Definition of "Gross Sales Price"

Jo Ellyn Yturraspe real estate agent

Written by

Jo Ellyn Yturraspeelite badge icon

Coldwell Banker Realty

The definition of gross sales price in real estate refers to the combined cost of a property or listing before subtracting the real estate agent’s commission, sales tax and other auxiliary fees. In short, it is the price, in its entirety, that the buyer must pay in order to purchase the property. This differs from net sales price, the amount that the seller takes away from the transaction. 

In the following section, we will provide an example of the use of gross sales price as opposed to net sales price. 

Example of gross sales price 

Steve is an ambitious real estate investor who makes his living flipping homes on the housing market of several cities around the country. With nearly a decade of experience, Steve has little difficulty making a tidy profit off of each home he invests in. Upon finding a run down but structurally sound two story home for sale in a rapidly growing neighborhood, Steve doesn’t hesitate to quickly snatch it up. 

However, bad fortune awaits Steve in his home flipping enterprises. With a severe market downturn occurring almost overnight in the area the home is located in, the value of the home plummets before it is fully renovated and prepared for sale. Desperately trying to break even, Steve does everything possible to expedite the renovation process and posts it for sale as soon as it is complete. 

Market downturn notwithstanding, Steve is able to find a buyer willing to pay an amount that would seemingly allow Steve to break even. However, being an experienced real estate investor, Steve is painfully aware of the difference between net sales price and gross sales price. 


With the housing market in a slump, Steve is forced to sustain a net loss on his investment, after all the auxiliary costs contributing to the gross sales price are subtracted from the amount paid by the buyer. This is an example of gross sales price in real estate.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

An upper limit on the interest rate that can be charged in a variable rate mortgage over its life. For example, a variable rate loan is initially offered at 7% loan rate, and its interest ...

Mortgage in which the interest rate charged by the lender can vary according to some reference index not controlled by the lender, such as the interest rate on 1-year U.S. T-bills or the ...

Net amount of cash than an investor requires from an income-producing property, after taxes, for a period of time, usually a year. It is computed by accumulating all rental receipts for the ...

Statutes stipulating that the property of deceased individuals is distributed in a way that assumes that property during marriage is jointly owned and equally shared by the spouses ...

The definition of adjoining properties describes two or more real estate properties, lots, or parcels that shared a boundary. A property that shares a common border with another is ...

Property boundary demarcated by the curb. ...

A broad definition of termite clause is a provision in a contract for the sale of real property that gives the purchaser the right, at his or her expense, to have the property inspected for ...

A step's edge. ...

Expenditure to make a specific security or real estate transaction. Real estate transaction costs include survey costs, mortgage points and origination fees, recording fees, state transfer ...

Popular Real Estate Questions