{"id":52993,"date":"2025-01-22T12:14:14","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T20:14:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=52993"},"modified":"2025-02-05T16:11:04","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T00:11:04","slug":"do-sellers-pay-buyers-agent-commission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/do-sellers-pay-buyers-agent-commission\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Sellers Pay the Buyer\u2019s Agent Commission?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You may have seen headlines announcing that a landmark court settlement has changed the way Realtor fees are paid<\/a>. If you\u2019re planning a home sale, your first question might be, \u201cDo sellers pay the buyer’s agent commission?\u201d<\/p>\n

For decades, sellers have traditionally been responsible for paying both<\/a> their listing agent\u2019s commission and the buyer\u2019s agent commission. Now, these fees have been decoupled \u2014 buyers are expected to pay their own agent\u2019s commission.<\/p>\n

In this easy-scan post, we\u2019ll explain what these changes mean for sellers, the pros and cons of covering a buyer\u2019s agent commission, and strategies for navigating this evolving market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Do sellers pay the buyer\u2019s agent commission?<\/h2>\n

The short answer is: it depends. A recent court settlement by the National Association of Realtors<\/a> (NAR) has shifted this expectation to buyers, but sellers can still choose to pay the buyer\u2019s agent commission as part of the negotiation process. In many markets, this remains a common practice to attract buyers, especially those who might struggle to cover their agent\u2019s fees upfront.<\/p>\n

If the seller decides to pay, this commission is typically deducted from the proceeds of the sale at closing. However, under the new structure, it is not an automatic requirement. Sellers now have the flexibility to decide whether offering this incentive aligns with their goals and the market conditions.<\/p>\n

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What is a buyer\u2019s agent commission?<\/h2>\n

A buyer\u2019s agent commission is the fee paid to the real estate agent representing the buyer in a home sale. This commission is typically calculated as a percentage of the home\u2019s final sale price, often ranging between 2.5% and 3%.<\/p>\n

For instance, if a home sells for $425,000:<\/p>\n