List free

Selling guide · Riverside County, CA

Sell your home, one step at a time

Answer a few questions about your home. Then we walk you through each step in plain words: what to do, what it costs, and who gets it. The official rules are there too, if you want them. Confused by a word? See plain-English meanings.

General information for California sellers, not legal advice. DTO Homes is not a law firm or broker.Verify with a California real estate attorney or escrow officer.
Selling from your own living trust?Most steps still apply. Choose “A trust I manage” below and we’ll mark the ones to check with your attorney.This guide doesn’t fully coverProbate or estate sales · court-ordered or foreclosure sales · tenant-occupied homes · manufactured or mobile homes · seller-carried financing · paying off or transferring PACE/HERO liens (talk to escrow) · city-specific local forms. For those, talk to a California real estate attorney before you list.
1. Tell us about your homeAnswer what you can. “Not sure” is fine.

We filled in the most common answers to start. Please check each one. Your plan changes with your answers.

Who is selling and how? (choose all that apply)

On your tax bill, the Assessor record or your NHD report.

 
What kind of property is it?
Do you have a mortgage or home equity loan on it?A mortgage is the loan you used to buy the house.
Is it in an HOA (homeowners association)?An HOA is a group you pay monthly dues to, common in condos and planned neighborhoods.
Is it in a high or very high fire hazard zone?Not sure? Choose “Not sure” and we’ll show you how to check.
Does your tax bill show Mello-Roos, a CFD, 1915 Act bonds or other special assessments?These are extra taxes on your property tax bill, common in newer neighborhoods. Not sure is fine.
Is there a PACE or HERO loan (solar or energy-efficiency) on your property tax bill?A loan for solar or energy upgrades that you pay through your property tax bill.
Any gas appliance, fireplace or attached garage?
Septic tank or private well instead of city sewer or water?
Solar panels?
Will you accept an offer within 18 months of the date you got title, and did a contractor you hired (licensed or not) do work since then?Only matters if you bought the house recently and hired workers to fix it up.
Have you owned and lived in it as your main home for at least 2 of the last 5 years?This affects your taxes. It’s usually “Yes” if it’s been your home for a while.
Are you 55+ (or severely disabled) and buying another California home?If yes, you may be able to keep your lower property tax on your next home.
Are you a foreign person for U.S. tax purposes?Most U.S. citizens and green card holders answer “No.”
Will you hire a real estate attorney to help?We strongly suggest it. California flat-fee help from offer to closing often costs about $3,800–$5,000; a one-time contract review usually costs less.

Not sure about your fire zone? Check the CAL FIRE map ↗. Use the map viewer; if you’re inside a city, check the 2025 Local Responsibility Area map. New 2025 maps added zones in many cities.

Part 1 of 6: Get readyStep 1 of 12 in this part

Get your house and your papers ready before buyers see it.

Know your numbers

Recommended

Figure out how much money you’ll keep. Take the price, subtract what you still owe on the house, then subtract the selling costs.

What to do

  1. Call your mortgage company and ask, “What’s my payoff amount?”
  2. Look at the cost estimate at the bottom of this page.
  3. Write down the lowest price you’d accept.
When
Before you set your price.
Cost
Free
Who gets it
Just for you.
More detail and the official rules
What it is
A rough net sheet: sale price minus your loan payoff and selling costs equals what you walk away with.
Why
So you can price with confidence and know your lowest acceptable offer.
How
  1. Ask your lender for a payoff estimate.
  2. Check the cost estimate at the end of this guide.
  3. Subtract both from your expected price.
Cost
Free
Goes to
Just for you.

Costs

What selling will cost you

Typical ranges for a Riverside County sale, based on your answers. Your escrow officer gives you exact numbers on the estimated closing statement.

CostPaid toLowHigh
County transfer tax ($0.55 per $500)Riverside County Recorder$688$688
City of Riverside transfer tax ($0.55 per $500)Collected by the County Recorder for the City of Riverside$688$688
Escrow fee (your half, by local custom)Escrow company$1,675$1,900
Owner’s title insurance (seller pays by local custom)Title company$1,725$2,013
Natural Hazard Disclosure reportNHD company$50$100
Termite inspectionPest company$0$300
Notary, courier and wire fees (Gov. Code 8211)Notary / escrow$90$420
Recording fees (clearing old loans from the title)Riverside County Recorder$30$100
Loan payoff paperwork (payoff statement and release)Your lender / escrow$75$250
State tax form fee (Form 593), if anyEscrow company$0$45
Real estate attorney (flat fee, offer to closing)Your attorney$3,800$5,000
DTO Homes listing (free during our Riverside County launch)DTO Homes$0$0
Total estimate$8,820$11,503
Not included aboveYour mortgage payoff, property tax and HOA prorations, repairs or credits you agree to, and a buyer’s agent fee if you agree to pay one. These come out of your proceeds at closing.For comparison, a 2.5% listing agent commission alone on $625,000 would be $15,625.

What could I walk away with?

Ask your lender for a payoff amount. Saved on this device only.

Only if you agree to pay one. Leave blank if not.

Sale price$625,000
You could walk away with$613,498 to $616,180

An estimate before property tax and HOA prorations. Your escrow officer’s closing statement has the real number. Weighing several offers? Compare offers side by side.

If a law link doesn’t open, search the section number at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov ↗

Want your plan on every device? Sign in or create a free account.

Selling guide · DTO Homes