What changed in 2024
A national settlement involving the National Association of Realtors led to new rules that took effect in August 2024. Two changes matter most to sellers.
First, buyers who work with an agent generally sign a written agreement before touring homes. That agreement spells out what the agent will be paid and how. Second, offers of compensation to buyer's agents can no longer appear on MLS listings, the shared databases agents use to market homes.
What didn't change
Sellers are still allowed to pay some or all of the buyer's agent fee. Commissions have long been negotiable, and they still are. The difference is mainly in how and where the offer is shared. Instead of a number on the MLS, it may be discussed between agents, put in your listing terms off the MLS, or negotiated as part of an offer.
Your options as a seller
There is no single right answer. Common approaches include:
- Decide up front to offer a set amount to the buyer's agent, and let your listing agent share it.
- Wait and consider it case by case as offers come in.
- Offer a seller concession the buyer can put toward their agent's fee or other costs.
- Decline to offer anything and let buyers cover their own agent.
Why it still matters
Many buyers stretch to cover their down payment and closing costs. Paying an agent out of pocket on top of that can be hard. If buyers in your price range commonly expect help, offering it may bring in more interested buyers. If you don't offer it, some buyers may ask for it in their offer anyway, or adjust the price they offer.
Local customs differ, and what is typical can change. Your listing agent can tell you what buyers in your area and price range tend to expect.
How it shows up in an offer
A buyer's offer may ask you to pay part of their agent's fee, ask for a concession, or say nothing about it. Look at the full picture, not just the price. A higher offer that asks you to cover the buyer's agent may net you about the same as a lower one that doesn't. Your agent can lay offers side by side so you can compare what you'd actually keep.
How CapCenter handles it
Where we offer realty services, our standard listing fee is 1.5%, with a $3,000 minimum. Sell with us and buy, or finance, your next home with CapCenter within a year, and it's 1% (see Offer details). That fee covers your listing agent's services. It does not include any commission you choose to offer a buyer's agent. The amount offered to a buyer's agent is your decision. We typically recommend offering a competitive commission, and your agent can walk you through what that means locally.
