How Much Commission Does a Realtor Take? What Sellers Pay and How to Negotiate (2026)

Updated October 2026. For sellers who want to know what a realtor’s commission really costs and how to negotiate it. Dollar examples use NAR’s September 2026 median price of $417,500.

How much commission does a realtor take? There’s no fixed rate. NAR says agent pay “remains fully negotiable,” and since August 17, 2024 your listing fee and any buyer-agent pay are two separate choices. On the $417,500 median US home in September 2026 (NAR), every 1% you agree to costs $4,175, so each point you negotiate is real money.

Jump to: 💲 What you pay · 🤝 Two decisions · 🪜 How to negotiate · 🏢 Alternatives · 🏠 For buyers · ❓ FAQ

How much does a realtor take on a typical sale?

It’s whatever you and the agent agree to in the listing agreement. No law, MLS rule or NAR rule sets it. The fee is usually a percentage of the sale price, paid from your proceeds at closing. Some agents also offer flat fees or tiered rates.

Here’s what different example rates come to on the September 2026 median price. These are examples only, not typical or recommended rates. Commissions aren’t set by law or NAR rules and are negotiable; you choose whether to offer a buyer’s agent anything. Since August 17, 2024, those offers can’t be shown on the MLS.

The agent rarely keeps all of it. The fee goes to the brokerage first, which splits it with the agent under their own contract. Our breakdown of how much a realtor makes per sale follows the money. To run your own price, try the commission estimate tool.

What changed about commission after the NAR settlement?

You now make two separate decisions. First, what you pay your own listing broker. Second, whether to offer anything to the buyer’s broker, and how much. NAR’s page for sellers spells out the rules (NAR):

• You can still offer compensation to buyer brokers if you want to.
• Your agent must disclose any such payment to you in writing, in advance, with the amount or rate.
• The offer can’t go on the MLS, but it can appear on flyers, social media and websites.
• You can still offer buyer concessions on the MLS, such as help with closing costs.

So the old “6% split down the middle” isn’t a rule, and never was. Each side is its own negotiation. For more on the buyer side, read do sellers pay the buyer’s agent commission and who pays the commission.

How do you negotiate a realtor’s commission?

Start by interviewing two or three agents. Ask each the same questions, in writing.

• What’s your rate, and is it a percentage, a flat fee or tiered?
• What exactly is included: photos, MLS, open houses, staging advice, negotiation?
• Do you suggest offering a buyer’s agent anything, and why?
• How long is the listing agreement, and can I cancel early without a fee?
• Does the rate change if I find the buyer myself?

Then trade. Offer to handle open houses, staging or your own photos in return for a lower rate. Ask for a tiered fee that rises only if the home sells above a set price. A seller who already has a likely buyer has the strongest hand of all. Our guide to what realtors charge to sell a house has more tactics.

Be fair about the trade-off. A full-service agent prices the home, markets it, runs showings and negotiates for you. That work has value, and for a tricky sale it can be worth the fee. You’re simply allowed to ask what each piece costs.

Will a lower commission scare off buyers?

This is the worry we hear most. Buyer agents are paid under their own written agreement with the buyer now, so what you pay your listing broker isn’t shown to them on the MLS. What buyers see is your home, your price and your photos. If you decide not to offer anything to a buyer’s agent, expect some buyers to ask for a closing-cost credit in their offer instead. You can say yes, no or meet in the middle. It’s a normal part of the talk, and you’ll know the full cost before you sign anything.

What are the cheaper alternatives to a percentage commission?

There are three common routes. A discount agent charges a lower percentage, often with fewer services. A flat fee MLS listing puts your home on the MLS for a set price while you handle showings and offers. And a sale by owner with an attorney or title company works well when you already have a buyer. Nolo has plain-English legal guides if you go that way.

With a flat-fee MLS option from Beycome, Basic is $99 and Enhanced is $399, with $0 at closing. Every package includes e-signature, unlimited listing changes, ShowingTime where the MLS offers it and the Artur AI assistant for offers. If you want people to run showings and negotiate while you keep every decision, Concierge is $1,399. Want to go fully on your own? See the For Sale By Owner route.

Our full list of commission alternatives compares five options side by side, and real estate agent costs and how to reduce them looks at the agent route in more depth. Beycome lists in 17 states and DC and has helped 22,000+ homeowners save over $225 million.

What does commission mean for buyers?

If you’re buying, you’ll usually sign a written agreement with your own agent that says what they’re paid. The seller may cover part or all of it, or nothing. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains how fees and credits appear on your Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure, so you can see the real cost.

Beycome’s buyer program, through Beycome’s buying center, has no upfront fee. Beycome keeps 1% of the price (minimum $1,499) and credits the rest of the buyer-agent commission at closing, with lender approval. On a $400,000 home with 3% offered, that’s $8,000 back. It’s open to every buyer on homes listed by other agents. The credit can’t apply where no buyer-agent commission is offered, like most FSBO homes, or on homes listed by Beycome sellers.

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