In this guide: How much commission does a realtor make in NY? | Who pays realtor fees? | How NY realtors set their rates | How to save on realtor commission in NY | Best low commission companies | Methodology
Home sellers in New York pay an average of 4.97% in real estate fees, including an average of 2.61% for the listing agent and 2.36% for the buyer's agent. On a house worth $411,304 — the median home value in New York — typical realtor fees cost about $20,442.
The amount you'll actually pay in realtor commission depends on several factors, including how you find your agent. You can save significantly on realtor fees by using a low commission company that offers full service.
Top-rated companies like Clever Real Estate can connect you with experienced realtors from some of New York's top brokerages. When you find an agent through Clever's free service, you pay just a 1.5% listing fee.
On that same $411,304 home, you'd pay just $13,800 — that's 32% less than the average New York commission rate.
💰 SAVE: Find a better agent, save thousands in commission
How much commission does a realtor make in New York?
Average listing agent commission | 2.61% |
Average buyer's agent commission | 2.36% |
Average total realtor commission | 4.97% |
» FIND: Average commission rates in New York City
A realtor in New York makes an average commission of 2.61% as a listing agent and 2.36% as a buyer's agent.
However, some realtors in New York charge as much as 3.31% to sell a home, while others charge only 1.91%. On the buyer side, realtors typically charge 1.66% to 3.06%.
When selling a home in New York, you can expect to pay anywhere from 3.57% to 6.37% in total realtor commissions. On a mid-priced home in the state, that equates to roughly $14,700 to $26,200.
Who pays realtor fees in New York?
In New York, home sellers pay the real estate commission fees for both their agent and the buyer's agent. Sellers don't have to pay these fees out of pocket. Instead, they come out of the sale proceeds.
As the seller, you pay your listing agent to help you navigate the selling process. Your agent:
- Stays up-to-date on the local market
- Helps you set a listing price
- Lists and markets your home
- Connects you with professionals to prep, stage, and photograph your home
- Coordinates open houses and showings
- Screens offers
- Negotiates with the buyer and their agent
- Walks you through the closing process
You pay the buyer’s agent for bringing a qualified buyer to the sale who meets the contract requirements and closes on time.
» MORE: How do real estate commissions work?
Why do sellers pay the buyer's agent commission?
Sellers offer to pay the buyer's agent commission to get a larger pool of buyers. The more potential buyers, the more likely the house will sell at a higher price.
Offering a buyer's agent commission can lead to more buyers for a couple reasons:
- Buyers don't have to pay for their agent out of pocket, making it easier for more people to afford a home.
- Agents are more likely to bring their clients to homes where the seller is offering commission, since they know they'll be compensated for their work.
Technically, you can choose not to offer a buyer's agent commission. But that will make your home a lot less appealing to buyers, who would have to cover that cost themselves.
Most sellers account for the cost of realtor commissions when setting a price for their home, and they cut each realtor a check from the sale proceeds.
That way, both agents get paid at closing — but rather than the buyer having to pay for their agent up front, they can gradually cover the cost with their mortgage.
How do New York realtors set their commission rates?
Agents have some flexibility when setting their commission rates. They consider multiple factors, including:
- The local market
- The rates their competitors are charging
- The amount of time, effort, and money it may take to sell the home
- Their overhead costs, like taxes, MLS fees, marketing, and insurance
- The value of the home
- Their level of experience
Agents may be willing to lower their rate if you're in a seller's market, your home is high value, or your home will be easy to sell. If market conditions are mixed or favor buyers, it may be harder to persuade your realtor to accept a cheaper fee.
» JUMP TO: Tips to negotiate realtor commission
How to save on realtor fees in New York
You can save money on realtor fees in New York by:
- Shopping around for the best deal
- Working with a discount brokerage
- Negotiating directly with your listing agent
Shop around for the best deal
Interview at least three agents so you can compare fees and choose someone whose skills, experience, and personality match your needs.
When looking for an agent, you want to get the most value for your money, not just the lowest fee.
For example, you may sell your home faster and at a higher price with a more experienced agent. That expertise is worth it, even if the agent charges a slightly higher fee than a new realtor.
To find the right realtor, consider each agent's:
- Commission fee
- Experience selling properties like yours
- Local market knowledge
- Level of service
- Selling strategy
- Personality
- Communication style
- Availability
Work with a discount real estate broker
A full-service discount broker can save you money while still providing the quality service of a traditional realtor. These brokers offer built-in savings so you don't have to negotiate to get a lower rate.
Some discount brokerages offer listing commissions as low as 1.5% — significantly lower than the typical 2.61% seller's agent fee in New York.
Top discount real estate companies in New York
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.
Ideal Agent
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
2% (min. $3,000)
💰 Avg. Savings
$3,750
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
4.9/5 (5,842 reviews)
Ideal Agent can match with a great agent from a traditional brokerage. But its 2% listing fee makes Ideal Agent a lot more expensive than other full-service discount brands.
- You'll get a full-service agent from a traditional brokerage.
- It's free to request an agent match, and you can walk away at any time.
- Ideal Agent costs more than most other full-service, low commission companies.
- You'll get matched with only one realtor — most similar services recommend multiple agents so you can compare your options and pick the one you like best.
Ideal Agent has a 4.9 out of 5 rating (5,842 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Trustpilot.
Ideal Agent is available to home sellers nationwide.
» MORE: Where to find the top discount real estate brokers near you
Negotiate a lower commission with your realtor
If you don't use a discount broker, you can always try to negotiate directly with a realtor. Many agents are used to sellers wanting a lower commission rate.
Even a small discount can help you save thousands, so it's worth having the conversation.
But negotiating a lower fee can feel awkward. It’s helpful to prepare and approach the topic respectfully. You’ll want to set a fair commission rate that you and your agent feel good about.
Tips for negotiating realtor commission in New York
These strategies may help you negotiate a lower fee:
- Know your market. Agents may lower their rate when your house will be easier to sell (like when buyer demand is high) or when they have more competition with other agents (like when inventory is low).
- Compare commission rates from multiple realtors so you know what's typical in your area.
- Buy and sell with the same agent. An agent might lower their rates to secure the fees from two transactions.
- Keep your home well-maintained so it will be easier to sell.
» MORE: Tips for negotiating lower commission fees
Next step: Find the right agent
If you want to save on the average New York real estate commission, consider finding your agent through Clever Real Estate.
Sellers who use a Clever partner agent save an average of $7,000.
The company pre-negotiates listing fees of just 1.5% with some of New York’s top real estate agents. Every agent in Clever's network was handpicked for their experience, past sales performance, real estate knowledge, and customer reviews.
You can compare multiple agents in your area, get free home pricing estimates, and review each agent's marketing plan — all with zero obligation to commit.
Ready to learn more? Tell us a few details about your home sale, and we'll send you the best agent matches in your area.
FAQ
Traditionally, licensed realtors charge 2.5–3%. But real estate fees are negotiable, and they vary based on the specific market and situation. You can save on realtor fees by using a discount real estate broker who offers lower rates.
The average total real estate commission in New York is 4.97%, which includes the listing agent and the buyer’s agent commissions. However, rates vary by realtor and market.
Typically, the home seller pays the real estate commission for both the seller's agent and the buyer's agent. The seller usually pays these fees out of the sale proceeds.
Methodology
We gathered our commission rate data from a survey of 630 partner agents. The survey asked about standard local rates for both listing and buyer's agents.
We also interviewed Reba Miller, a licensed real estate agent for 40 years, who works at Compass Real Estate in New York.