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Who Pays Realtor Fees in New York?
HomeLight
Real Estate
2 weeks ago
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If you’re planning to sell a house in the Empire State, you may be wondering: Who pays Realtor fees in New York? This has been a common question since last year’s real estate agent commission changes, which were tied to a court settlement involving the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

Under new rules that went into effect in mid-August 2024, home sellers nationwide are no longer expected to pay the buyer’s agent by default, breaking with a nearly 100-year-old industry custom. But has the NAR’s landmark court settlement changed the way Realtor fees work in New York?

In this guide, you’ll learn who pays Realtor fees in New York, how these fees work, and when it might make sense for you to cover the buyer’s agent commission. We’ll also share a New York agent commission calculator to help you decide what Realtor costs you’re willing to cover.

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Who pays Realtor fees in New York?

Many industry analysts across the country predicted that the NAR settlement would broadly shift responsibility, pressuring buyers to pay their own agents. However, that shift hasn’t materialized — in New York or nationwide. According to a HomeLight survey of top agents across the country, 92% say sellers are still paying the buyer’s Realtor fees.

Why? Higher mortgage rates and affordability challenges have impacted New York’s housing market. Offering to pay the buyer’s agent commission and giving up other seller concessions is still a proven strategy to attract more offers and close a sale in a hesitant market.

So, despite the NAR rule changes, in practice, most New York sellers continue to offer to pay the buyer’s agent compensation. This is especially true in situations where:

  • Higher mortgage interest rates have reduced buyer demand
  • Buyers are struggling to afford closing costs and down payments
  • Refusing to cover this expense will limit the buyer pool in your market

Based on survey data and feedback from experienced New York agents, the bottom line is this: If you want to get your home sold in an uncertain NY market, offer to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees.

New York real estate agent commission calculator

If you want to see how much the combined Realtor fees could cost you in New York, or what the single fee might look like if you choose not to offer a buyer’s agent commission, use our New York Real Estate Commission Calculator. You can compare different scenarios based on your home’s sale price and different agent commission rates.

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

New York home sellers are not required to pay the buyer’s agent. However, as our agent survey revealed, most home sellers still offer to cover this fee for their buyers. Here’s why:

  • More buyers. More offers: Most buyers in New York work with real estate agents. If the seller doesn’t pay their agent, buyers may skip the listing or factor the commission costs into their offer price.
  • Greater negotiating power: Covering the buyer’s Realtor fee will help your property stand out and make your listing more appealing, leading to more serious offers and possibly even multiple bids or a bidding war.
  • Market trends and realities: In our 2025 market trends survey, agents reported that offering to pay the buyer’s Realtor fee and other incentives is often necessary to close a home sale in today’s high-interest-rate landscape.

While declining to pay this buyer fee may initially appear to be a money-saving decision, you’ll want to carefully weigh how it could impact your home’s visibility, days on market, and ultimately your bottom line.


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