How commission works | Save on commission | Massachusetts housing market | Best low commission companies | Methodology
📊 The data:
We surveyed local agents and found that the average real estate commission in Massachusetts is 4.85%, which is less than the national average of 5.37%.
To sell a house in Massachusetts worth $545,865 — the median home value in Massachusetts — you’ll pay about $26,474 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 4.85%.
Clever Real Estate could help you save thousands on commission by pre-negotiating 1.5% listing fees with full-service Massachusetts realtors from top brokerages.
On that same $545,865 home — you'd pay just $17,800, up to 33% 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 | 2.58% |
Average buyer's agent commission | 2.27% |
Total average commission | 4.85% |
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 2.58% of the final home price and 2.27% for buyer's agents, for a total of 4.85%.
» LEARN: How do real estate commissions work?
Who pays realtor fees in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts
Commission rates are not set in stone. In fact, we found that while 4.85% is the average in Massachusetts, rates typically fall between 4.15% and 5.53%. 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 | 2.23%– 2.92% |
Buyer's agent commission | 1.92%– 2.61% |
Total commission range | 4.15%– 5.53% |
Tips for negotiating realtor commission in Massachusetts
Whether you’re selling a luxury condo in downtown Boston, a stately mansion in Worcester, or a cozy family home in Springfield, you can almost always negotiate a lower commission rate.
Negotiating a lower realtor percentage in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts housing market |
|
While your personal situation will obviously vary, Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts real estate market
Factor | Trends | Indication |
|---|---|---|
Months of inventory | There's 2.9 months of housing inventory on the market | Seller's market |
Sale-to-list ratio | Homes are selling for 99.27% of their listing price | Seller's market |
Home values | Home values have risen 26.06% year over year | Seller's market |
Low commission real estate companies in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts.
The top discount real estate companies in Massachusetts
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).
Prevu Real Estate
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
1.5% (min. fees vary)
💰 Avg. Savings
$2,450
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
5.0/5 (449 reviews)
Prevu offers solid commission savings for buyers and sellers. But at certain price points, other discount brands may offer better value.
- Prevu's 1.5% listing fee saves sellers an average of $2,450 compared to a standard 3% commission rate.
- Eligible buyers get a commission rebate worth up to 2% of the home price.
- High minimum fees may limit your savings if you're selling a lower-priced home.
- Prevu has a small team, which limits your options if you don't hit it off with the first agent it sends you.
Prevu has a 5.0 out of 5 rating (449 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Yelp.
Prevu is available in the following areas: CA, CO, CT, MA, NY, PA, TX, WA.
REX Real Estate
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
2.5% ($9,000 min.)
💰 Avg. Savings
-$325
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
4.7/5 (1,041 reviews)
REX’s promise of huge savings is misleading. Its advertising misrepresents the significant risks of its pricing model and marketing approach. And its high minimum fees mean that many sellers won't save anything.
- REX's approach is incredibly risky — but if the gamble pays off, you could save about 50% on realtor fees
- Like other full-service brokerages, REX agents provide in-person services and support
- REX's 2.5% listing fee doesn't save you much — many full-price agents charge similar rates
- REX doesn't list your home on the MLS, so up to 90% of buyers may not even know it's for sale
- This risky marketing strategy seems likely to fail, so you may not save anything on commission
REX has a 4.7 out of 5 rating (1,041 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Zillow.
REX is available in the following areas: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, MD, NV, NJ, OR, PA, TX, WA, DC.
» LEARN: How do discount real estate brokers offer lower fees?
The top flat fee MLS listing services in Massachusetts
Flat fee MLS services list your home on your local MLS for a low fee, often around $400–$1,500. The trade-off is that you'll have to handle almost the entire home-selling process yourself.
Entry Only
Entry OnlyBest For
Sellers who might still sign with a full-service broker
Price Range
$399-999
Pros:
- They offer a double money-back guarantee if you decide to sell with a Realtor that Entry Only refers you to (up to $999).
- You can call for support any time, day or night.
- If you upgrade to the Enhanced listing package ($699), the broker will review and explain any contracts for you.
Cons:
- You have to pay extra for a comparative market analysis no matter which package you choose.
Entry Only New England
Entry Only New EnglandBest For
Sellers who may need longer than the typical six-month listing to sell their property
Price Range
$347-697
Pros:
- The base package comes with a 12-month listing term.
- You can cancel any time with no fee.
Cons:
- They don't offer any a la carte options to customize your listing package.
- You'll have very limited support from the listing broker.
» MORE: What you need to know about flat fee MLS services.
Learn more
Massachusetts ranks high on many lists of most livable states, and it’s easy to see why. The state excels in nearly every area those kinds of lists typically emphasize, with low crime, excellent public education and health care, and a booming economy led by a flourishing tech sector.
Massachusetts, however, ranks as one of the most expensive housing markets in the U.S., with median home values roughly twice the national average. Over the past decade, values have increased rapidly, though it’s possible that high inventory could slow price increases in the future. Still, in a state this appealing, it’s likely the market will keep heading up; just keep in mind that a market this high-priced appeals more to seasoned buyers and investors than first-time buyers.
If you’re interested in saving thousands on real estate commission, Clever has pre-negotiated low listing rates of only 1.5%, with some of Massachusetts’s top real estate agents. Contact Clever today to find out how much you can save!
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 January 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