, precise launch pricing, and prep budgets here genuinely scale with the property, so the table below shows the math at both numbers. June numbers: 38 homes sold, 54 day median on market, median price up 46.4% year over year on just 38 closings, per our Birmingham market report.
Your estimated net at the June median
Sell at $1,020,000 and the model above leaves an estimated $938,798 to $980,198 before mortgage payoff. The single biggest swing is the buyer agent concession, worth up to $30,600: whether you offer one should be a pricing strategy decision made with live comps, not a default.
Selling for cash instead
If speed matters more than the last dollar, a direct cash offer trades some price for zero prep, zero showings, and a closing date you pick. We always show both numbers side by side so you can decide with the math in front of you: see how a cash offer compares to listing.
What is your Birmingham home worth right now?
Every number above starts from the sale price, so the first real step is knowing yours. Request a free valuation built on closed Oakland County comps, no obligation.
What is your home worth? Get both numbers.
Free, no obligation: a live-comp valuation of your home, and a cash offer comparison if you want speed. One form, both numbers, from the team behind 1,000+ five-star reviews.
Birmingham selling cost FAQs
How much does it cost to sell a house in Birmingham, Michigan?
At Birmingham’s June 2026 median sale price of $1,020,000, plan on roughly $39,802 to $81,202 all in, or about 3.9% to 8.0% of the sale price. That covers a negotiable 2.5% to 3% listing commission, an optional buyer agent concession, Michigan’s $8.60 per $1,000 transfer tax, and title and closing fees. Mortgage payoff is separate.
How much is transfer tax on a $1,020,000 home in Birmingham?
$8,772. Michigan charges $7.50 per $1,000 to the state ($7,650) plus $1.10 per $1,000 to Oakland County ($1,122), and the seller pays it by statute. The deed records with the Oakland County Register of Deeds in Pontiac.
Who pays the realtor commission in Birmingham?
The seller pays their own listing commission, typically 2.5% to 3% and negotiable by law since the August 2024 NAR settlement. Whether you also offer compensation or a concession toward the buyer’s agent is now your choice, negotiated deal by deal rather than preset on the MLS.
Sources: MCL 207.525, 207.504 and 207.523 (legislature.mi.gov), Clever Real Estate Michigan commission and closing cost surveys (Feb and July 2026), Houzeo Michigan title insurance guide, and Realcomp MLS June 2026 sales via our Birmingham market report. Computed August 17, 2026. Every figure is an estimate; your closing statement governs.