Most real estate agents in North Carolina get paid through commissions. Commissions are typically calculated as a percentage of a property’s sale price, though some brokerages will charge a flat fee. The average agent commission rate nationwide is 5.8% of the home sale price, according to HomeLight’s real estate transaction data of thousands of home sales each year. But how does that compare to the average real estate commission rate in North Carolina? In this post, we’ll help you determine how much commission you might pay on your North Carolina home sale, and what options are available to earn the highest proceeds possible. According to Christi Hill, a top North Carolina real estate agent with nearly two decades of experience, you can expect to pay between 5%-6% in agent commissions when selling a home in the Tar Heel State, with some variation based on location. On a property worth the current statewide median home sale price of $302,142, that amounts to $15,107–$18,129 in commission costs. Hill says North Carolina’s real estate commission is in line with the national average. Exactly what you pay depends on your location and what you’re asking your agent to do. Using an overall statewide average of 5.5%, here’s a breakdown of how much you might pay in real estate commissions based on what a typical home sells for in six of the largest cities in North Carolina:
HomeLight gathers agent commission data from cities throughout the U.S. To see if we have commission rates for your city, try our Agent Commissions Calculator. You might also be interested in our Home Value Estimator. Still curious about commission rates in North Carolina? Here are the answers to common questions about real estate agent commissions: The commission is typically paid by the home seller, and the seller’s agent will then split the commission with the buyer’s agent. Hill, who works with 87% more single-family homes than average agents in her Jacksonville market, explains that the commission is agreed upon when the listing agreement is created. She says your real estate agent should be as upfront and transparent as possible, not only about the commission fee but also about what they will be doing in return for you and your home. “Transparency is what we’re about,” Hill says. “So everything is talked about with the homeowners. Numbers are disclosed, and net sheets are provided so everyone is aware of what is being charged ahead of time.” Curious as to why you’ll be on the hook for the buyer agent’s side as well? That’s to make homebuying more accessible, especially for first-time buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). But the commission will typically be paid from the sale proceeds, so that’s why having an experienced real estate agent that gets you a strong offer is so important.What’s the average real estate commission in North Carolina?
North Carolina city
Median home price
Typical commission at 5.5%
Charlotte
$395,500
$21,753
Raleigh
$431,000
$23,705
Greensboro
$276,100
$15,186
Durham
$425,600
$23,408
Winston-Salem
$285,200
$15,686
Fayetteville
$220,900
$12,150
Who pays real estate commission fees?
