Updated October 2026. This page lists every fee a seller can pay when selling with a realtor, line by line. Rules were checked on NAR’s settlement pages and prices on NAR’s September 2026 report, read October 26, 2026. Percentages below are examples, not standard rates.
There’s no set price: what realtors charge to sell a house is whatever you and the brokerage agree in the listing agreement. Most charge a percentage of the sale price. On the US median of $417,500 (NAR, September 2026), every 1% is $4,175. Ask about flat admin fees too, and decide separately whether to offer anything to the buyer’s agent.
Jump to: 💲 The full bill · 🏠 Worked example · 🤝 What it covers · 🪜 Negotiating · 🏢 Other options · ❓ FAQ
Key takeaways
- Realtor fees are negotiable and not set by law or NAR rules. Your listing agreement states the exact amount.
- On a $417,500 home, each 1% of commission is $4,175. A 2.5% listing fee, as an example, is $10,437.50.
- Paying the buyer’s agent is a separate choice. Since August 17, 2024, offers of buyer-agent pay can’t be shown on the MLS.
- A flat fee MLS listing replaces the percentage with a set price: Beycome Basic is $99 with $0 due to Beycome at closing.
What fees do realtors charge when you sell a house?
Think of it as a bill with up to four lines. Not every sale has all four. Your listing agreement and the purchase contract say which ones apply to you.
| Fee line | Who it pays | How it’s usually charged | Is it required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listing commission | Your listing brokerage | A percentage of the price, a flat fee or a mix | Only if you hire a listing agent; amount negotiable |
| Buyer-agent compensation | The buyer’s brokerage | A percentage or a set amount, if you agree to pay it | No; it’s your choice and negotiated per offer |
| Brokerage admin or transaction fee | Some listing brokerages | A flat dollar amount | Only if your agreement includes it; ask first |
| Extra services | The agent or a vendor | Per service (staging, pro photos, pre-listing repairs) | Only what you sign up for |
Then come the closing costs that aren’t realtor fees at all: title and escrow charges, transfer taxes, your mortgage payoff, prorated property taxes and any HOA fees. Our guide to who pays closing costs when selling a home walks through them.
What changed in 2024?
Since August 17, 2024, under NAR’s settlement, offers of buyer-agent compensation can’t be posted on the MLS. Listing agreements must say plainly that broker pay is not set by law and is fully negotiable. Buyers now sign a written agreement with their own agent before touring homes. Our guide on the buyer broker explains what that agreement covers. That agreement says what their agent earns and who pays it. As a seller, you can still offer to pay some or all of it, or none, as part of a deal. Our explainer on who covers realtor commission costs goes deeper.
What do realtor fees cost on a typical house?
Here’s a worked example on NAR’s September 2026 median price of $417,500. The rates are examples only, picked to show the math. Your numbers depend on what you negotiate.
| Line on a $417,500 sale | Example | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Listing commission | 2.5% (example) | $10,437.50 |
| Buyer-agent compensation, if you agree to pay it | 2.5% (example) | $10,437.50 |
| Both lines together | 5% (example) | $20,875 |
| Each 1% of commission | 1% | $4,175 |
| Flat fee MLS listing instead of a listing commission | Beycome Basic | $99, with $0 due to Beycome at closing |
The note that goes with every example: commissions are not set by law or by NAR rules and are fully negotiable. Sellers choose whether to offer any compensation to a buyer’s agent, and how much. Since August 17, 2024, those offers can’t be shown on the MLS.
Prices vary a lot by state, so the dollar figure does too. Our table of what a commission costs in every state uses each state’s typical home value. To see what your own home might sell for, try our property value calculator.
What does a realtor’s fee usually cover?
A full-service listing agent typically handles pricing advice, listing the home on the MLS, marketing, showings, offer review, negotiation and keeping the deal on track to closing. Many include photos and open houses. Some charge extra for staging or premium marketing.
Do you need a realtor to sell? No, it’s not required; it’s your choice. Many sellers value an agent’s time, local knowledge and negotiating. Others are happy to handle showings and offers themselves to keep more of the price. Both paths work. What matters is knowing what you’re paying for. Our guide to selling your home with a realtor shows the agent path step by step.
How can you lower what you pay a realtor?
Start before you sign. Interview two or three agents and ask each one the same questions:
- What is your total fee, in dollars, at my likely price?
- Is there an admin or transaction fee on top?
- Is the fee lower if the buyer has no agent, or if I find the buyer myself?
- Which services are included, and which cost extra?
- How long is the listing agreement, and can I cancel it?
Then use what you learn. A home in a busy area that should sell fast takes less of an agent’s time, which can justify a lower rate. Selling and buying with the same agent may earn a discount. Read up first: the National Association of Realtors explains the settlement rules, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau covers the money side of a home sale, and calculators from sites like Bankrate help you check the numbers.
For more ways to cut the bill, see our guides on real estate agent commission costs and how to reduce them, what you’re really paying in agent commissions and how real estate and business broker fees compare.
What are the alternatives to a percentage fee?
There are three common ones.
Sell smarter
List your home on the MLS from $99
A flat fee instead of a percentage, and $0 to Beycome at closing. You stay in control of your sale.
Sell your home →Buy smarter
Get up to 2% back at closing
On homes listed by other agents, Beycome credits you up to 2% of the price at closing (1% kept, $1,499 minimum; not on FSBO homes or homes listed by Beycome sellers).
Buy a home →Flat fee MLS. You pay a set price to get on the MLS and handle showings and offers yourself. With Beycome, a flat-fee MLS listing is $99 for Basic, with $0 due to Beycome at closing. Every package includes e-signature, unlimited listing updates, ShowingTime scheduling where the MLS offers it, and the Artur AI assistant for offer and negotiation help. Support is 7 days a week, with Artur AI 24/7.
Full support at a flat price. Beycome Concierge gives you dedicated experts who handle the sale with you, including negotiation, and you stay in control of every decision. It’s $1,399, still with $0 due to Beycome at closing.
Discount or reduced-rate agents. Some agents and brokerages charge a lower percentage. Compare their total in dollars, and what’s included, side by side with the other options.
Buying your next home too? The Beycome buyer program has no upfront fee. On homes listed by other agents, Beycome keeps 1% of the price, with a $1,499 minimum, and credits the rest of the buyer-agent commission at closing, with lender approval. The credit can’t apply where no buyer-agent commission is offered, like most homes sold by owner, or on homes listed by Beycome sellers.
Frequently asked questions
How much do realtors charge to sell a house?
There’s no set rate. It’s whatever you agree in the listing agreement, usually a percentage of the price. On a $417,500 home, each 1% is $4,175.
What are typical realtor fees when selling a house?
There’s no official “typical” rate; fees are negotiated case by case. Expect a listing fee, possibly an admin fee, and, if you choose, compensation to the buyer’s agent.
Does the seller pay both realtors?
Not necessarily. The seller pays the listing agent under the listing agreement. The buyer’s agent is paid under the buyer’s written agreement, by the buyer, the seller or both, as negotiated.
Are realtor fees negotiable?
Yes. Commissions are not set by law or by NAR rules. Ask several agents for their total fee in dollars and what it includes.
When do you pay the realtor?
Usually at closing, out of the sale money, as shown on the closing statement. Some agreements also have fees due earlier, so read yours.
Can I sell my house without paying a realtor commission?
Yes. You can sell by owner, or use a flat fee MLS listing such as Beycome Basic at $99 with $0 due to Beycome at closing. You still decide whether to offer anything to a buyer’s agent.
Reviewed by Beycome Brokerage Realty LLC, a licensed real estate brokerage. Licenses are listed at beycome.com/faq/how-to/are-you-a-licensed-broker/.
Percentages on this page are examples only. Commissions are not set by law or by NAR rules and are fully negotiable; sellers choose whether to offer buyer-agent compensation, and how much; since August 17, 2024 such offers can’t be shown on the MLS. The median price is NAR’s September 2026 figure.
Beycome prices are as of November 2026: Basic $99; Concierge $1,399. “$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing; other closing costs, taxes, title fees and any buyer-agent compensation you agree to still apply. There’s no refund once a listing is live. On Basic and Enhanced, offer and negotiation help comes from Artur AI; a person negotiates on Concierge.
Buyer program: no upfront fee; Beycome keeps 1% of the price with a $1,499 minimum and credits the rest, subject to lender approval and state rules; not on homes listed by Beycome sellers or where no buyer-agent commission is offered. Sellers can list in 17 states and DC. This is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
Disclosure & Disclaimer
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Articles are provided for general informational and educational purposes only, not as financial, tax, legal, or investment advice or a recommendation for your particular situation. Reading this blog does not create a brokerage, advisory, or other professional relationship.
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