What changed
Since the 2024 settlement rules, buyers generally need a written agreement with their agent before touring homes together. That agreement spells out what your agent will be paid and how.
Offers of buyer agent pay are no longer posted on the main listing services. Sellers can still offer it, and you can still ask for it, but the terms are now more visible and more negotiable.
Ways your agent can be paid
- The seller pays, as offered in the listing or negotiated in your offer
- You pay at closing, from your own funds
- A split: the seller covers part and you cover the rest
Asking the seller to pay
You can ask the seller to pay some or all of your agent's fee in your offer. Some sellers agree to keep the deal moving, especially in a slower market.
Your agent can help you weigh the request against the rest of your offer, like price and contingencies. A large request can make an offer less attractive in a competitive market.
How loan rules come in
Some loan programs limit how much a seller can pay toward a buyer's costs. Whether a seller-paid agent fee counts toward those limits depends on the loan program and how the payment is written.
Buyer agent fees generally can't be rolled into your mortgage. If you'll owe some of it yourself, plan for that cash early. Your loan consultant can show you how it affects your cash to close.
Questions to ask before you sign
- How is your fee set, and is it negotiable?
- What happens if the seller offers less than the agreement?
- How long does the agreement last, and how can it end?
- Does the agreement cover one home, an area or any home I buy?
Buying with CapCenter
When you buy with CapCenter's realty team, you can get the Realty Purchase Credit, up to 0.5% of the purchase price, where we offer realty services (see Offer details).
A CapCenter loan consultant can show you your full cash to close, including any agent fee you may owe, before you make an offer.
