{"id":2043,"date":"2025-11-25T02:00:32","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T10:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=2043"},"modified":"2025-11-28T06:14:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T14:14:51","slug":"realtor-fees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/realtor-fees\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Are Realtor Fees and Who Pays, Buyer or Seller?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Who pays Realtor fees on a home sale, the buyer or seller? Historically, in almost all cases, the seller paid the entire commission fee for the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. However, a landmark lawsuit settlement<\/a> by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) changed the way real estate agent commissions are handled. These changes have \u201cdecoupled\u201d seller and buyer agent compensations.<\/p>\n

This seismic industry shift gives buyers the ability to negotiate commission amounts directly with their own agents. Some industry experts predict this decoupling will eventually benefit both buyers and sellers through lower Realtor fees and more innovative options \u2014 and possibly even lower home sale prices.<\/p>\n

No matter how the commission changes play out, you work hard for your money. Thus, you want to make sure the money you spend on real estate agent fees is well spent. You would like your agent to sell your house for the most profit possible to more than cover their Realtor fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\n \"homelight\n <\/div>\n \n

Connect with a Trusted Top Agent for Top Results<\/h3>\n

HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing, trusted agent in your market. We analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which agent is best for you based on your needs.<\/p>\n \n

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According to a recent trend report from NAR, 90% of home sellers<\/a> worked with a real estate agent last year. NAR surveys indicate that 27% of sellers sold their homes for more than the list price, and 88% were “very satisfied” with the selling process.<\/p>\n

The higher selling price and the satisfaction with the selling process are a function of agent fees. You get a top-tier marketer, negotiator, and advocate for your best interests in exchange for paying an agent’s price.<\/p>\n

Let’s dig deeper to discover everything you get when you pay Realtor fees.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

What’s the difference between a Realtor and an agent?<\/h2>\n

Real estate agents and Realtors\u00ae<\/a> are not the same, even though people use the terms interchangeably. As explained by a top real estate agent, Randi Szakaly of Snohomish County, Washington, “A real estate agent simply holds a real estate license whereas a Realtor subscribes to a code of ethics that holds them to a higher standard.”<\/p>\n

While some Realtors are brokers<\/a> and others are licensed real estate agents<\/a>, not all real estate agents are Realtors<\/a>. To be designated a Realtor, an agent must undergo more education and is bound by a strict Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

What is a Realtor fee?<\/h2>\n

The fee is not pure profit for the real estate agent. Here is an example of how a Realtor’s fee works for you.<\/p>\n

As of October 2025, the median sales price of a house sold in the United States was $415,200<\/a>. Based on the traditional commission model, the national average for a Realtor fee typically falls around 5.8% \u2013 but let’s round it up to 6% to get nice, round numbers to analyze. This will also help us when we illustrate the decoupling of commissions<\/a>, breaking out 3% paid by the seller and 3% paid by the buyer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Realtor fees have typically been paid by the seller, but new rules have changed who pays them and how. Are they worth paying to get higher proceeds?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":298,"featured_media":42668,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[321,238],"tags":[491,586,275],"class_list":["post-2043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attract-buyers","category-working-with-agents","tag-basics","tag-commissions","tag-realtor-fees"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow Much Are Realtor Fees and Who Pays, Buyer or Seller?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Realtor fees were traditionally paid by the seller, but new rules changed who pays them. 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