Updated October 2026. This page works out how much of your home equity a lower listing fee keeps, using the national median sale price from NAR and the average equity figure from Cotality. Every commission figure here is an example, not a rate anyone has to charge or pay.
On a typical $417,500 home (NAR median, September 2026), a lower listing fee can keep thousands of dollars of equity with you. If you owe 44% of the value, your equity is about $233,800. A 3% listing commission, as an example, would take $12,525 of it, about 5.4%. A $99 flat fee MLS listing takes 0.04%.
Jump to: 🏠 Your equity · 💲 The math · 🤝 Options · 🪜 Trade-offs · ❓ FAQ
Commission and equity, in numbers
- Median existing-home price: $417,500 in September 2026, up 1.3% in a year (NAR).
- Average equity per mortgaged homeowner: $310,000 in Q2 2026, with an average loan-to-value of 44% (Cotality).
- Each 1% of commission on a $417,500 sale is $4,175 out of your proceeds (example only).
- 91% of sellers in NAR’s 2025 profile used an agent; the rest sold on their own.
A listing fee doesn’t come out of the sale price. It comes out of your equity, because the mortgage gets paid first and fees come out of what’s left. That’s why a fee that looks small next to the price can look big next to your check. Before you pick a way to sell, look at the numbers against your equity, not against the price.
How much equity does the typical seller have?
More than most people think. Cotality counts about $17.9 trillion of equity held by homeowners with a mortgage in the second quarter of 2026. That works out to an average of $310,000 per mortgaged owner. The average loan-to-value ratio was 44%, and only 2.1% of mortgages were underwater (Cotality, Q2 2026).
Equity also isn’t spread evenly. Cotality puts the average at $623,000 in California and $109,000 in Louisiana. A fixed dollar fee hits those two sellers very differently. So does a percentage. On a low-equity sale, a percentage fee can eat a far bigger share of what you walk away with.
Sellers also stay put longer now. The typical seller in NAR’s 2025 profile had lived in the home 11 years, an all-time high (NAR, November 2025). Long ownership usually means more equity, and more equity is what any fee is taken from. To see where your own number stands, start with a home valuation calculator and your latest loan statement.
What does a lower commission do to your proceeds?
Here’s the arithmetic on the national median, with the 44% average loan-to-value. The rates in the table are examples to show the scale. Your own numbers will differ.
| $417,500 sale, $183,700 owed | Listing cost (example) | Left from $233,800 equity | Share of equity used |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3% listing commission | $12,525 | $221,275 | 5.4% |
| 2% listing commission | $8,350 | $225,450 | 3.6% |
| 1% listing commission | $4,175 | $229,625 | 1.8% |
| Flat fee MLS, Beycome Basic | $99 | $233,701 | 0.04% |
The 3% figure is an example only. Commissions are not set by law or NAR rules and are fully negotiable. Sellers choose whether to offer any buyer-agent compensation, and how much, and since August 17, 2024 such offers can’t be shown on the MLS (NAR settlement FAQs).
The table leaves out costs that apply either way: transfer taxes, title, the payoff itself, and any pay you agree to give a buyer’s agent. Those depend on your state and your deal. Our guide to who actually pays the buyer’s agent commission and why explains that part. For a fuller net sheet, see how much your closing costs will be.
Here’s one way to read the table. The gap between the 3% row and the $99 row is $12,426. It’s real money on any budget. It also pays for real work, which is why the next section matters.
What are your options for paying less to sell?
There are four common setups. Each one trades fee against how much you do yourself.
- Full-service agent. You agree on a commission and the agent prices, markets, shows and negotiates for you.
- Discount or 1% agent. A lower percentage, often with a minimum fee. Ask what’s included and what costs extra.
- Flat fee MLS. You pay a set fee to list your property on the MLS and you handle showings and offers yourself.
- Fully by owner, no MLS. The lowest cost, and the smallest pool of buyers, since most search sites pull from the MLS.
We compare the middle two in detail in 1% commission agents vs flat fee MLS services. If you want to know what “flat fee” covers, read understanding flat fee real estate.
Do you need a realtor to sell? No, it isn’t required; it’s your choice. An agent handles the work above for the fee you agree on. Selling by owner, you do that work and keep the difference. Many For Sale By Owner sellers land in the middle: they list on the MLS for a flat fee and pay for help only where they want it.
What do you give up with a lower fee?
Mostly time. With a flat fee listing, you answer calls, book showings, read offers and set the price. Pricing is where most sellers lose money, in either direction. Too high and the home sits; too low and you hand equity to the buyer.
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 →Price from recent sales near you, not from your purchase price. Expect buyers to ask for an inspection and an appraisal. Read every offer for its net, not its headline: a higher price with a large credit can net less than a clean lower offer. Put every term in writing.
On a Beycome listing, Basic is $99 and Enhanced is $399, with $0 due to Beycome at closing. Both include e-signature, unlimited listing changes and the Artur AI assistant for offer and negotiation questions. If you want a person to negotiate while you make every decision, Concierge is $1,399. Our guide to MLS exposure for sale by owner listings covers how the listing reaches buyers.
Two outside resources are worth a bookmark. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains closing documents and mortgage payoffs in plain English. Nolo has state-by-state articles on contracts and disclosures. For how commissions work after the 2024 settlement, the National Association of Realtors publishes consumer guides.
Can buyers keep more equity too?
Yes, if they’re buying a home where the seller offers buyer-agent pay. Some buyers also use a flat fee buyer agent. A credit at closing can go toward closing costs, which means a buyer starts with more equity on day one.
Buying after you sell? The Beycome buyer program has no upfront fee and is open to every buyer on homes listed by other agents. 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. The credit can’t apply where no buyer-agent commission is offered, like most FSBO homes, or on homes listed by Beycome sellers.
The 22,000+ homeowners who have used Beycome have saved over $225 million in commissions, by Beycome’s count (Beycome internal data, 2026). Your own savings depend on your price, your state and what you would have paid otherwise.
Frequently asked questions about commissions and home equity
How much does a lower commission really save?
Each 1% of commission on a $417,500 sale is $4,175, as an example. Against an average equity of about $233,800 at 44% loan-to-value, 3% would use 5.4% of your equity and a $99 flat fee would use 0.04%.
Is a lower commission legal?
Yes. Commissions are not set by law or NAR rules and are fully negotiable. You can agree on any fee with an agent, or sell by owner.
Do I still have to pay the buyer’s agent?
Not by law. It’s your choice and negotiable. Since August 17, 2024, offers of buyer-agent pay can’t be shown on the MLS, so it’s discussed in the offer instead.
Will I sell for less without a full-service agent?
Not necessarily. Price depends on condition, location and how well the home is priced and marketed. An MLS listing puts your home in front of the same buyers agents use.
What is the cheapest way to sell and still be on the MLS?
A flat fee MLS listing. At Beycome, Basic is $99 with $0 due to Beycome at closing; Enhanced is $399.
How do I know my equity before I sell?
Subtract your loan payoff from a realistic sale price. Ask your lender for a payoff letter and use recent nearby sales or a home value estimate for the price.
Prices as of November 2026 and subject to change; Concierge is $1,399 and Basic is $129 in California and Illinois. “$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing; taxes, title or attorney fees, recording and any buyer-agent pay you agree to still apply. Cancel free: no cancellation fee (Georgia MLS $25); listings under contract can’t be canceled; no refund once listed. Listing term is the maximum the state and MLS allow (24 months; 12 in MD and PA). Basic and Enhanced get offer help from Artur AI, not a person. Support 7 days a week, Artur AI 24/7.
Buyer credit: minimum $1,499 kept by Beycome, lender approval, not on FSBO homes or homes listed by Beycome sellers. Beycome Title: Florida, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. Commission figures are examples only. Equity and commission figures are hypothetical examples based on the national median price and average loan-to-value. General information, not legal or tax advice; rules vary by state and MLS.
Sources
- NAR, existing-home sales, September 2026 (median price).
- Cotality, homeowner equity, Q2 2026, read October 27, 2026.
- NAR, 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, press release, read October 27, 2026.
- NAR, settlement FAQs, read October 27, 2026.
- Beycome, listing package features, October 2026.
Disclosure & Disclaimer
Beycome provides real estate services through affiliated licensed brokerages and has a commercial interest in the services and business models discussed on this blog. Content reflects Beycome’s perspective and may promote our services; it should not be treated as independent or neutral reporting.
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.
Information, opinions, pricing, service descriptions, and comparisons reflect the sources and information available when an article was published or last updated and may change. Although we aim for accuracy, we do not guarantee that all content is complete, current, or applicable to your circumstances. Laws, market conditions, and service availability vary by location. Examples and estimated savings are illustrative, depend on stated assumptions, and do not guarantee individual results.
Verify relevant information directly and consult qualified professionals before making decisions. Beycome services are subject to applicable agreements, eligibility requirements, and state-specific terms.
