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Tennessee Real Estate Sale: Costs & Commission Explained

No table to look up — Tennessee's executor pay is whatever the probate court calls reasonable, informed by local custom rather than a printed schedule.

T.C.A. Title 30

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · Reviewed 2026 · How we calculate

Quick answer: the ordinary 5-6% realtor commission applies the same as any home sale. The executor's own pay is reasonable compensation, decided case by case — there's no statutory percentage at all. See how this plays out for your own numbers in the Tennessee probate real estate sale calculator.

Reasonable compensation, informed by what courts actually approve

How Tennessee courts actually decide: without a fee schedule, judges look at the estate's size and complexity, the time the executor spent, and, notably, what similar Tennessee estates have recently paid — if executors were commonly approved around a certain percentage last year, that becomes a real benchmark for this year's request too.

A rough floor for the smallest estates

Some Tennessee guidance points to a customary minimum around $500 for estates under $50,000 — not a statutory floor, just a practical benchmark courts have tended to find reasonable even for modest, low-complexity administrations.

The other costs stacked on top

CostTypical range
Court filing fees$50 – $1,200
Notifications to heirs/beneficiaries$10 – $300
Probate bond$125 – $2,500 (≈0.5% of estate value)
Realtor commission (illustrative)5% – 6% of sale price

Illustrative ranges from Tennessee probate practice, not fixed statutory amounts.

Facing probate in Tennessee?

A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.

Talk to a Tennessee attorney

These ranges hold up fairly consistently whether the estate is in Shelby, Davidson, Knox, or Hamilton County — local court practice mostly affects the exact filing fee and bond requirement.

Sale costs and commission — frequently asked questions

What does the executor actually earn for handling a Tennessee sale?

Whatever the probate court finds reasonable given the estate's size, the sale's complexity, and local custom — some Tennessee courts have historically approved figures in the low single-digit percentage range, but there's no statutory rate to rely on.

Are there typical minimums for small Tennessee estates?

Some Tennessee guidance suggests a customary minimum around $500 for estates under $50,000, though this is a practical benchmark rather than a statutory floor — the court still decides based on reasonableness.

What other costs come with a Tennessee probate real estate sale?

Court filing fees ($50-$1,200 depending on estate size), notification costs ($10-$300), and a probate bond (commonly $125-$2,500, or roughly 0.5% of estate value) are typical, on top of the ordinary realtor commission.

Who pays the realtor commission on a Tennessee probate house sale?

The estate does, the same as any ordinary sale — typically 5% to 6% of the price, paid out of the proceeds at closing before the remaining cash factors into the estate's accounting.

What does it cost to sell real estate during probate in Tennessee?

The ordinary 5-6% realtor commission applies the same as any home sale. The executor's own pay is reasonable compensation, decided case by case — there's no statutory percentage at all.

Keep going

Tennessee Probate Real Estate Sale CalculatorYour estimate, based on your answers Court Approval to Sell in TennesseeIndependent authority vs. court supervision Capital Gains Tax on the Sale in TennesseeWhy the state bill is usually zero Tennessee Executor Fee CalculatorWhat "reasonable" looks like

This page provides general guidance only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Based on Tennessee's reasonable-compensation standard for executor fees (T.C.A. Title 30). Figures are illustrative ranges from Tennessee probate practice, not statutory amounts. Confirm current figures with a licensed Tennessee attorney or real estate professional before acting.