Who Pays Realtor Fees in South Carolina?

Published on December 1st, 2025
9 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 Palmetto State, you’re probably curious what other nearby homes sold for, comparing list prices and estimating your net proceeds. If this is your first time selling (or it’s been a few years), you might also be wondering, “Who pays Realtor fees in South Carolina?”

This question has been popping up more often ever since new real estate commission rules were announced following a landmark court settlement by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

Under the new rules that took effect on August 17, 2024, home sellers nationwide are no longer automatically expected to pay the buyer’s agent fees, which had been a standard industry practice for nearly a century. But has the NAR settlement changed the way Realtor fees are handled in South Carolina?

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 South Carolina agent commission calculator to help you decide what Realtor fees you may want to pay.

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 South Carolina market. Our data shows that top agents sell homes for as much as 10% more than average agents.

Who pays Realtor fees in South Carolina?

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

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

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

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

Based on feedback from top-rated South Carolina agents, the takeaway is 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.

South Carolina real estate agent commission calculator

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

To see ballpark estimates, use our South Carolina Real Estate Commission Calculator below. With this easy-to-use tool, you can compare different scenarios using the state’s average agent commission rates, which combined equal about 5.65% of your home’s listing price. You can also adjust the commission percentages higher or lower to see what Realtor fees you might want to negotiate.

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Are South Carolina sellers required to pay the buyer’s agent?

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

More offers: Most buyers in South Carolina work with real estate agents. If you don’t offer to cover their Realtor fees, these buyers may skip over your listing or factor the commission costs into a lower offer price.
More negotiating power: Covering the buyer’s agent commission will help your home stand out, especially in areas of the state where there is more competition. Attracting multiple bids can sometimes lead to a bidding war and leverage at the negotiation table.
More certainty: In a 2025 HomeLight survey, real estate agents agreed that offering to cover the buyer’s Realtor fees and offering other incentives is often necessary to close a sale in today’s sluggish market.

At first glance, refusing to pay the buyer’s agent fee may seem like a money-saving move, but it can actually hurt your home’s visibility, total days on market (DOM), your sale price, and final proceeds.

South Carolina Seller Closing Cost Calculator Learn more

brown and gray house on a hill showing how much money you could keep after selling a house

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

Can you negotiate Realtor fees in South Carolina?

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

Negotiate a lower fee percentage: Some South Carolina agents may be willing to accept a reduced rate, especially for upper-end homes or in more competitive markets, such as Oak Grove, Irmo, and Newport.
Adjust the commission split: You can propose a different commission percentage split or decide to only cover your own listing agent’s fee and offer a different concession to buyers. (Learn more about concessions below.)
Connect the commission rate to performance: With this option, you might agree to pay a higher rate if your home sells above a target price, and a lower rate if it sells below your goal.
Hire a flat-fee listing service: Some South Carolina brokerages offer à la carte services at a flat rate rather than a percentage of the sale price. However, this option can come with drawbacks, such as lower proceeds, a bumpy sale, or increased work on your part. A flat-fee service might be a better fit for more experienced home sellers.

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

With expert marketing, pricing, and negotiating skills, a top South Carolina agent can often more than cover their commission, all while giving you a smoother, faster selling experience.

Additional free tools to help you plan your South Carolina home sale:

What other concessions can help a South Carolina home sell?

If you ultimately decide not to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees — or you want a different way to help your listing stand out — offering traditional seller concessions can sweeten the pot for on-the-fence buyers in South Carolina. Some alternate incentives include:

Closing cost credits: Covering part of the buyer’s closing costs, such as loan fees or title expenses, can help reduce affordability roadblocks.
Repair credits: Instead of paying to fix everything your buyer wants addressed, offer a repair credit. This allows your buyer to make repairs on their own schedule. They might also want to make custom updates at the same time.
Home warranty policy: Offering a one-year home warranty can give your buyer more peace of mind, especially if you’re selling an older South Carolina house.
Interest rate buydowns: This concession has grown in popularity in recent years. It involves funding a temporary interest rate reduction for your buyer, which can lower their monthly mortgage payments for the first 12 months. This is a powerful incentive, especially if a buyer starts to lose confidence or get cold feet as the closing date approaches.

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

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

These incentives and credits, combined with an offer to pay the buyer’s agent commission, can help your South Carolina home sell faster.

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

Why a top South Carolina agent can net you more proceeds

While it might be tempting to focus on lowering your Realtor expenses, your proceeds ultimately depend on a combination of selling costs and the final offer price.

HomeLight transaction data reveals that the top 5% of agents sell homes for up to 10% more than average agents. On a $350,000 home, that could mean an additional $35,000. In South Carolina, a top-rated local agent can help you:

Understand what is customary for local buyer agent commission rates
Weigh what Realtor fee rate offers might work best for your selling situation
Evaluate purchase offers and concessions based on local market conditions
Guide you through South Carolina market trends and seller disclosure laws

Whether you decide to offer to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees, the right South Carolina listing agent can help you determine your home’s real-world 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 South Carolina’s housing market fundamentals remain the same: homebuyers want professional representation, and home sellers want compelling offers.

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

HomeLight’s free Agent Match tool analyzes 28 million transactions and thousands of customer reviews to connect you with top South Carolina agents based on your unique needs. Whether you decide to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees or offer other seller concessions, the goal is the same: a profitable and successful home sale.

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

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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.