What is a fair commission for a real estate agent?

A fair real estate commission depends on a number of factors, including your home price, how quickly you expect your house to sell, and what services your agent will provide. You can sometimes negotiate a lower listing fee , especially if you're willing to do more of the work yourself. But most sellers find the most overall value with a low cost realtor who offers full service for a discounted rate. Find the best low commission companies here!

How much is real estate commission in my state?

Real estate commission costs an average of 5.50% nationwide, but varies by state from 4.83% to 6.21%.

Dual agency is when one realtor represents both the buyer and seller. Sellers are often able to negotiate lower commission rates with realtors who offer dual agency. But dual agency can create a conflict of interest, which is why it’s illegal in eight states and highly regulated in most others. Learn more about dual agency.

Steve Nicastro

Managing Editor

Steve Nicastro is a Managing Editor at Clever Real Estate, the nation's leading real estate education platform for home buyers, sellers, and investors. Prior to joining Clever, Steve helped buyers and sellers navigate a challenging real estate market in Charleston, S.C., closing $6 million in transaction volume for 2020 and 2021.

Over his career, Steve has bought and sold over 30 homes with a total value exceeding $8 million. This includes 20 homes as a realtor, 7 as an investor, and 3 as a primary homeowner and for sale by owner (FSBO) seller. Steve successfully used a local flat fee MLS service to get the FSBO properties marketed online, saving on commission costs.

Steve also worked as a personal finance writer for NerdWallet for over 6 years. His work has been published at USA Today, The Associated Press, U.S. News, and the New York Times, among other online publications.

Expertise: Real estate commission, selling a house without a realtor, buying a home, real estate investing.

Education: Quinnipiac University

Credentials: Full-time, licensed real estate agent in the Charleston, S.C. market from 2019-22. Active real estate investor in North and South Carolina.

External interviews and quotes:

Yahoo Finance: Discussing the NAR settlement
US News: What the $2 Billion NAR Lawsuit Means for Homebuyers and Sellers
Consumer Affairs: Zillow Launches 1% Down Mortgage
The Mortgage Reports: Is an Assumable Home Loan Right for You? Q&A

Find more from Steve:

Featured Published Articles

Looking for average real estate commission rates by state? We surveyed U.S. realtors and crunched the numbers to find accurate data for all 50 states.
Selling your home? We break down Redfin vs. realtor pros, cons, and everything in between that you should know.
A 6% real estate commission is considered standard, but how much do sellers pay today? Learn whether 6% commission is the best choice for you.
If you're selling your home for sale by owner, you can use a flat-fee company that charges a one-time payment to list your property on the MLS.
Paying 3% commission to your realtor is a longtime industry standard, but listing fees often cost less today. Sellers can even pay a total 3% commission.
Our real estate commission calculator is a handy tool to estimate potential realtor fees and your net proceeds, considering closing costs and loan payoff.