Agent commission examples by home price
The table below illustrates how much you might pay in real estate agent commissions based on your home’s selling price. You can see estimates in three seller scenarios:
- You agree to pay both your listing and the buyer’s agent’s commission
- You only pay your listing agent’s commission
- The Buyer pays their own Realtor fees
For simplicity, one column estimates a combined 6% seller-paid commission fee, and the others show the separate, decoupled buyer and seller agent commissions.
| Sold price | Combined 6% fee | 3% listing agent fee | 3% buyer’s agent fee |
| $100,000 | $6,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| $200,000 | $12,000 | $6,000 | $6,000 |
| $300,000 | $18,000 | $9,000 | $9,000 |
| $400,000 | $24,000 | $12,000 | $12,000 |
| $500,000 | $30,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| $600,000 | $36,000 | $18,000 | $18,000 |
| $700,000 | $42,000 | $21,000 | $21,000 |
| $800,000 | $48,000 | $24,000 | $24,000 |
| $900,000 | $54,000 | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $60,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| $1,500,000 | $90,000 | $45,000 | $45,000 |
| $2,000,000 | $120,000 | $60,000 | $60,000 |
Ways to reduce real estate agent commission costs
There are some ways you can try to reduce how much money you spend on Realtor fees. We’ll share some options below, however, keep in mind that you may get discount service with a discount agent.
- Negotiate the commission rate: Discuss commission rates with your agent. In some markets, you may find an experienced agent willing to lower their rate. This can be especially true in a less complex sale or with a desirable property in a coveted location.
- Use a low-commission agent or brokerage: Numerous discount real estate groups offer lower fees. Make sure you understand their listing packages and weigh the pros and cons.
- Use a flat-fee service: Some companies offer limited or flat-fee service to list your home on the multiple listing service (MLS) and assist with the sale.
- Offer incentives strategically: By limiting the number of concessions you offer to the buyer, you can increase your proceeds to offset commissions.
Do Realtors get paid if the home doesn’t sell?
In most cases, Realtors only earn their commission when the home sells. If your home doesn’t sell, you generally won’t owe your agent a commission. However, some listing agreements may include fees for marketing or other services. It’s important to review your contract carefully and discuss any potential costs with your agent upfront.
How can I estimate my home sale proceeds?
To get a ballpark estimate of how much you might make on your home sale, use HomeLight’s Net Proceeds Calculator. This free tool lets you enter the percentage of Realtor fees you expect to negotiate with your agent as well as closing costs and what’s left to pay off on your mortgage.
Here are additional free tools offered by HomeLight to help you plan your home sale:
Key takeaways for home sellers
We hope this brief post gave you a better understanding of how Realtors get paid and the impact of recent changes to commission rules. Here’s a quick recap:
- Realtors earn their income through commissions, typically calculated as a percentage of the home’s sale price.
- Historically, sellers covered both the listing agent’s and buyer’s agent’s fees, totaling 5%-6% of the sale price.
- Following the NAR settlement, buyers are now expected to pay their agent’s fees unless otherwise negotiated.
- Sellers can negotiate their listing agent’s commission and decide whether to offer to pay the buyer’s agent’s fee to attract more offers.
- Discuss commission structures with your agent early to understand your options and tailor a strategy that works best for your situation.
If you’re preparing to sell your home and want to partner with a top agent, HomeLight can connect you with a proven expert in your city. Our partner agents have exceptional sale-to-list ratios — meaning they have a track record of helping their clients earn the highest proceeds possible.
At HomeLight, we analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which agent is best for you based on your needs. Our data shows that the top 5% of real estate agents sell homes faster and for up to 10% more than average agents.
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