📊 The data: Our September 2025 survey of local agents found that the average real estate commission in San Francisco is 5.04%, which is less than the national average of 5.57%. We also asked 12 local realtors with a service area in San Francisco about how commission works locally.
The total average real estate commission in San Francisco is 5.04% of the home's sale price in realtor fees.
For context, if you sell a home that costs $850,000, you'd typically pay around $42,840 in realtor fees; $85,680 for a $1,700,000 home; and $142,632 for a $2,830,000 home. Calculate your estimated commission in San Francisco.
Realtor commission is usually the largest cost you'll face when selling your home, but there are ways to save on realtor fees. Clever Real Estate can help you save thousands on commission by pre-negotiating 1.5% listing fees with full-service San Francisco realtors from top brokerages.
⚡ Sell with Clever for a reduced 1.5% listing fee; save thousands in commission!
How real estate commission works in San Francisco
| Average listing commission | 2.50% |
| Average buyer's agent commission | 2.54% |
| Total average commission | 5.04% |
There are usually two real estate agents involved in the real estate transactions of a home sale:
- The seller's agent (also called the listing agent), who represents the home seller
- The buyer's agent, who represents the person buying the home
The seller's agent earns their commission by determining an appropriate listing price and managing the closing process.
The buyer's agent earns their commission by bringing a qualified buyer who agrees to the terms of the contract and completes the sale on time.
Sellers and buyers must negotiate realtor fees with their agents separately (as required by the 2024 NAR lawsuit settlement). The seller and buyer each sign a contract with their agent, promising to pay the agreed-upon commission. Sellers can offer
Real estate commission calculator for San Francisco
Use this commission calculator to estimate how much you'll pay in realtor fees when you sell your home in San Francisco. Enter an estimate of your home's sale price, and see how much you'll pay at different commission rates.
Total realtor fees
When you find your agent through Clever, your listing commission is just 1.5% instead of the average 2.57%.
Who pays realtor fees in San Francisco?
There are usually two real estate agents involved in a home sale:
- The seller's agent (also called the listing agent), who represents the home seller
- The buyer's agent, who represents the person buying the home
When selling a home in San Francisco, you won't owe anything to your listing agent upfront. Real estate agents get paid when the home sells. Just like closing costs, realtor fees are taken from the final sale proceeds and paid at closing.
In the past, home sellers usually paid agent fees for both their listing agent and the buyer's agent out of their sale proceeds. However, since the 2024 NAR settlement, sellers and buyers are required to negotiate rates with their own agents separately.
After losing a lawsuit over their practices in 2024, the National Association of Realtors agreed to change how real estate professionals do business.
As of August 2024, buyer's agents are required to sign an "agency agreement" before providing services to a buyer. This agreement has to specify what services the agent will provide, and how much they will get paid.
Real estate agents are no longer allowed to split commissions with one another. In the past, it was common for a listing agent to collect a 6% fee from the seller, and then split this fee with a buyer's agent who brought a buyer. Going forward, buyer's agents will have to negotiate their fee directly with the buyer they represent.
Learn more about how the lawsuit impacts buyers and sellers.
Buyers may feel the most immediate impact from the NAR settlement changes. If the seller doesn't offer to pay for the buyer's agent at closing, the buyer could be on the hook for an extra 2–3% of the home's sale price. This may convince some buyers to skip hiring an agent and try to navigate the market themselves.
Many sellers may continue to offer to pay for the buyer's agent like they always have to help sell their home. However, a seller may decline to offer any concessions if they're in a competitive seller's market in which they have all the leverage.
A Clever Real Estate survey found that 94% of home sellers support the commission changes.
Recent buyer's agent commission trends
Buyer's agent commissions can rise and fall with seasonality and other factors, such as the state of the market in your area.
Nationally, over the past six months, buyer's agent commissions have:
- Averaged about 2.57%
- Ranged from a low of 2.51% to a high of 2.62%
Here's the buyer's agent commission averages for each of the past six months:[1]
- August 2025: 2.62%
- July 2025: 2.62%
- June 2025: 2.56%
- May 2025: 2.58%
- April 2025: 2.56%
- March 2025: 2.51%
Why do sellers pay the buyer's real estate agent commission?
Buying a home is expensive, especially now that buyers are expected to pay their own agents. Any help you can provide to the buyer will help you sell your home.
According to the agents we've spoken with, sellers will likely continue to offer a concession equal to the buyer's agent commission.
Offering this concession makes your home more enticing to buyers, since they won't have to pay their agent's commission upfront in addition to the down payment and closing costs — an expense many buyers struggle to afford. It may also increase your chances of securing multiple offers.
But if you find yourself in a seller's market with plenty of offers on your home, you may be less inclined to offer any kind of concession.
Negotiating realtor fees in San Francisco
Real estate commission is always negotiable. Among the realtors we spoke to, most said they're open to negotiating commission for the right reasons.
Most agents told us they'd likely reduce their rate for these types of clients:
- Homeowners who also plan to buy
- Homeowners who are repeat clients
- Homeowners with more than one property to sell
Additionally, some agents may consider reducing their commission in these circumstances:
- Higher property values
- High competition for clients
- Homes expected to sell quickly
- High buyer demand in the area
- House in excellent condition
- Periods of low housing inventory
To successfully negotiate commission with your realtor, take into account the value the agent brings along with how difficult it may be to sell your home.
Learning about your local market conditions is the best way to prepare for negotiations with your agent. Another important factor is your personal situation.
Generally in a seller's market, in which home sellers have more leverage than buyers, listing agents' jobs are more straightforward, so they may be more open to reducing their fees. The opposite is often true in a buyer's market.
⚡Not comfortable negotiating with a real estate agent? Avoid the awkward discussion and let Clever pre-negotiate a lower rate with a top local agent for you.
San Francisco housing market (September 2025)
As of September 5, 2025, here's the state of the San Francisco market:
- Housing inventory (the total number of homes for sale) stands at 4,307, compared to the 4,264 rolling average. That's about 4.32 months of inventory, indicating a Seller's market.
- The median days on market is 34 days, compared to the 35 day San Francisco average.
- The median list price (the seller's asking price for the home) is currently $1,275,000, compared to the rolling average of $1,231,928.
- The median sale price (what homes are actually selling for) is $1,370,000, compared to the average of $1,349,990.
- The sale-to-list price ratio (the percentage of listing price sellers are actually getting) is 100, compared to the average of 99.68.
For the week ending September 5, 2025:
- There were 589 new home listings this week, compared to the 496 homes that are typically listed each week.
- 2.46 of all listings in San Francisco reduced their price this week, compared to the average 3.05 of sellers that typically reduce their price each week.
- The median price change was -4.31%, compared to the average -3.58% adjustment that sellers make in a typical week.
Interpreting the current state of the market
In a seller’s market, you may be in a better position to negotiate commission with your agent because homes are generally selling quicker, and agents may compete for listings.
If market conditions are mixed or favor buyers, it may be tougher to get your realtor to accept a cheaper commission.
Here's how to determine what kind of a market you're in.
- Indicates a seller's market:
- Housing inventory and new listings are down compared to the average. This means buyers have fewer options to choose from.
- Median days on the market are down compared to the average. This means homes are selling quickly due to strong demand.
- Median list price and median sale price are up, meaning demand is strong enough to push prices higher.
- Sale-to-list price ratio is at or above 100%, meaning buyers are willing to pay the asking price or more.
- Indicates a buyer's market:
- Housing inventory and new listings are up compared to the average, meaning buyers have more options to choose from.
- Median days on the market are up compared to the average, meaning homes are taking longer to sell.
- Median list price and median sale price are down, showing sellers may be lowering prices to attract buyers.
- Sale-to-list price ratio is below 100%, indicating buyers are finding success negotiating prices down and paying less than the listing price.
What to expect from your San Francisco real estate agent
Homeowners continue to rely on real estate agents when selling. A recent Clever survey found that 88% of homeowners planning to sell within the next year intend to use a Realtor and see them as an important part of the process.
Full-service realtors provide a wide range of helpful services, including:
- Providing comparative market analysis
- Developing pricing strategies
- Listing and marketing properties to attract buyers
- Negotiating offers and advising the seller on how to proceed
- Guiding sellers through the closing process
A good agent can adjust their services to what you need to sell your home. Agents we spoke to said sellers should generally expect professional photos, lock boxes, and a yard sign as part of the normal service package.
Low-commission real estate companies in San Francisco
Negotiating a lower rate with a professional negotiator can be hard! In many cases, home sellers can save just as much (or more!) by selling with a low-commission real estate company.
Low commission real estate brokers typically offer full-service support for a reduced commission percentage or flat rate. How they create those discounts will depend on the company's model, with some creating more risks and trade-offs than others.
Top 5 low commission real estate companies in San Francisco, California
-
Clever Real Estate
Discount Real Estate Broker⚡ Get StartedListing fee: 1.5%
-
Mills Realty
Discount Real Estate BrokerLearn MoreListing fee: 0.5% + $499
-
California Magic Real Estate
Discount Real Estate BrokerLearn MoreListing fee: 1%
-
Northern Crest Realty
Discount Real Estate BrokerLearn MoreListing fee: 1%
-
Flat Fee Group
Discount Real Estate BrokerLearn MoreListing fee: 1%
Next steps
Thinking of selling your home but don't know where to start? Here are some next steps.
Start interviewing local agents
Set up some listing appointments, during which an agent visits your home to discuss its estimated value, lay out their marketing strategy, and provide a quote for their fee.
Here's why it's smart to sit down with a few agents before signing with one:
- It's completely free to meet with agents: There's no obligation or risk on your end. Just keep in mind that the agent is meeting with you to win your business and will try to sell you on their service.
- You can compare pricing and features: Shopping around helps you find the best fit for your specific needs — in terms of fees, experience, and services provided.
- You can learn more about your market from an expert: Realtors can provide local data, like how much nearby homes are selling for, how fast they sell, and other current market trends.
- You will learn about the home sale process: An agent can walk you through the sales process from start to finish, and provide tailored advice for marketing your property to home buyers.
To get started, check out our guide on the best ways to find real estate agents — or you can sign up for Clever’s free agent matching service below to connect with top realtors in your area right now (and save on commission).
Clever has pre-negotiated low commission rates of only 1.5%, with San Francisco's top agents. Contact Clever today to find out how much you can save on commission!
Clever can connect you with top local agents sell your house for a pre-negotiated low rate: just a 1.5% listing fee when your home sells (half the typical rate!).
You can interview your Clever agent matches, get free pricing estimates, and compare marketing plans — all with no strings attached.
Ready to learn more? Click below to take our simple quiz and see your agent matches!
Frequently asked questions
The buyer and seller are ultimately responsible for paying their own agents. However, many sellers offer to pay for the buyer's agent commission. This makes the home more affordable for the buyer, who already has to come up with a down payment.
Real estate commission is not considered a closing cost, even though it's due when the home sells. The term "closing costs" is typically used to refer to costs like transfer fees, title services, and other taxes due at closing.
Dual agency is when one agent represents both the buyer and the seller for the same deal. This can potentially set up a conflict of interest. Dual agency is not legal in eight states: Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Vermont, and Wyoming.
Most real estate agents will ask clients to sign an exclusive right to sell listing agreement—this is the most common type of contract. This type of contract says the seller agrees to work with only one agent, and that agent gets paid when the home sells, even if the seller finds a buyer themselves.
Methodology
We gathered our commission rate data from a survey of 828 agents nationwide. The survey asked about standard local rates for both listing and buying agents. We also asked agents about when and why they're willing to negotiate real estate commissions.
Additonally, we spoke to 12 local realtors with a service area in San Francisco.
Information on market conditions is based on HouseCanary data as of September 5, 2025.
