Who Pays Realtor Fees in Colorado?

If you’re preparing to sell a home in Colorado, you may be asking: Who pays Realtor fees in Colorado? This question has become increasingly common since the 2024 National Association of Realtors (NAR) settlement reshaped how commissions are handled.

For decades, sellers in Colorado and across the country were automatically expected to cover both their own agent’s fee and the buyer’s agent’s commission. Under the new rules, buyers must sign a written agreement with their own agent that outlines compensation before touring properties.

But has the NAR settlement really changed the way things work in the Centennial State? How much are commissions in Colorado? And what’s the impact on your bottom line if you choose not to pay?

In this guide, we’ll break down how Realtor fees typically work in Colorado. We’ll also share a Colorado real estate agent commission calculator so you can estimate your own costs and compare different scenarios.

A Top Colorado Agent Can Increase Your Proceeds

Our free Agent Match tool analyzes over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which local agents have a proven track record for success in your Colorado market. Our data shows that top agents sell homes for as much as 10% more than average agents.

Step 1: Talk to an Expert

Who pays Realtor fees in Colorado?

Traditionally, Colorado home sellers covered both their own listing agent’s commission and the buyer’s agent’s fee. That structure hasn’t disappeared, even after the new rules went into effect. According to a recent nationwide HomeLight survey, 92% of top agents say sellers are still paying the buyer’s agent commission.

Local feedback from Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs agents echoes that reality. Colorado buyers, like most across the country, are facing affordability challenges in a market shaped by higher mortgage rates and rising home prices.

In Denver County, for example, the median home price hovers around $670,000. A 10% down payment means buyers need $67,000 cash upfront, not including closing costs. With that kind of financial pressure, many buyers simply don’t have room in their budgets to pay their own agent directly. Sellers who offer compensation make their listings more attractive to this large pool of buyers.

So while NAR rules no longer obligate you to cover the buyer’s agent fee, most sellers still choose to do so. Offering this compensation can:

• Expand your buyer pool, since most Colorado buyers work with an agent
• Help your home stand out in a competitive market
• Encourage stronger offers by signaling cooperation with buyer agents

The takeaway for who pays Realtor fees in Colorado: Even though you have more flexibility now, paying Realtor fees on both sides remains the most common and effective strategy to sell your home in Colorado.

Colorado real estate agent commission calculator

The next big question: how much should you budget for Realtor fees in Colorado? While rates vary by location and negotiation, transaction data reveals that the average combined commission in the state is 5.65% of the sale price. Try our Colorado real estate agent commission calculator below to see what your costs might look like — whether you decide to offer a buyer’s agent commission or not.

On a $600,000 home in Denver, if you choose to pay both agents, your ballpark cost could be around $33,900. If you don’t offer to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees, your rough estimate drops to $16,980. In Boulder County, where the median home price is $871,250, the combined compensation might be as high as $49,226.

Do sellers have to pay a buyer’s agent fee in Colorado?

The short answer is no — Colorado sellers are not required to pay a buyer’s agent commission. However, in practice, most sellers still do, largely because of how buyers shop for homes.

According to NAR data, about 88% of buyers nationwide use a real estate agent. In Colorado, where transactions often involve unique property considerations — like water rights, mountain access, or wildfire risk disclosures — buyers lean heavily on professional representation. If you decline to offer a commission for the buyer’s agent, you risk narrowing your pool of interested buyers and reducing the exposure of your home.

Consider this scenario: You list your Fort Collins home without offering a buyer’s agent fee. A prospective buyer with an agent may hesitate to view it, knowing their agent expects compensation. If the buyer has to cover the cost themselves, they might either pass on your property or reduce their offer price to offset the extra out-of-pocket expense.

That’s why most Colorado agents still recommend offering buyer’s agent compensation. Even though the rules allow you to opt out, doing so could result in fewer showings, longer days on market, and potentially a lower net sale price.