The mortgage has nothing to do with the sale. Mortgage interest is entered on Schedule A as an itemized deduction. It is not a sales expense and does not reduce the gain.
Sales expenses include:
- commissions
- appraisal fees
- broker's fees
- legal fees
- advertising fees
- home inspection reports
- title insurance
- transfer taxes or fees
- geological surveys
- loan charges (points) or other fees paid on the buyer's behalf
Sales expenses do not include:
- mortgage payoffs
- home equity loan payoffs
- rent-back costs
- payoff to creditors
- property taxes
- home owner association fees
