Last updated October 13, 2026
About this data: The prices and market numbers here come from 7,006 MARIS closed sales across 79 St. Louis-area ZIP codes, 2025–2026. They don’t reflect price changes since then. I’m refreshing this data at the end of 2026 and every six months after that.
The sale price is not your number. The number that matters is what you walk away with after commissions, title, prorated taxes, closing credits, and your mortgage payoff. For most St. Louis sellers, that number is 8 to 11 percent lower than the sale price -- before the mortgage payoff comes out.
Most agents will give you a net sheet at listing. The problem is that net sheets are often built on optimistic assumptions -- full price sale, no concessions, no last-minute credits from inspection. The real number is what you get after a realistic sale with realistic terms. Comparing two offers on net →
Net proceeds on a St. Louis home sale typically run 89 to 92 percent of the sale price before mortgage payoff. At a $250,000 sale price, expect to net approximately $220,000 to $230,000 after commission, title costs, prorated taxes and a cautious repair-concession allowance, before any mortgage balance is paid off.
Usually close to it. In 2026 St. Louis County sales, the median home closed at 100% of its original list price. 46% sold above it, 12% right at it and 42% below it. Homes that sold in their first few days did best.
The same day as closing. That’s called funding, and a sale isn’t considered closed until it has funded. If you close in the afternoon, the money sometimes hits your bank account the next morning.
You can’t estimate your net without a realistic sale price. This pulls actual St. Louis sold data for your area, grouped by condition — pick the range that matches your home, then use it as the starting point for the net math below.
Enter your numbers (or pull a value from the estimator above) to see your estimated net at closing. Commission, title, and concession figures are pre-filled with typical St. Louis defaults — change any of them.
Your net proceeds are calculated as:
What each cost is, who pays it and what’s negotiable: see what it costs to sell in St. Louis.
The following examples use 6% commission, $1,400 title and closing costs, $1,500 estimated prorated taxes, and a 2% repair concession — a cautious assumption, since homes that sell over asking often give none.
| Sale Price | Commission (6%) | Title + Closing | Taxes + Concession | Net (no mortgage) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | -$9,000 | -$1,400 | -$4,500 | $135,100 |
| $200,000 | -$12,000 | -$1,400 | -$5,500 | $181,100 |
| $250,000 | -$15,000 | -$1,400 | -$6,500 | $227,100 |
| $300,000 | -$18,000 | -$1,400 | -$7,500 | $273,100 |
| $350,000 | -$21,000 | -$1,400 | -$8,500 | $319,100 |
| $400,000 | -$24,000 | -$1,400 | -$9,500 | $365,100 |
About $227,100 before your mortgage payoff, assuming 6% commission, $1,400 in title and closing costs, $1,500 in prorated taxes and a cautious 2% repair concession. Subtract your payoff to get the check.
About $365,100 before your mortgage payoff, using the same assumptions: 6% commission, $1,400 in title and closing, $1,500 in prorated taxes and a 2% repair concession.
Net proceeds minus your mortgage payoff equals the cash you receive at closing. Call your lender for a payoff statement -- it will include your remaining principal, accrued interest through a specific date, and any prepayment penalties if applicable. The payoff amount changes daily as interest accrues, so get a statement dated around your expected closing date.
If you have a home equity line of credit or second mortgage, that must also be paid off at closing.
Yes. You’ll need to bring cash to closing to pay off the rest of the mortgage lien.
The single most common source of net proceeds surprise for sellers is an inspection credit or price reduction that was not anticipated. In my experience, homes that sell over asking rarely give a concession unless there’s a major repair. When a repair concession is negotiated, it typically runs $2,000 to $8,000.
A home that has been pre-inspected and had major items addressed before listing reduces this risk significantly. If you know the sewer lateral has a crack that will cost $6,000 to repair, you can either fix it before listing or price accordingly -- rather than learning about it after you are under contract and losing negotiating position.
Sell as-is if you want to sell faster and are willing to take less money. Move-in-ready prices require move-in-ready condition: systems within their serviceable life and in working order, and a passed occupancy inspection where one applies. Fix it first if there’s known upside and the fix-up dollars will come back to you in the price. What not to repair.
There are four levers that meaningfully affect your net proceeds:
Sellers who never cut their price sold for a median 101.5% of their original list in 2026; sellers who cut got 91.6%. On a $300,000 list price, that gap is about $29,700. See when to lower your price.
It can. A missed price costs more when demand is thin: in 2026, the gap between a well-priced home and one that sat was about 2 points in spring and about 14 in January and February. See the seasonal numbers.
Because many net sheets assume a full-price sale with no concessions and no inspection credits. Build yours on a realistic sale instead: a realistic price, a repair concession if the inspection finds something real, and your actual payoff.
Net proceeds and equity are related but not the same thing. Your equity is the difference between the home's value and what you owe. Your net proceeds are the cash you receive after all transaction costs. In a normal sale, net proceeds = equity minus 8 to 11% of sale price in transaction costs.
Sellers who bought in the last few years may have less equity than they expect if they put down a small down payment and the market has not appreciated significantly since purchase. Run the math before you assume you will walk away with a large check.
If you have owned and lived in the home as your primary residence for at least 2 of the last 5 years, you may exclude up to $250,000 of gain from federal capital gains tax ($500,000 for married couples filing jointly). This is not tax advice -- consult a tax professional before closing, particularly if you have owned the home for many years and it has appreciated significantly. The exclusion has requirements and exceptions that matter in specific situations.
This is one piece of the St. Louis seller decision process. Keep comparing your options before you sign anything.
Back to Seller Guides →
Grew up in South St. Louis, lived in Dogtown for 6 years, now in South County. You'll find us at Wellspring on Lindbergh on Sundays. I'm not selling you a house — I'm showing you how to think about buying or selling a house.