Cost of selling a house in the NT
In short
Selling a house in the Northern Territory costs about 2.8% in agent commission (2.5% to 3.3%), 0.5% to 1% of price in marketing and $800 to $2,000 in conveyancing. On a $595,000 sale, the NT mean dwelling price, that is roughly $21,160 to an agent before conveyancing, against helm's $749 paid once.
On this page
Agent commission in the NTMarketing costs in the NTLegal costs and the NT paperworkWorked example: a typical NT saleCooling-off in the NTSelling without an agent in the NTFrequently asked questionsCost of selling in the other statesSourcesSelling a house in the Northern Territory has three main costs: the agent's commission, the marketing budget and the legal work. Only the legal work is required by law; the other two are negotiable. This page has the current numbers, the NT paperwork rules, and a worked example on a typical NT sale, so you can see what an agent would cost on a home like yours before you ask anyone for a quote.
Figures checked 3 September 2026. Sources are listed at the bottom.
Agent commission in the NT
The average commission in the Northern Territory is about 2.8% of the sale price, with quotes typically running 2.5% to 3.3%. Commission is negotiable everywhere in Australia, and it is only paid if the property sells.
The calculator below opens on the NT average and the state's mean dwelling price. Put your own price and rate in.
Pre-filled with the NT average rate and mean dwelling price. Rates are negotiable, so change either if you know yours.
On a sale of
$595,000
Agent commission
2.8% + GST
$16,660
Marketing campaign
Charged on top, midpoint of the NT range
$4,500
Agent total
$21,160
With helm instead
One flat fee, paid once, listed until sold. Founding price, available for a limited time. We'll give notice before it ends.
You'd keep
$20,411
Marketing costs in the NT
Agents usually ask for a marketing budget up front, and you pay it whether or not the property sells. In the Northern Territory that runs 0.5% to 1% of price depending on the campaign: portal listing upgrades, photography, a signboard, print, and sometimes styling on top.
This is the line item sellers most often miss when they compare a percentage fee to a flat one, because it never appears in the commission rate.
Legal costs and the NT paperwork
There is no formal vendor disclosure statement. The contract has to be in a form approved by the Law Society NT or the Registrar. If the property has a pool, a compliance certificate needs to be lodged with the Land Titles Office.
Conveyancing for a seller in the Northern Territory typically costs $800 to $2,000 in professional fees, plus searches and government charges. You pay this whether you sell with an agent or privately, so it is not part of the comparison below.
Worked example: a typical NT sale
Take a $595,000 sale: the ABS mean dwelling price for the Northern Territory, $597,300 in March quarter 2026, rounded to the nearest $5,000.
| What you pay | Cost |
|---|---|
| Commission at 2.8% | $16,660 |
| Marketing (midpoint of the NT range) | $4,500 |
| Agent total, before conveyancing | $21,160 |
| helm, paid once, before conveyancing | $749 |
Conveyancing is extra in both columns and costs about the same either way. The difference is what you are paying someone to do the marketing, the inspections and the negotiation for you. See what helm includes.
Founding price, available for a limited time. We'll give notice before it ends.
Cooling-off in the NT
A buyer gets 4 business days on a private treaty sale, with no penalty if they walk. It can be varied by agreement, and there is no cooling-off at auction. Worth knowing before you accept an offer, because it changes when a sale is actually a sale.
Selling without an agent in the NT
It is legal to sell your own home in the Northern Territory. The legal requirements are about the contract and the disclosure, not about who runs the campaign. The one thing you cannot do as an individual is list directly on realestate.com.au or Domain, which only accept listings from licensed agents. helm's listings reach both portals through a licensed agent on the helm team, and you run the sale yourself. How that works .
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to sell a house in the NT?
On a $595,000 sale, the NT mean dwelling price, an agent costs roughly $21,160 before conveyancing: $16,660 of commission at the 2.8% state average, plus about $4,500 of marketing. Conveyancing adds another $800 to $2,000 whichever way you sell.
What is the average real estate agent commission in the NT?
About 2.8% of the sale price, with quotes typically running 2.5% to 3.3%. Commission is negotiable in the Northern Territory, and it is only paid if the property sells.
Can you sell a house without an agent in the NT?
Yes. The NT rules govern the contract and the disclosure, not who runs the campaign. The one thing an individual cannot do is list directly on realestate.com.au or Domain, which only accept listings from licensed agents. helm reaches both portals through a licensed agent on the helm team while you run the sale yourself.
How long is the cooling-off period in the NT?
A buyer gets 4 business days on a private treaty sale, with no penalty if they walk. It can be varied by agreement, and there is no cooling-off at auction.
Cost of selling in the other states
The commission averages, the marketing ranges and the paperwork all change at the border. Here are the figures and the paperwork for every other state and territory.
Sources
Figures are ranges rather than single numbers, because the underlying surveys disagree and prices move every quarter. Commission, marketing and the NT legal position were all checked 3 September 2026.
- NT Government, buying and selling a home
- Mozo conveyancing costs, June 2026, and Unreserved legal fees by state, August 2026
- Averages from OpenAgent's state pages (August 2026), ranges cross-checked against the bRight Agent 2026 State of the States report and LocalAgentFinder (February 2026). Marketing ranges from OpenAgent (December 2025).
- ABS Total Value of Dwellings, March quarter 2026, released 9 June 2026. The national mean is $1,111,100.
helm does not value properties or give price guidance. The mean dwelling price here is published ABS data, quoted so the worked example has a realistic number in it. Your own sale price will differ.
This page is general information about selling costs in the Northern Territory, not legal advice. Property law differs between states and territories and changes over time, so confirm the requirements for your property and your situation with a licensed conveyancer or solicitor.