How commission works | Commission calculator | Best ways to save | Methodology
📊 The data:
Our December 2023 survey of local agents found that the average real estate commission in Kentucky is 6.00%, which is higher than the national average of 5.49%. Calculate your estimated commission in Kentucky.
The average total real estate agent commission rate in Kentucky is 6.00% of the final sale price. Based on the latest median home sale price in Kentucky ($196,550), that translates to a total cost of roughly $11,793.
Home sellers typically cover the total commission fee from their sale proceeds, which is split between the listing and buyer’s agents who handle the sale. In Kentucky, the average listing agent fee is 3.00%, while the average buyer’s agent fee is 3.00%.
Real estate agent commissions make up a significant portion of the closing costs for Kentucky home sellers. But you don't have to pay the full 6.00% to a traditional agent. If you're selling a home in Kentucky, you can use a discount broker to save on realtor fees. In fact, depending on your situation and the agents you work with, you could save 25% on realtor fees, or about $2,897 on average.
⚡ Find top agents and save: Answer these five simple questions to get matched with the best local agents offering reduced commission rates. Compare agents from top brokerages like Keller Williams and RE/MAX, and get a discounted rate through Clever’s partner network.
How real estate commission works in Kentucky
| Average listing commission | 3.00% |
| Average buyer's agent commission | 3.00% |
| Total average commission | 6.00% |
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
Based on our research, the average real estate commission paid in Kentucky for listing agents is 3.00% of the final home price and 3.00% for buyer's agents, for a total of 6.00%.
» LEARN: How do real estate broker commissions work?
Real estate commission calculator for Kentucky
Use this commission calculator to estimate how much you'll pay in realtor fees when you sell your home in Kentucky. Enter an estimate of your home's sale price, and see how much you'll pay at different commission rates.
If you want to lower your realtor fees, Clever can connect you with a top local listing agent charging just 1.5% commission. This will enable you to keep more of the sale proceeds for yourself.
» SAVE: Sell with Clever for 1.5% listing fees and save thousands in commission!
Who pays realtor fees in Kentucky?
When you sell a home in Kentucky, the sales commissions for both the seller's and buyer's real estate agents are subtracted from the final sale price. These fees do not need to be paid upfront.
The seller's agent earns their commission by providing services such as market analysis and managing the closing paperwork. The buyer's agent makes their commission by bringing a qualified buyer who meets the agreed upon purchase terms and closes on time.
The seller does not have to pay these commissions out of their own money. Similar to closing costs, the agents' fees are deducted from the total sale proceeds once the transaction is completed.
Why do sellers pay the buyer's real estate agent commission?
Offering to cover the buyer's agent commission may attract more potential buyers to your listing.
Paying this fee increases the appeal of your home to buyers, since they won't have to pay their agent's commission on top of the down payment and closing costs—a financial stretch for many.
When you make a competitive offer on the buyer's agent commission, real estate agents become more motivated to showcase your property to their clients. This can improve your odds of attracting multiple offers. Experts advise advertising a buyer's agent commission within 0.5% of the local norm, which is 3.00% in Kentucky.
Will the NAR lawsuit change how real estate commission works?
On March 15, 2024, the National Association of Realtors agreed to pay $418 million in damages to settle a real estate commission lawsuit the industry group lost in November 2023.
While the full impact of the settlement is yet to be determined, experts believe that the change will eventually lead to lower buyer's agent commissions and give buyers the ability to negotiate those commissions based on the services they need.
The terms of the settlement are scheduled to take effect in mid-July 2024. But, the settlement hasn't been officially approved yet, and it could be delayed or changed by objections. We'll continue to monitor the status of the settlement and the effects it has on the real estate industry.
» READ MORE:
How to save on realtor fees in Kentucky
Commission rates are not set in stone. In fact, we found that while 3.00% is the average listing commission in Kentucky, rates typically fall between 3.00% and 3.00%. You can save money by negotiating a lower rate with your listing agent or by working with a discount real estate brokerage.
| Listing commission range | 3.00%– 3.00% |
| Buyer's agent commission | 3.00%– 3.00% |
| Total commission range | 6.00%– 6.00% |
» LEARN: What's the commission on a $1 million home?
Can I negotiate realtor commission in Kentucky?
Real estate commission is always negotiable. Nationwide, the 630 agents we surveyed said these were their most common reasons for agreeing to lower their commission.
| Would you lower your commission for…? | Agents who answered yes |
|---|---|
| Homeowners who also plan to buy with you | 72% |
| Homeowners who are repeat clients | 70% |
| Homeowners with more than one property to sell | 67% |
| Seller’s situation (e.g. divorce or death in the family) | 48% |
| Higher property values | 47% |
| High competition for clients | 37% |
| Homes expected to sell quickly | 37% |
| Periods of low housing inventory | 23% |
| High buyer demand in the area | 22% |
| Houses in excellent condition | 19% |
| Highly experienced home sellers | 13% |
Negotiating realtor fees 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 differs, real estate conditions across Kentucky impact all area home sellers.
Generally in a seller's market, where sellers wield more leverage than buyers, listing agents' jobs become easier so they may be more open to reducing commissions. The reverse is often true in a buyer's market.
Not comfortable negotiating with a realtor? Avoid the awkward conversation and let Clever pre-negotiate a lower rate with a top agent for you.
To evaluate the current state of your local market, examine these three factors:
- Months of inventory
- Sale to list price ratio
- Home value trends
If indicators show Kentucky is a seller's market, you may be well-positioned to negotiate a lower commission. If conditions are mixed or favor buyers, getting your agent to accept a cheaper rate could prove more difficult.
The current state of the Kentucky real estate market
| Factor | Trends | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| Months of inventory | There's 1.24 months of housing inventory on the market | Seller's market |
| Sale-to-list ratio | Homes are selling for 96.80% of their listing price | Buyer's market |
| Home values | Home values have risen 13.05% year over year | Seller's market |
» LEARN: See state-by-state average commission rates. How does your state compare?
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.
Discount 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.
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Availability
Overview
Pricing
Reviews
Contact
Overview: Clever is a smart pick for Kentucky homeowners eager to cut down on realtor fees while still receiving full service.
✅ Benefits and features: Enjoy up to 50% reduction in realtor fees compared to traditional rates with Clever’s matching service. Noteworthy for being top-rated, this service comes at no cost and is obligation-free.
🏠 How it works: Clever pairs you with elite realtors from leading firms such as RE/MAX and Compass. Explore your options, secure the right match and benefit from Clever’s exclusive 1.5% listing fee (on par with Redfin), no matter your realtor selection.
Pros
- Work with an established agent from a reputable brokerage (not a discount agent)
- Realize savings of up to half on standard commission rates via Clever
- Unmatched variety in agent options — access a vast network of Kentucky’s finest realtors
Cons
- No guarantee you’ll partner with a particular agent or firm you might prefer
- Potential additional costs for premium services like home staging, aerial photography, and virtual tours (specifics provided during the agent’s listing pitch)
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Availability
Overview
Pricing
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Contact
Overview: For those looking to maximize savings on agent fees during their home sale in Kentucky, Redfin's services are certainly worthy of consideration.
✅ Benefits and features: Redfin prides itself on a competitive listing fee of just 1.5%, sweetened further by an additional reduction of 0.5% for clients who engage in both selling and purchasing within a year through their services. Redfin stands out with its strong presence in the market, boasting a more extensive selection of real estate professionals compared to smaller local discount firms.
🚩 Potential red flags: The high-tech, group-oriented structure employed by Redfin might not align with every seller's expectation of a personalized realty experience. Working with Redfin typically involves collaboration with a primary agent supported by a remote team, a method some may find impersonal. Prospective sellers should also be mindful of the minimum commission fee of $3,000 in Kentucky. If your property sells for less than $200,000, the actual listing fee percentage will be slightly higher than the advertised 1.5%.
Pros
- Significant savings on listing fees
- Strong brand presence and a good selection of agents
- Appealing tech-forward approach for certain sellers
Cons
- Higher minimum commission fee compared to other options in Kentucky
- A high-volume, team-centered approach that may not align with everyone's preferences
- Offers a smaller selection of agents compared to Clever
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Availability
Overview
Pricing
Reviews
Contact
Overview: Best Choice Flat Fee appeals to Kentucky home sellers who prefer a more hands-on approach, though some may find the cost savings are offset by unexpected fees and a potential gap in comprehensive support.
✅ Benefits and features: With tiered pricing structures from $299 to $999, Best Choice Flat Fee presents notable opportunities for savings when contrasted against traditional realtor commissions of 3%. Their varied service packages are designed to align with differing seller preferences and requirements.
🚩 Potential red flags: The fee system at Best Choice Flat Fee can be complicated, necessitating meticulous scrutiny of each service tier prior to commitment. Be aware that additional charges may apply for services such as hosting open houses, putting up signage, and utilizing digital contract signatures, which are not covered in the preliminary quotes.
Pros
- Flexibility to choose from multiple pricing plans that suit your budget
- Flat fee pricing offers a significant discount compared to percentage-based commission
Cons
- $250 due at closing on top of the advertised fee
- Extra fees for sign posting and document signing
- Navigating and understanding the different plan offerings may pose some challenges
» LEARN: How do discount real estate brokers offer lower fees?
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, where 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.
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.
Learn about the home sales 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 Kentucky'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!
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. We also asked agents about when and why they're willing to negotiate real estate commissions.
Additionally, we utilized the following data from Zillow and Realtor.com:
- Home values, list prices, and sale prices: Based on Zillow data as of February 2024
- Sale-to-list ratios: Based on Zillow data as of February 2024 (unless specified otherwise)
- Months of inventory: Based on Realtor.com data as of March 2024
