If you’re like many Illinoisans, your home is probably your most significant financial asset. Selling it is not a decision to take lightly. Whether you’re planning to move to another state, transitioning to the suburbs, or downsizing, you want the selling process to be as seamless as possible while maximizing your proceeds. As you formulate your strategy, make sure you understand the potential costs associated with selling. This article outlines the expenses you may encounter and provides expert insights to give you a clearer picture of the cost of selling a house in Illinois. Similar to trends across the nation, the Illinois housing market is facing high interest rates and increased home prices. “It’s so competitive, but in desirable suburbs, we’re still seeing low inventory, which keeps the prices really strong, and if sellers are preparing and pricing strategically, we’re still seeing multiple offers in the first couple of days,” says Lana Erickson, an Illinois-based Elite Agent with 23 years of real estate experience. Here’s a breakdown of the current real estate landscape in Illinois: Sellers in Illinois should pay attention to the days on market (DOM), which indicates the average time from listing a home to securing a signed purchase agreement. In Illinois, the average DOM is 30 days. Getting a home value estimate is a smart first step to determining the cost of selling a house in Illinois. Given how quickly market values can change, checking your home’s worth is a good idea. You might be pleasantly surprised by its current value. To get a fast online value estimate, try HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator. This free automated valuation model (AVM) tool uses recent sales data, local market trends, and your home’s latest selling price to provide a preliminary value range in under two minutes. To begin, just enter your address. Based on our findings, the cost to sell a home in Illinois typically ranges from 6% to 10% of your selling price. For instance, if you sell your home for $310,000 — the median home price in Illinois — your selling costs could be approximately $18,600 to $31,000. The exact amount you’ll pay depends on your choices regarding home preparations, agent commissions, and any concessions you may offer to the buyer. Let’s look a little closer at what you should consider when estimating the cost of selling a house in Illinois. Erickson notes that the costs associated with selling a house can vary significantly based on Illinois’ fluctuating market. Several factors can affect these expenses, including your home’s size, age, and condition. Below are estimated costs to guide you as you plan your sale. Prepping your Illinois home for sale generally costs between 1.5% and 2.7% of its final sale price. Based on the $310,000 median home price in the state, this could amount to around $4,650 to $8,370. Here are some potential expenses: Consult your agent before undertaking any major projects, such as a kitchen remodel or roof replacement. An experienced Illinois real estate agent can advise you on what repairs are necessary and what not to fix when selling your home. Realtor commissions are among the largest expenses in a real estate transaction. In Illinois, these fees can range from 2.5% to 6%, depending on whether you pay the buyer’s agent commissions, which is no longer a given due to a landmark court ruling that changed commission rules nationwide. Based on the median home price of $310,000 in Illinois, you can expect to pay between $7,750 (2.5%) and $18,600 (6%) in Realtor commissions. While agent commissions may seem high, working with a skilled professional can help you maximize your proceeds. HomeLight transaction data indicates that the top 5% of agents nationwide sell homes for as much as 10% more than the average agent. Later in this post, we’ll look at how commissions affect your total selling costs in our at-a-glance analysis chart.Housing trends in Illinois
As of April 2025 Days on market 30 days Median home sale price $310,000 Percentage of homes sold for cash 0.1% Population growth year over year +0.53% Start with a home value estimate
How much does it cost to sell a house in Illinois?
What are common expenses for sellers in Illinois?
Prepping your house for sale
Realtor fees in Illinois
