Buying or selling a home is exciting but it can also be a bit overwhelming. One of the most important issues to consider in a real estate transaction is who is responsible for paying the real estate fees and commissions. These fees can vary greatly depending on your location, the type of property you’re dealing with and other factors. Understanding who pays for these costs is essential in order to make an informed decision about any real estate transaction.
How to Save on Realtor Fees: A Comprehensive Guide for Home Sellers
If you’re a home seller, you’re likely to face realtor fees, typically a percentage of the final sale price of your home. These fees are split between the buyer’s agent and the listing agent, each typically receiving 2.5-3% of the total sale price. However, realtor fees are negotiable and can vary depending on your location.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about realtor fees, including who pays, what you can expect in return, and some innovative ways to save on costs. We’ll also cover the differences in fees across different states.
picture of for sale sign in front of house
Who Pays Realtor Fees?
In most cases, home sellers are responsible for paying realtor fees. However, there are exceptions. Sometimes, the buyer might agree to pay the fees or negotiate a cost split. It’s essential to discuss this with your realtor and make sure you’re clear on who is responsible for covering the fees before you sign any contracts.
What You Get for Your Money
When you hire a realtor, you’re paying for their expertise in the real estate market. They will handle various aspects of the home selling process, including pricing your home, marketing it, showing it to potential buyers, negotiating offers, and closing the sale. A good realtor can help you sell your house faster and for a higher price than if you sell it on your own.
How Much Will You Pay in Realtor Fees?
Tipaclly realtor fees cost around 6% of the final sale price of your home. If you sold a $650,000 home at a 6% commission, you’d spend approximately $39,000 on realtor fees. However, realtor fees can vary depending on your location and the real estate market. Realtors may be willing to negotiate lower costs to secure your business.
Innovative Ways to Save on Realtor Fees
If you’re looking to save on realtor fees without sacrificing service, there are a few ways to do it:
- Negotiate Fees: One of the most effective ways to save on realtor fees is to negotiate them. Many realtors are willing to adjust their fees to secure your business. Shopping around and comparing fees from different realtors is essential to get the best deal.
- Use a Discount Broker: Discount brokers charge lower fees than traditional realtors. They typically provide the same services but at a lower cost. One example is Sell My Houser, which negotiates 1.5% listing fees with real estate agents at top brokerages like Coldwell Banker and RE/MAX. This way, you’ll get full service from a local agent but at a fraction of the cost.
- Consider Flat Fee MLS: Flat fee MLS services allow you to list your home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for a one-time fee. This fee can be much lower than traditional realtor fees. However, remember that you’ll handle most aspects of the sale yourself.
Realtor Fees by State
Realtor fees can vary significantly from state to state. In some states, the average commission is as low as 4.5%, while in others, it can be as high as 7%. For example, the average lowest commission in Arizona is 3-6%, New York is 5.1%, while in Alaska, it’s 6%. It’s important to research the average commission rates in your state and negotiate fees accordingly.
Understanding Realtor Fees: How Much Do They Typically Cost?
You might wonder how much realtor fees will cost you if you plan to buy or sell a home. Realtor fees are fees that the agent earns for assisting you with selling or purchasing a home. These fees are typically a percentage of the home’s purchase price and are split evenly between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent.
On average, realtor fees are around 6% of the home’s purchase price. For example, if you sold a $400,000 home, each agent would make about $12,000, and the total commission paid by the seller would be $24,000.
Realtor fees can vary by state and regional factors that impact commission rates, such as home sale prices, market trends, supply and demand, the average time to sell, marketing expenses, and the cost of living. According to a survey conducted by Sell My Houser, the average commission rate in each state can vary significantly, ranging from 4.83% in New Hampshire to 6.21% in New Mexico.
However, it’s essential to remember that realtor fees are negotiable, no matter where you live. Sell My Houser, for instance, will negotiate discounted prices with its agent contacts to help you save big. By using Sell My Houser’s free agent matching service, you get a pre-negotiated 1.5% listing fee. You can access the best-known realtors from name-brand brokerages.
Real Estate Commission Splits: How They Work and Who Pays
When a realtor works for a brokerage such as RE/MAX or Coldwell Banker, they don’t keep their full commission. Instead, agents typically split their commission 50/50 with their brokerage. This split helps cover shared brokerage expenses such as advertising, licenses for technology tools, and office equipment.
While a 50/50 commission split is typical, some brokerages may structure splits differently. For example, splits may favor the agent depending on their tenure with the brokerage, whereas more experienced agents share less with the brokerage.
The commission split on a $400,000 home is typical $12,000 (assuming a 3% commission rate), with $6,000 going to the agent and $6,000 to the brokerage.
You can use a realtor fee calculator to estimate how much you’ll pay in commission when selling your home. Enter your estimated home sales price and the percentage you’ll pay each agent. Remember, the home seller is responsible for covering both the selling and buying agents’ fees.
Have you ever asked yourself “who pays the realtor fees“? It’s important to note that the seller pays realtor fees for both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. These costs come from the seller’s final proceeds, while buyers typically pay other closing costs like escrow fees and mortgage points.
You may wonder why the seller pays the buyer’s agent. The buyer’s agent commission is a marketing expense when selling a home. This is a financial reward for the realtor who brings a qualified buyer to the seller. Since the buyer pays for the house, realtor fees and other closing costs are calculated into the seller’s asking price.
Real Estate Agent Fees: What Buyers Need to Know
While it’s rare for buyers to pay their real estate agent fees out of pocket, it can happen. The buyer agency agreement you sign will determine whether you’re responsible for paying your agent’s fee if the seller doesn’t cover the commission.
If the seller isn’t offering a buyer’s agent commission or referral, talk to your agent about it. They can negotiate with the seller to cover some of your closing costs or lower their rate to avoid losing your business.
The title company removes the realtor fees from the seller’s profits and distributes them to the agents and brokerages during the closing process.
Realtor fees are a way to compensate agents for the time they devote to your home sale or purchase. For buyers, this typically includes identifying homes that meet your needs and budget. As well as scheduling open houses, showings, writing and submitting offers, negotiating deals, and facilitating the closing. For sellers, realtor fees typically cover the research of comparative sales and developing a pricing strategy, preparing the home for sale, listing the house on the multiple listing service (MLS), negotiating deals with potential buyers, and facilitating the closing.
Realtor fees typically cover some direct costs agents incur as they help you through purchasing or selling. This includes paying for professional home photography, printed fliers, home staging, drone photography, and video tours.
It’s important to check with your agent upfront to learn what services they do and do not include in their standard fees. This will be the best way to ensure that you and your agent are on the same page and avoid confusion or unexpected costs.
As we mentioned earlier, realtor fees typically cost about 6% of the final sale price of a home. However, rates can vary by more than a percentage point in some cases, depending on regional factors such as home sale prices, market trends, supply and demand, the average time to sell, marketing expenses, cost of living, and property characteristics. In addition, it’s important to note that realtor fees can vary based on location and other factors.
Consider working with a company like Sell My Houser to save on real estate fees. Sell My Houser will negotiate discounted realtor fees with its agent network to help you save big. With Sell My Houser, you can get a pre-negotiated 1.5% listing fee, which can be a significant cost saving compared to traditional real estate fees.
Are Realtor Fees Negotiable? How to Save on Commission
While realtor fees are technically negotiable, many agents may need to be willing to budge on their rates. According to the Consumer Federation of America, roughly 73% of listing agents will only negotiate on their fees. However, there are some situations where a realtor may be more flexible on their fees. For example, a realtor may be willing to lower their fees if you’re selling a more expensive home or your home is in excellent condition and is likely to sell fast.
Another way to reduce realtor fees is by working with a discount real estate brokerage. Some of the best discount brokerages for home sellers include Sell My Houser, Redfin, Ideal Agent, and SimpleShowing. Companies like these offer built-in savings on listing fees, and their agents provide all the same services that traditional realtors offer.
When you sell your home with Sell My Houser, your top local real estate agent will offer complete service and support for a 1.5% listing fee compared to the usual 3%. With Sell My Houser, you can get a pre-negotiated discount and save thousands of dollars on realtor fees.
Selling your home for sale by the owner is another way to save on realtor fees. However, this requires a lot of DIY work and may not result in selling your home for top dollar. In any case, it’s always a good idea to work with an experienced and reputable agent who can guide you through this challenging process and help you achieve your real estate goals.
