By Michael Oliver, Oliver Realty 520-800-8922 or Michael@OliverRealty.net

Selling your home in the Tucson metro—including Oro Valley, Dove Mountain, Marana, Catalina Foothills, and the Tanque Verde Valley—comes with more variables than most homeowners expect. In today’s shifting market, buyers have regained leverage, selling costs have changed, and strategic representation matters more than ever.

As the owner and lead listing agent at Oliver Realty, my mission is clear: help you sell your home for the highest possible price while minimizing unnecessary expenses and protecting your bottom line. Here’s what sellers need to know right now.

1. Realtor Commission Costs

At Oliver Realty, we built our model on transparency, efficiency, and seller-first strategy.

Our Standard Listing Fee:

3% + $999

If Your Home Was Previously Listed in the Last 3 Years:

3.25% + $999

Previously-listed homes require more expertise, elevated marketing, and stronger negotiation to bring to closing—which is exactly what we specialize in.

2. Buyer’s Agent Fees (Co-Ops): A Critical—and Often Misunderstood—Seller Expense

Many brokerages still require sellers to prepay the buyer’s agent commission, known as the co-op fee.

Typical buyer’s agent fee: 2.5% to 3.5%

And it is often layered on top of the listing fee, making it one of the biggest expenses in the transaction.

At Oliver Realty:

We strongly advise sellers NOT to offer this fee upfront.

Because giving away thousands before the negotiation even begins is not how you protect your equity.

Instead, we:

• Negotiate the buyer’s agent fee as part of the deal

• Assess buyer strength and structure

• Push back on inflated fee demands

• Reduce unnecessary compensation requests

• Save sellers thousands by treating co-ops as negotiable—not automatic

This strategy has delivered major savings for our clients and remains one of the most powerful tools we use to defend seller equity.

3. Market Discounts: What Buyers Are Actually Paying

Current data shows:

Homes are selling at roughly 95.7% of the original list price.

Buyers are negotiating harder, and pricing must be both strategic and accurate.

We use deep neighborhood-level experience to position your home to close that gap and maximize your final sale price.

4. Repair Costs in Today’s Inspection Climate

Buyers are pushing harder during inspections than they have in many years.

Average seller repair cost: 0.5%–1% of the price

We use negotiation expertise, contractor bids, and inspection analysis to minimize these concessions and protect your final net.

5. Buyer Closing Cost Requests

Another major trend:

Buyers frequently request $10,000+ in seller-paid closing costs.

Typically used for rate buy-downs.

We actively negotiate these demands down and have successfully eliminated or reduced them in many transactions.

6. Title Insurance & Escrow Fees

Title Insurance: $1,500–$3,000

Escrow Fees: $500–$1,000

Standard in Arizona and based on home value and title history.

7. HOA Fees Required from the Seller

Sellers in HOAs are legally required to provide governing documents and financials.

Typical HOA disclosure fee: ~$400

Mandatory under Arizona law.

8. Septic Certification (If Applicable)

Homes with septic systems—common in Marana, Tanque Verde Valley, and fringe areas of Oro Valley—must be inspected, pumped, and certified before transfer.

Typical cost: $500–$1,000

Selling With Strategy and Confidence

Selling a home in the Tucson area requires understanding today’s costs and having a broker who knows how to fight for every dollar.

At Oliver Realty, we:

• Reduce unnecessary fees

• Treat buyer’s agent fees as negotiable—not automatic

• Minimize repair and closing cost concessions

• Price homes with precision

• Protect your net proceeds at every turn

• Deliver hands-on expert representation, not a team of assistants

When equity matters, experience matters.

Thinking of selling?

Call or email anytime for a no-pressure valuation and a custom cost breakdown for your home:

📞 520-800-8922
📧 Michael@OliverRealty.net

Michael Oliver
Broker/Owner – Oliver Realty
Your Tucson Area Home-Selling Expert