Who Pays Realtor Fees in Kentucky?
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Richard Haddad Executive EditorClose
Richard Haddad Executive EditorRichard 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.
If you’re preparing to sell a house in the Bluegrass State, you’re probably monitoring recent home prices in your area and estimating your potential selling costs and proceeds. If this is your first home sale — or it’s been a few years — you might also be wondering: Who pays Realtor fees in Kentucky?
This is a fair question following a landmark legal settlement that changed how Realtor fees are handled. Under revised rules implemented by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in late 2024, sellers are no longer presumed to cover the buyer’s agent commission, a shift in a long-standing industry practice.
So what does this mean for Kentucky sellers today? In this guide, we’ll explain who typically pays Realtor fees, how these fees work, and when covering your buyer’s agent commissions might still make sense. We’ll also provide a Kentucky agent commission calculator to help you estimate how much you might pay.
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Who pays Realtor fees in Kentucky?
After the NAR agent commission rule changes, some industry analysts predicted that buyers would feel pressured to pay their own Realtor commissions, thereby shifting these costs away from sellers. However, this hasn’t materialized at scale — in Kentucky or anywhere in the country. According to a nationwide HomeLight survey, 92% of agents report that home sellers are still paying their buyer’s Realtor fees.
Why do many Kentucky sellers still choose to cover the buyer’s agent commission?
- High rates and upfront costs can hold buyers back from making offers
- Covering the fees can make your listing more accessible to a larger buyer pool.
- Targeted incentives can help boost interest and keep your sale on track.
In short, offering to pay your buyer’s agent commission, along with providing other seller concessions, can help attract more buyers and increase your chances of a timely sale.
Kentucky real estate agent commission calculator
If you’re planning a home sale, try the Kentucky Real Estate Commission Calculator below. It allows you to compare different scenarios using average statewide commission costs, which, combined, equal about 5.66% of your home’s listing price. However, you can adjust the fee rates based on what you expect to negotiate.
Use the toggle tool to compare the cost of paying both agent commissions with covering only your own listing agent’s fees.
Are Kentucky sellers required to pay the buyer’s agent?
There is no state law or mandate in Kentucky that requires a seller to pay their buyer’s agent compensation. As in the rest of the country, real estate agent commission terms are fully negotiable between the buyer and seller parties.
Still, as HomeLight’s agent survey revealed, most sellers choose to offer this incentive because it can increase purchase offer activity, strengthen your negotiating power, and improve sale certainty.
At first glance, refusing to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees may seem like a money-saving strategy, but it could ultimately reduce your home’s visibility and increase your home’s days on market (DOM).
Can you negotiate Realtor fees in Kentucky?
Real estate agent commissions are — and always have been — negotiable. Here are a few approaches sellers may want to consider:
- Request a lower commission percentage: Some Kentucky agents may be willing to accept a reduced commission rate, particularly for higher-value homes or in competitive cities like Independence, Florence, and Erlanger.
- Adjust the fee split: You might offer a different percentage breakdown or cover only your listing agent’s commission while providing a different incentive to your buyer. (More on concessions below.)
- Attach commission to agent performance: You can structure your agent’s compensation so they earn more if your home sells above your target sale price, and less if it falls short.
- Consider a flat-fee option: Certain brokerages offer a la carte listing services at a flat fee rather than a percentage. However, this route may require more hands-on effort and could affect your final price or your selling experience.
An experienced Kentucky agent can often more than cover their own commission costs by helping you capture a higher offer and guiding you through a smooth closing process.
Additional free tools to help you plan your home sale:
- Home Value Estimator
- Net Proceeds Calculator
- Best Time to Sell Calculator
- Recently Sold Homes (Kentucky)
What other concessions can help a Kentucky home sell?
If you decide not to pay your buyer’s Realtor fees, you can offer other incentives to motivate buyers. But either way, a seller concession can help your listing stand out. Some examples include:
- Closing cost credits to help buyers with upfront expenses
- Repair credits instead of fixing everything before closing
- Rate buydowns to temporarily reduce a buyer’s mortgage payments
A recent HomeLight survey found that these three concessions are the most popular seller incentives today. Another option is to offer a home warranty for added peace of mind. These can help attract buyers or close a wavering deal in Kentucky cities where buyers might face challenges with upfront costs.
In Kentucky and the South Central region, 88% of surveyed real estate agents reported an increase in home price reductions in their markets over the past 12 months, indicating that Kentucky sellers need to be prepared to offer buyer incentives and negotiate to close a sale.
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Why a top Kentucky agent can net you more proceeds
Reducing your Kentucky Realtor fees may sound appealing, but your final sale price can matter more than the agent commission percentage you pay.
HomeLight data shows top agents can sell homes for up to 10% more than average agents. On a $275,000 Kentucky home, that difference could be as high as $27,500 in additional proceeds at closing.
A skilled agent can help you:
- Understand local commission expectations
- Determine the best seller concession strategies for your market
- Compare purchase offers beyond the total price
- Navigate required Kentucky seller disclosures
Realtor fee rules can change, but strategy still matters
No matter how agent commission rules may change, the fundamentals of selling a home remain consistent: buyers want expert guidance, and sellers want the strongest offer.
The best strategy to make the most of your home sale is to hire an expert local agent who knows your Kentucky market. A top agent can recommend the right combination of incentives and negotiation muscle.
HomeLight’s free Agent Match tool analyzes over 27 million transactions and real customer reviews to connect you with top-rated Kentucky agents based on your goals. Whether you decide to offer to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees or try another strategy, the objective is the same: a positive and profitable sale.
For more helpful tips and insights, visit HomeLight’s Home Seller Resource Center.
Header Image Source: (isaaclee1112/ Depositphotos)
- "Top Agent Insights AI Edition 2025", July 2025 (HomeLight)
- "National Association of Realtors® Provides Final Reminder of NAR Practice Change Implementation on August 17, 2024", August 2024 (National Association of REALTORS)
- "What the NAR Settlement Means for Home Buyers and Sellers", National Association of REALTORS (May 2024)
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