How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House in Del Mar?

by Zach Arrington

Updated October 2026

Selling a house in Del Mar costs, for most owners, the agreed broker commission plus a short list of smaller charges, and the main government charge set by law is the San Diego County documentary transfer tax of $0.55 for every $500 of price, or $1.10 per $1,000. On a $4,450,000 sale, the September 2026 median for single family homes in ZIP 92014, that tax is $4,895, while every 1 percent of commission equals $44,500. The condition that changes the math most is the commission you negotiate, followed by price reductions and repair credits; state withholding can also hold back 3 1/3 percent of the price at closing if you do not qualify for an exemption.

I am Zach Arrington, Broker Associate with Real, and I work the coastal corridor from Carmel Valley to Cardiff, tracking the 92014 market closely. When a Del Mar owner asks me what selling will cost, I build the answer from published rates rather than a rule of thumb. That is what this page does.

Where this applies: homes and condos in ZIP 92014 in San Diego County. That ZIP includes addresses in the City of Del Mar and addresses that are in the City of San Diego, which I explain in Is a Del Mar 92014 address actually in the City of Del Mar? It does not cover commercial property, 1031 exchanges, or the income tax you may owe on a gain, which is a question for your CPA.

What selling costs in Del Mar at today's prices

At recent 92014 prices, government transfer tax is a few thousand dollars, while commission and withholding are measured in tens of thousands. The table below uses the September 2026 medians from San Diego MLS market statistics plus one midpoint price.

Sale price	Transfer tax ($0.55 per $500)	Each 1% of commission	California withholding if no exemption (3 1/3%)
$1,099,900 (92014 condo median, Sept. 2026)	$1,210	$10,999	$36,627
$2,500,000 (illustration)	$2,750	$25,000	$83,250
$4,450,000 (92014 single family median, Sept. 2026)	$4,895	$44,500	$148,185

Method: I applied the rate in California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 11911 to each price after rounding the price up to the next $500, multiplied each price by 1 percent, and multiplied each price by .0333, the rate in FTB Publication 1016. I ran the arithmetic in code. Withholding is a prepayment of state income tax, not a fee, and many sellers are exempt, as explained below.

The documentary transfer tax

The documentary transfer tax is $0.55 per $500 of value, collected by the San Diego County Recorder when the deed records. State law lets counties impose it on a deed when the value conveyed, not counting any lien that stays on the property, exceeds $100. The Recorder says it collects the tax for the county and the cities. Whether your 92014 address is in the City of Del Mar or the City of San Diego, the transfer tax line on your escrow estimate is the number to rely on.

Who pays is set by your purchase contract. A title company table of California transfer tax practices lists the seller as the customary payer in San Diego County, so plan on it unless you negotiate otherwise.

Commission is the largest cost, and it is negotiable

Commission is set by agreement, not by law. California requires every listing agreement for a home with up to four units to print this notice in bold above the pay terms: "The amount or rate of real estate commissions is not fixed by law." The notice continues that commissions are set by each broker and may be negotiable between the seller and broker.

That is why the table shows the value of each 1 percent instead of a single total. Compare what each agent will do on pricing, preparation, marketing and negotiation, not only the rate.

Withholding: money held back at closing

California generally requires escrow to withhold 3 1/3 percent of the total sales price unless the seller qualifies for an exemption. FTB Publication 1016 says withholding is not required when the price is $100,000 or less, and a seller is exempt for a principal residence when, during the five years ending on the sale date, the seller owned the home for at least two years and used it as a principal residence for any two years. Sellers can also elect an alternative calculation based on estimated gain.

If a seller is a foreign person under federal tax law, the IRS says FIRPTA withholding is generally 15 percent of the amount realized. On a $4,450,000 sale, that would be $667,500 held at closing. If that could apply to you, talk with a tax professional before you list.

Condo and HOA costs

If you are selling a Del Mar condo or a home in an association, the HOA can charge the seller for the resale documents, but California limits what it can charge on a transfer. Civil Code Section 4575 bars an association from collecting fees in connection with a transfer except its actual cost to change its records and the document fee allowed under Section 4530, which must be a reasonable fee based on the association's actual cost to prepare the documents. Ask your HOA management company for its current fee schedule early, because buyers expect these documents during escrow.

Disclosures and hazard reports

California's natural hazard disclosure rules apply to sales of single family homes when the property sits in a mapped hazard zone, such as a FEMA special flood hazard area in any Zone A or Zone V, subject to the conditions and exemptions in Civil Code Sections 1103 through 1103.1. I recommend ordering a natural hazard report early and checking the FEMA flood map for your exact address, because a flood zone can affect a buyer's insurance quote and therefore the offer.

Property taxes when you sell in November or December

If you close in late fall, your escrow will deal with the first installment of the 2026 to 2027 tax bill. The San Diego County Treasurer Tax Collector says the first installment is due on November 1 and becomes delinquent after December 10, and the second installment is due February 1 and becomes delinquent after April 10. Escrow splits the taxes between buyer and seller according to your contract, so the line on your settlement statement may be a charge or a credit.

What the 92014 market says right now

Price and negotiation usually move your net proceeds more than any fee. According to San Diego MLS market statistics for ZIP 92014, five single family homes closed in September 2026 at a median of $4,450,000, a median of 51 days on market, and a sale to list price ratio of 93 percent. Five condos and townhomes closed at a median of $1,099,900, with a median of 6 days on market and a 98 percent ratio. Each figure comes from fewer than 10 sales, so I would not read a trend into either month. For comparison, San Diego County recorded 1,186 single family closings at a median of $1,075,000 that month. ZIP codes do not match city or neighborhood lines exactly.

For a seller, the useful signal is the gap between list price and sale price. On a $4,450,000 home, every 1 percent of price given up in negotiation is $44,500, the same as a full point of commission.

What I tell sellers in Del Mar

Before you sign a listing agreement, ask escrow for a written estimated net sheet at three prices: your hoped for price, a realistic price, and a price 5 percent lower. Confirm the transfer tax, loan payoff, escrow and title charges, HOA document fees and any withholding, and check whether you qualify for a Form 593 exemption. Gather HOA documents, permits and a hazard report before you go live; surprises during escrow cost far more than preparation.

Long time Del Mar owners should also ask a CPA about the federal home sale exclusion. The IRS says you may qualify to exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or up to $500,000 on a joint return, if you meet the ownership and use tests of two years out of the last five.

I am Zach Arrington, and with more than $40 million in career sales, I help owners up and down the coast run these numbers before they decide whether and when to sell. For how prices compare next door, see What do homes and condos sell for in Solana Beach in 2026?

Frequently asked questions

How much are seller closing costs in Del Mar?

There is no fixed total, because the largest item, commission, is negotiated. The main government piece is the San Diego County documentary transfer tax of $0.55 per $500 of price, which is $4,895 on a $4,450,000 sale. Escrow, title, HOA document fees and any repairs or credits are added on top, so ask escrow for a written net sheet.

What is the real estate transfer tax in San Diego County?

The documentary transfer tax is $0.55 for each $500 of value, which equals $1.10 per $1,000. The County Recorder collects it when the deed records, and it is figured on the value conveyed, not counting any lien that remains on the property.

Who pays the transfer tax in San Diego County, buyer or seller?

The purchase contract decides who pays. A title company table of California practices lists the seller as the customary payer in San Diego County, so most Del Mar sellers should budget for it.

Do realtors still charge 6 percent?

No rate is set by law. California requires listing agreements to state that the amount or rate of commissions is not fixed by law and may be negotiable between the seller and broker. Compare what each broker will do for the fee, not only the percentage.

Will California withhold tax when I sell my Del Mar home?

Escrow generally withholds 3 1/3 percent of the sales price unless you qualify for an exemption. Common exemptions include a price of $100,000 or less and a principal residence that you owned and lived in for at least two of the last five years. You claim exemptions on FTB Form 593.

Can my HOA charge a transfer fee when I sell my condo?

California Civil Code Section 4575 limits an association to its actual cost to change its records plus the document fee allowed under Section 4530. The document fee must be reasonable and based on the association's actual cost, so request the fee schedule before you list.

When are property taxes due if I sell in the fall?

The first installment of the San Diego County secured tax bill is due November 1 and becomes delinquent after December 10. Escrow divides the year's taxes between buyer and seller under your contract, so your statement will show either a charge or a credit.

Do I pay capital gains tax when I sell my home in Del Mar?

You may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or up to $500,000 on a joint return, if you meet the IRS ownership and use tests of two years out of the last five. Gains above the exclusion may be taxable, so confirm your situation with a CPA before you sell.

Talk with me about your Del Mar sale

If you are weighing a sale in Del Mar, I will walk you through a net sheet for your home and connect you with trusted escrow, title and tax professionals. Call or text Zach Arrington at (619) 374-5339 or email zach@zarealtygroup.com.

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice, and no outcome is guaranteed.

Zach Arrington, DRE 02135675, Real Broker, LLC