Who Pays Realtor Fees in Georgia?

Published on December 31st, 2025
7 min read

Richard Haddad Executive Editor
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Richard Haddad Executive Editor

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Richard Haddad is the executive editor of HomeLight.com. He works with an experienced content team that oversees the company’s blog featuring in-depth articles about the home buying and selling process, homeownership news, home care and design tips, and related real estate trends. Previously, he served as an editor and content producer for World Company, Gannett, and Western News & Info, where he also served as news director and director of internet operations.

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If you’re making plans to sell your house in the Peach State, you’re probably looking at how much other nearby homes sold for and calculating your potential net proceeds. If this is your first time selling a house (or it’s been a while), you might also be wondering, “Who pays Realtor fees in Georgia?”

This question has become more common following a landmark court settlement by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) that changed how commissions are handled.

Under the new rules that took effect in August 2024, home sellers are no longer automatically expected to pay the buyer’s agent fees, which had been a standard industry practice for about 100 years. But has the NAR settlement changed the way Realtor fees are handled in Georgia?

In this post, you’ll learn who pays the Realtor fees, how agent commissions work today, and when it might make sense to cover your buyer’s agent fee. We’ll also provide a Georgia agent commission calculator to help you decide what Realtor fees you may want to pay.

Who pays Realtor fees in Georgia?

You may have seen news or market reports predicting the NAR settlement would shift some agent commission costs away from sellers, as buyers would feel pressured to pay their own Realtor fees. But that hasn’t happened at scale — in Georgia or anywhere in the country. According to a HomeLight survey, 92% of top agents report that sellers are still paying their buyer’s agent commissions.

Why are sellers still covering this expense? Agents say it’s a matter of practical marketing. Higher mortgage rates and affordability roadblocks have impacted Georgia’s housing landscape. In a slow or uncertain market, offering to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees and providing other concessions is a smart strategy to attract offers and close your home sale.

So, despite the NAR rule changes, most Georgia sellers continue to offer to cover the buyer’s agent commission. This is especially true in Georgia housing markets where:

Buyer demand has dropped due to high interest rates
Buyers are already feeling stretched by down payments and closing costs
Refusing to cover Realtor fees could reduce your buyer pool

Based on feedback from top-rated Georgia agents, the takeaway is very clear: If you want to attract more buyers and sell faster, offering to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees remains an effective and proven strategy.

Georgia real estate agent commission calculator

So, what will the two combined Realtor fees cost you in Georgia? Or what might just the listing agent fee look like if you decide not to offer to pay your buyer’s agent commission?

To see rough estimates, use our Georgia Real Estate Commission Calculator below. With this simple tool, you can compare different scenarios using the state’s average agent commission rates, which, combined, equal about 5.67% of your home’s listing price. You can also adjust the commission percentages up or down to see what Realtor fee rates you might want to negotiate.

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Are Georgia sellers required to pay the buyer’s agent?

There is no law or state mandate that requires a Georgia home seller to pay the buyer’s agent compensation. However, as HomeLight’s agent survey revealed, most sellers still offer to cover this cost for their buyers. Here’s a quick look at why you might want to pay both Realtor fees in Georgia:

More offers: Most buyers in Georgia work with real estate agents. If you don’t offer to cover their Realtor fees, these buyers may ignore your listing or factor the commissions into a lower offer price.
Added negotiating strength: Covering the buyer’s agent fee can help your home stand out, especially in areas of the state with more competition. Attracting multiple bids can lead to a bidding war, often resulting in more bargaining power at the negotiation table.
More home sale certainty: In a 2025 HomeLight survey, top agents agreed that offering to cover the buyer’s agent commission and other incentives is often necessary to close a deal in today’s hesitant housing market.

At first glance, refusing to pay the buyer’s Realtor fee may seem like a money-saving strategy, but in reality, this decision can hurt your home’s visibility, total days on market (DOM), your final sale price, and net proceeds.

Georgia Seller Closing Cost Calculator Learn more

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Here’s How Much Money You’ll Keep After Selling a House Learn more

Can you negotiate Realtor fees in Georgia?

Yes. In Georgia, agent compensation rates and amounts have always been negotiable, even before the NAR settlement and commission rule changes. Below are some options you might consider:

Negotiate a lower commission rate: Some Georgia agents may be willing to accept a reduced commission percentage, especially for upper-end homes or in more competitive markets, such as Atlantic Station, Johns Creek, or Alpharetta.
Change the Realtor fee split: You can propose a different commission percentage split, or decide to only cover your listing agent’s fee and offer an alternate concession or credit to buyers. (Learn more about concessions below.)
Attach the commission rate to performance: You could agree to pay a higher rate if your home sells above a target price, and a lower rate if it sells below your initial goal.
Use a flat-fee listing service: Some Georgia brokerages offer à la carte services at a flat rate rather than a percentage of the home’s sale price. However, this option can come with drawbacks, such as lower overall proceeds, a turbulent sale, or more work on your part. A flat-fee service might be a better fit for more experienced sellers.

As you consider these fee options, keep in mind that the right real estate agent can often net you higher proceeds at closing, even if their commission costs more than a Georgia discount broker or flat-fee agent.

With expert pricing, marketing, and negotiating skills, a top Georgia agent can usually more than cover their fees, all while giving you a smoother, faster selling experience.

Additional free tools to help you plan your Georgia home sale:

What other concessions can help a Georgia home sell?

If you decide not to pay the buyer’s agent commission — or you want a different way to make your listing stand out in Georgia — offering traditional seller concessions can sweeten the pot for hesitant buyers. Some examples of alternate incentives are:

Standard closing cost credits: Covering part of the buyer’s closing costs, such as loan fees or title expenses, can reduce affordability barriers.
Repair credits: Instead of paying to repair everything your buyer wants fixed, offer a repair credit. This money at closing allows your buyer to make repairs on their own schedule. The buyer might also want to make some custom updates at the same time.
One-year home warranty: Offering a one-year home warranty can give your buyer more peace of mind, especially if you’re selling an older Georgia house.
Interest rate buydown: Due to higher interest rates, this concession has gained popularity. It involves funding a temporary interest rate reduction for your buyer, which lowers their monthly mortgage payment for the first year. This is an attractive incentive, especially if your buyer starts to get cold feet as the closing date approaches.

According to HomeLight’s 2025 agent survey, the top three concessions being offered by home sellers in the current market are:

Repair credits (52%)
Closing cost help (50%)
Interest rate buydowns (21%)

These incentives, combined with an offer to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees, can help your Georgia home sell faster.

In Georgia and the South Atlantic region, 87% of agents reported an increase in price cuts in their markets over the past 12 months, indicating that Georgia sellers need to be prepared to offer buyer incentives and negotiate to close a home sale.

Why a top Georgia agent can net you more proceeds

While it may be tempting to focus on lowering your agent fees, it’s important to remember that your net proceeds do not depend solely on the selling expenses — the final offer price plays a significant role.

HomeLight transaction data reveals that the top 5% of agents sell homes for up to 10% more than average agents. On a $400,000 home, that could mean an additional $40,000. In Georgia, a top-rated local agent can help you:

Understand what’s customary for local buyer Realtor fees
Weigh what commission rate offers might work best for your selling situation
Vet purchase offers and concessions based on local market conditions
Guide you through market trends and the Georgia seller disclosure form

Whether you decide to offer to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees, the right Georgia listing agent can help you determine your property’s true market value and what level of proceeds you can expect.

Commission rules change, but selling strategy still matters

The agent commission rules may have changed, but Georgia’s housing market fundamentals remain the same: buyers want professional representation, and sellers want compelling offers.

Your best strategy starts with hiring a top real estate agent who can position your home to sell for the highest possible price, along with the terms that fit your moving plans.

HomeLight’s free Agent Match tool analyzes nearly 30 million transactions and thousands of real customer reviews to connect you with top Georgia agents based on your needs. Whether you decide to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees or offer other concessions or credits, the goal is the same: a profitable and successful sale.

HomeLight is here to help. For more expert tips, insights, and tools, visit our Georgia Home Seller Resource Center.

Header Image Source: (Kenyon Jones / Unsplash)

At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.

Richard Haddad

Executive Editor

Richard Haddad is the executive editor of HomeLight.com. He works with an experienced content team that oversees the company’s blog featuring in-depth articles about the home buying and selling process, homeownership news, home care and design tips, and related real estate trends. Previously, he served as an editor and content producer for World Company, Gannett, and Western News & Info, where he also served as news director and director of internet operations.