WalkawayBuyer's agent commission
Who pays the buyer's agent commission?
Since August 2024 it is up to the deal: the seller pays the buyer's agent only if the seller agrees to. See what each offer costs you at your price.
Type a sale price to start.
General information, not tax, legal or financial advice.
A flat fee instead of a percentage
A flat fee replaces that agent's percentage. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Commission at your price
General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Commission rates are set by your agreements and are negotiable; none is standard.
What every split costs
Total commission at your price, by listing agent rate (rows) and buyer's agent rate (columns). Yours is highlighted.
Every quarter point of commission costs $1,000 on a $400,000 sale. Selling costs beyond commissions are on the net sheet.
What it costs you, worked out
At a $400,000 sale with your listing agent at 2.75%:
- You pay the buyer's agent 2.5%: $11,000 plus $10,000 = $21,000 in commissions.
- The buyer pays their own agent: you pay $11,000, and your offer price is all that is left to negotiate.
Set the buyer's agent rate to 0 to see the second case, or type a flat fee for a partial offer. The source of the August 2024 change is NAR's settlement FAQ.
What sellers ask next
Does the seller pay the buyer's agent?
Only if the seller agrees to. The buyer signs a written agreement with their agent that sets the agent's pay; the buyer can ask the seller to cover some or all of it as part of the offer, and the seller can say yes, no or part.
What changed in August 2024?
Under the settlement the National Association of Realtors reached, from August 17, 2024 an offer to pay the buyer's agent can no longer be posted on the MLS, and buyers working with an agent sign a written agreement with them before touring homes.
How much does paying the buyer's agent cost me?
Their rate times your price. At $400,000, every 0.5% you agree to pay is $2,000; 2.5% is $10,000. The grid on this page shows every split at your price.
Can I offer to pay part of it?
Yes. Any amount you and the buyer agree on goes in the purchase contract, as a percentage, a flat fee or a credit. Enter a flat fee above to see it.
If I pay nothing, does the buyer pay it all?
The buyer then owes their agent what their written agreement says, unless it says otherwise. Many buyers fold the request into their offer, so it comes down to the negotiation.
General information, not tax, legal or financial advice.
Related
The rest of the seller's kit
- What you walk away withEvery cost of selling, line by line, and the money left at closing.
- What selling costsCommissions, transfer tax, title and credits, as dollars and a share of your price.
- Both agents' commissionsListing and buyer's agent as separate lines, and what every split costs.
- The gain on your salePrice less selling costs, what you paid and improvements, with the IRS's own figures.