📊 The data:
We surveyed local agents and found that the average real estate commission in North Carolina is 5.60%, which is higher than the national average of 5.37%.
The good news is you might not have to pay the full 5.60%. Home sellers can use discount real estate brokerages to save on commission. Discount brokers offer built-in commission savings, and often provide similar services as conventional realtors.
Here's what to know about North Carolina real estate commission, including how to save, tips for negotiating with agents, and next steps if you need to sell your home.
» JUMP: How North Carolina commission works | How to save | Next steps | FAQs
How North Carolina real estate commission works
Average listing commission | 2.86% |
Average buyer's agent commission | 2.74% |
Total average commission | 5.60% |
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 2.86% of the final home price and 2.74% for buyer's agents, for a total of 5.60%.
» LEARN: How do real estate commissions work?
Realtor commission in North Carolina: Key takeaways
Most North Carolina agents work solely on commission and only get paid when your home sells. Commission is deducted from the sales proceeds at closing.
Commission rates are not fixed, they're negotiable. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss commission rates with your agent before signing a listing agreement.
North Carolina sellers are in a strong position to negotiate right now. A strong seller's market increases the competition for new listings among agents.
» MORE: How to negotiate commission rates in North Carolina
How to save on North Carolina realtor fees
Here are strategies that can help you get a lower commission rate than the North Carolina state average of 5.60%.
Shop around for the best value
Selling your house is likely the largest financial transaction of your life, so it's smart to interview a few agents from different brokerages. The key is to find the best balance of “right fit” (experience, service, personality) versus price.
Knocking even a fraction of a percentage off your rate could save you thousands. But price isn't everything: choosing an agent solely because they charge less could end up costing you a lot more than you save, in terms of the final sale price.
Sell your house with a discount real estate broker
A discount real estate brokerage may be a good fit if savings are your top priority.
Discount brokerages offer built-in savings, with no negotiating required. Rates are significantly lower than the typical 2.86% listing fee in North Carolina – and the best ones provide
the same general services and support as conventional realtors.
Top discount real estate brokerages in 2022
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).
Redefy
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
$3,500 (1% above $1M)
💰 Avg. Savings
$8,500
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
4.6/5 (300 reviews)
Redefy’s flat fee could offer big savings. But hands-off service and non-refundable upfront fees make it a hard sell over other, less risky options.
- Flat $3,500 listing fee is an excellent value for higher-priced homes
- Agents provide more in-person services than some similarly-priced low commission brands
- Redefy charges an upfront, non-refundable $500 fee (most companies don't make you pay anything until your house sells)
- Your agent will not host an open house for you
Redefy has a 4.6 out of 5 rating (300 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Zillow.
Redefy is available in the following areas: CO, FL, GA, IL, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA.
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.
» MORE: See our full breakdown and top picks for discount brokerages in 2022
Negotiate with an agent
Realtors are more likely to negotiate their commission rate if they're confident they can sell your home fast and at a high price.
Statewide market conditions are favorable for negotiating rates, but no two houses or neighborhoods are the same. You have a better chance of securing a lower rate if you meet one or more of the following criteria:
The home carries a high value: A $1 million listing at a 1.5% commission rate earns your agent much more than a $300,000 listing at a 3% rate – for roughly the same amount of work.
Homes are selling fast in your area: If houses on your street are selling in a matter of days, an agent might be willing to accept a lower rate because they won’t have to put in as much time and energy to sell your house.
The home is in good condition: Well-maintained homes make for desirable listings that attract lots of interest and sell quickly, with fewer issues or complications.
Signs of a well-kept home include:
- A roof with no leaks or damaged shingles.
- Quality flooring with no cracks, dings, or missing tiles.
- Properly-working appliances.
- No funny odors or signs of mold, especially in bathrooms.
You'll be a repeat customer: Realtors are more likely to offer you a discount if you also use them to purchase a new home – a "list-buy" deal is double the commission for your agent.
You can send more business their way: Referrals are super valuable to real estate agents, as it's less time and money the agent has to spend on marketing and prospecting to find new clients. Referring friends, family, or acquaintances helps your realtor and gives you leverage in negotiations.
⚡Quick tip: Listing agents may be more willing to offer a lower rate if they know you’re shopping around. Most would prefer taking a slight hit on their fee than losing your business entirely. Let them know you are interviewing multiple candidates – they might just offer a lower rate upfront to be more competitive. |
» MORE: How to negotiate realtor commission
Next steps
Thinking of selling your home but don't know where to start? Here are some next steps.
Start interviewing local agents: Reach out to a few local agents and set up some listing presentations, which will help you compare commission rates, learn more about your local market, and better understand the home sales process.
During a listing presentation, an agent may visit your home to discuss your home's estimated value, layout their marketing strategy, and provide a quote for their fee.
Interviewing agents is completely free, with no obligation or risk on your end. We recommend talking to several agents to compare pricing and value, and to get the best fit for your specific needs.
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).
Read more about selling your home: Still learning about the process and weighing your options? Check out these additional guides for home sellers in North Carolina.
- 8 Steps to Selling a House in North Carolina
- How Much it Costs to Sell in North Carolina
- North Carolina Real Estate Transfer Taxes
Explore realtor alternatives: There are other ways to sell your house besides listing with an agent. Learn more below.
- Companies That Buy Houses for Cash in North Carolina
- North Carolina Flat-Fee MLS Services
- iBuyer Companies
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
North Carolina realtor commission FAQs
The seller is usually responsible for paying realtor fees, which are deducted from the sales price of the home at closing. In most cases, the seller covers the buyer's agent fee as compensation for bringing a "ready, willing, and able" client to the table.
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