How commission works | Save on commission | Kentucky housing market | Best low commission companies | Methodology
📊 The data:
We surveyed local agents and found that the average real estate commission in Kentucky is 5.44%, which is higher than the national average of 5.37%.
To sell a house in Kentucky worth $190,037 — the median home value in Kentucky — you’ll pay about $10,338 in realtor fees.
Realtor commission is usually the largest cost you'll face when selling your home — but you don't have to pay the full 5.44%.
Clever Real Estate could help you save thousands on commission by pre-negotiating 1.5% listing fees with full-service Kentucky realtors from top brokerages.
On that same $190,037 home — you'd pay just $8,200, up to 21% less than paying average rates.
» SAVE: Sell with Clever for 1.5% listing fees and save thousands in commission!
How real estate agent commission works
Average listing commission | 2.72% |
Average buyer's agent commission | 2.72% |
Total average commission | 5.44% |
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
Based on our research, the average commission rate for listing agents is 2.72% of the final home price and 2.72% for buyer's agents, for a total of 5.44%.
» LEARN: How do real estate commissions work?
Who pays realtor fees in Kentucky?
In Kentucky, home sellers pay real estate commission fees out of the final sale proceeds for both agents involved in a deal. Offering to pay for the buyer's agent's commission is an incentive for agents to show your home to their clients.
If you'd like to save on commissions, Clever can connect you with a top listing agent in your area. You'll pay just 1.5%, keeping more money in your pocket at the end of your sale.
How to save on realtor fees in Kentucky
Commission rates are not set in stone. In fact, we found that while 5.44% is the average in Kentucky, rates typically fall between 4.71% and 6.17%. You can save money by negotiating a lower rate with your listing agent or by working with brokerage that has a discounted commission model.
Listing commission range | 2.35%– 3.08% |
Buyer's agent commission | 2.36%– 3.09% |
Total commission range | 4.71%– 6.17% |
Tips for negotiating realtor commission in Kentucky
Whether you’re selling a Victorian in Louisville, a college rental in Lexington, or a gothic mansion in Frankfort, you should always try to negotiate a lower commission rate — it could save you thousands of dollars!
Negotiating a lower realtor percentage in Kentucky depends on two main factors: your situation and the housing market.
Factor | You may have an easier time negotiating low rates if... |
|---|---|
Your situation |
|
The Kentucky housing market |
|
While your personal situation will obviously vary, Kentucky real estate market conditions will affect all home sellers in your area.
In general, in a seller's market — where home sellers have more leverage than buyers — a listing agent's job is easier and they may be more willing to lower their commission rates. The opposite is usually true in a buyer's market.
» LEARN: Find our top tips for negotiating lower commission fees
To judge the current state of your real estate market, look at these three factors:
- Months of inventory ⓘ
- Sale to list price ⓘ
- Home value trends ⓘ
If every factor points to Kentucky being a seller's market, then you may be in a good position to negotiate a lower commission rate with your agent. If market conditions are mixed or favor buyers, it may be more challenging to persuade your realtor to accept a cheaper fee.
The current state of the Kentucky real estate market
Factor | Trends | Indication |
|---|---|---|
Months of inventory | There's 1.2 months of housing inventory on the market | Seller's market |
Sale-to-list ratio | Homes are selling for 97.00% of their listing price | Buyer's market |
Home values | Home values have risen 32.33% year over year | Seller's market |
Low commission real estate companies in Kentucky
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.
These are some of the top discount and flat-fee MLS services in Kentucky.
The top discount real estate companies in Kentucky
Discount real estate companies 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.
Clever Real Estate
Get Started💲 Listing Fee
1.5% (min. $3,000)
💰 Avg. Savings
$5,625
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
4.9/5 (1,995 reviews)
Clever is a quick, easy, and free way to find a top-rated local agent. And, unlike many similar companies, Clever pre-negotiates big discounts on your behalf, so you can save thousands without sacrificing on service.
- Clever offers a free, nationwide agent-matching service that partners with full-service local agents from conventional brokerages like Keller Williams, Century 21, and RE/MAX.
- You get multiple agent matches so you can interview, compare marketing plans, and choose the best fit.
- Clever pre-negotiates low rates on your behalf — you get full service for a low 1.5% listing fee.
- If you buy with Clever, you could get cash back after closing.
- You may not get matched with an agent from your preferred real estate brokerage.
- Agents may not provide premium services like drone photography and professional home staging.
Clever has a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, based on 1,844 reviews.
Clever has pre-negotiated low commission rates with top agents in all 50 states and Washington, DC.
Redfin
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
1.5% (min. fees vary)
💰 Avg. Savings
$5,550
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
3.7/5 (301 reviews)
Redfin offers real savings and is a proven brand. But sellers could compromise on service — especially agent experience and availability.
- If you buy and sell with Redfin, you'll get a 0.5% listing fee discount.
- Redfin gives its listings premium placement in its popular home search app.
- If finding the right agent is a top priority, you'll have limited options — Redfin only has a few agents in each of its markets.
- Redfin agents handle more customers at once than the average realtor, so they may not be able to provide as much personalized service.
Redfin has a 3.7 out of 5 rating (301 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Yelp.
Redfin is available in 80+ U.S. markets (see all locations).
» LEARN: How do discount real estate brokers offer lower fees?
The top flat fee MLS listing services in Kentucky
Flat fee MLS services list your home on your local MLS for a low fee, often around $249–$1,290. The trade-off is that you'll have to handle almost the entire home-selling process yourself.
Mink Realty
Mink RealtyBest For
Sellers looking for a lot of a la carte options
Price Range
$299-499
Pros:
- The gold and platinum packages come with a lot of extra assistance from the listing broker like contract reviews and advice, listing feedback, and negotiation assistance.
- For an extra fee, the broker will promote your listing on social media for you.
Cons:
- You have to pay extra to e-sign documents.
- The base package doesn't include any open house listings.
Houzeo
HouzeoBest For
Sellers looking for a lot of a-la-carte options
Price Range
$329-429
Pros:
- You can fill out, sign, and submit all your seller's paperwork on the Houzeo app.
- When you enter your address, Houzeo auto-fills publicly available data about your property.
- Houzeo lets you buy additional services like contract reviews, agent showings, and professional showings a la carte.
Cons:
- You have to pay extra for pricing assistance — several local competitors offer this for free.
- You're limited to 10 free changes for price, status, and description in their two most popular packages. Most competitors offer unlimited free changes.
» MORE: What you need to know about flat fee MLS services.
Learn more
Kentucky combines the charm of the South with the quaintness of the Midwest. The Bluegrass State also offers low-cost living and a diversified economy based on agriculture, manufacturing, and, of course, bourbon.
Home values in Kentucky have been on a steady rise over the past decade, but still fall far short of the national average; even in markets like Louisville, which has seen explosive growth, the median home value remains affordable.
Low inventory means investors can expect continued demand (and appreciation), and low prices relative to the rest of the U.S. mean great opportunities for first-time buyers.
Commission is the single largest cost of selling your home in Kentucky, but Clever can help you save thousands of dollars. Clever pre-negotiates low commission rates of 1.5%, or a flat fee of $3,000 if your home sells for less than $350,000, and it only works with vetted top agents in Kentucky. Contact Clever today to find out how the company can help you!
Methodology
We gathered our commission rate data from a survey of 630 of our partner agents. The survey asked about standard local rates for both listing and buying agents.
Additionally, we utilized the following data from Zillow and Realtor.com:
- Home values, list prices, and sale prices: Based on Zillow data as of March 2023
- Sale prices and sale-to-list ratios: Based on Redfin data as of February 2023 (unless specified otherwise)
- Months of inventory: Based on Realtor.com data as of February 2023