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Who Pays Realtor Fees?
HomeLight
Real Estate
2 weeks ago
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If you’re selling a home, you’re likely wondering: Who pays the Realtor fees? This question has taken center stage following last year’s rule changes tied to a landmark court settlement involving the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

Under new rules that went into effect in August 2024, home sellers are no longer automatically expected to compensate the buyer’s agent, bending a 100-year-old commission tradition. But has the NAR settlement really changed things for sellers?

In this post, we’ll break down who pays real estate agent commissions and provide a simple commission calculator to help you estimate your agent fees — and weigh whether you’ll offer to cover the buyer’s agent costs.

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Who pays Realtor fees in a home sale?

The NAR settlement created a wave of predictions that the industry was shifting and that buyers would take on more responsibility for covering their own agent’s fees. But on the ground, that shift hasn’t materialized. According to a recent nationwide HomeLight survey, 92% of top agents say sellers are still covering the buyer’s agent commission.

Why? Because in a slower market marked by elevated mortgage rates and affordability concerns, offering to pay the buyer’s agent fees — and sometimes additional concessions — remains a powerful tool to attract serious offers.

In short, while home sellers are no longer obligated to offer compensation to the buyer’s agent, in practice, most sellers continue to do so, especially in markets where:

  • Buyer demand has cooled due to higher mortgage rates
  • Buyers are already stretched thin on closing costs and down payments
  • Agents warn that skipping this step could limit buyer interest

While the NAR settlement rule changes provide more transparency and flexibility, the prevailing advice from experienced agents is simple: If you want to get your home sold in a market filled with hesitant buyers, offer to pay their agent fees.

Real estate agent commission calculator

But how much will combined Realtor fees cost you as a seller? Or what if you decide not to offer a buyer’s agent commission? We’ve built a simple calculator to help you see cost estimates and options, depending on the commission rates you negotiate. Use it to compare different arrangements based on your expected sale price.

Do sellers have to pay a buyer’s agent commission?

Short answer: no, but as our nationwide survey revealed, most still do.

Here’s why the majority of sellers still choose to offer a buyer’s agent commission:

  • It broadens your buyer pool: Most buyers work with agents. If their agent won’t be compensated by you, buyers may skip your home altogether — or ask you to cover it anyway in the offer.
  • It strengthens your negotiating power: Sellers who proactively offer buyer’s agent fees often attract more serious interest, which can lead to better terms or multiple offers.
  • It aligns with today’s market: In our 2025 survey, agents told us that offering a buyer’s agent commission and concessions is often necessary to get a deal done in a high-rate, high-price environment.

While you now have the option to decline this cost, doing so could reduce your home’s exposure and impact how quickly — or profitably — you’re able to sell.


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