Who Pays Realtor Fees in Michigan?

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If you’re getting ready to sell your home in Michigan, you may be looking at recent sale prices in your neighborhood and estimating how much you might take home in proceeds. If this is your first home sale — or it’s been a few years — you may also be wondering: Who pays Realtor fees in Michigan?

This is a valid question, especially since a 2024 National Association of Realtors (NAR) court settlement changed how real estate agent commissions are handled. Sellers are no longer expected by default to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees, a departure from a longtime industry practice.

So, what does this rule change mean for Michigan home sellers? In this post, we’ll explain who typically pays Realtor fees in Michigan, how commissions work in the current market, and when covering a buyer’s agent fee may still be a good strategy. You’ll also find a Michigan agent commission calculator to help you estimate your potential costs.

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Who pays Realtor fees in Michigan?

Immediately after the NAR settlement, some industry observers predicted that buyers would increasingly pay their own Realtor fees, shifting this cost away from sellers. However, that change hasn’t happened at scale. According to a nationwide HomeLight survey, 92% of top agents report that sellers are still paying their buyer’s agent commission.

So if it’s not required, why do Michigan home sellers continue to cover the buyer’s Realtor fees?

Surveyed agents said it boils down to practical marketing in the current housing environment. With high interest rates and affordability challenges cooling markets nationwide, offering to pay the buyer’s agent fee can attract a larger pool of buyers.

In short, paying the buyer’s agent commission and offering other attractive concessions can help you sell your Michigan home in a market where buyers have more bargaining power.

Michigan real estate agent commission calculator

As you plan your home sale, try the Michigan Real Estate Commission Calculator below. You can easily compare selling scenarios using average statewide commission rates.

The average listing agent rate in Michigan is 2.82%, while the average buyer’s agent rate is 3.09%. Combined, that’s about 5.91% of a home’s sale price. On a $300,000 home, that comes to approximately $17,730 if the seller paid both sides.

You can adjust the percentages based on the rates you expect to negotiate. With a quick toggle, you can also compare the cost of paying both agents versus covering only your listing agent’s fee.

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

No. Michigan home sellers are not automatically required to pay a buyer’s agent’s compensation, and there is no state law that would compel sellers to cover this cost.

Still, as HomeLight’s survey found, many sellers choose to offer this incentive because it can increase buyer interest and potentially invite more offers.

While declining to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees in Michigan may seem like a money-saving strategy, it could potentially:

  • Reduce interest from buyers who have limited cash available for agent compensation
  • Reduce the number of showings or offers
  • Increase your overall days on market (DOM)

What you decide to pay can depend on your local market, your home’s price point, and how much competition buyers have for similar homes.


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