How commission works | How to save on commission | The current North Carolina housing market | The best low commission companies | Methodology
📊 The data: We surveyed local agents and found that the average real estate commission in North Carolina is 5.45%, which is less than the national average of 5.50%. |
That means, to sell an average North Carolina house worth $254,600 you’ll pay about $13,900 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 5.45%.
Selling with a discount real estate company like Clever could help you save thousands on commission. Clever negotiates 1% listing fees with full-service North Carolina realtors from top brokers.
On that same $254,600 home — you'd pay just $9,600, up to 31% less than paying average rates.
» SAVE: Sell with Clever for 1% listing fees and save thousands in commission!
Below, we cover everything you need to know about North Carolina real estate commission fees and share tips on how to save more when you sell.
How real estate agent commission works in North Carolina
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
Both agents earn a percentage of the home's final price when the sale closes. This payment is called real estate agent commission, and it's baked into the sale price when you sell your home.
Based on our research, the average commission split in North Carolina has 52.4% of the commission going to the listing agent and 47.6% going to the buyer's agent.
» LEARN: How do real estate commissions work?
Who pays realtor fees in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, home sellers pay real estate commission fees out of the final sale proceeds for both agents involved in a deal.
However, since this commission is baked into the sales price, you could say that the home buyer is paying — at least in part — through a higher price.
» LEARN: Who pays realtor commission?
How to save on real estate commission in North Carolina
💰 Best ways to save on commission:
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Keep reading to learn how you can negotiate cheaper rates or find low commission companies that negotiate lower realtor fees for you!
Tips for negotiating realtor commission in North Carolina
Whether you’re selling a chic cottage in Asheville, an investment rental in Chapel Hill, or a family home in Raleigh, you should always try to negotiate a lower commission rate.
Negotiating a lower realtor percentage in North Carolina depends on two main factors: your situation and the housing market.
Factor | You may have an easier time negotiating low rates if... |
|---|---|
Your situation |
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The North Carolina housing market |
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While your personal situation will obviously vary, North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina real estate market
Factor | Trends | Indication |
|---|---|---|
Months of inventory | There's 0.7 months of housing inventory on the market | Seller's market |
Sale-to-list ratio | Homes are selling for 101.20% of their listing price | Seller's market |
Home values | Home values have risen 17.2% year over year | Seller's market |
Find a top realtor in North Carolina
Ready to negotiate with an agent in your area? We looked at the data and found the top North Carolina agents for you.
» FIND: The best North Carolina realtors by city
Low commission real estate companies in North Carolina
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 North Carolina.
The top discount real estate companies in North Carolina
Discount real estate companies typically offer full-service support for a reduced commission percentage or flat rate. Like traditional agents, these agents are fully licensed and have met all of the requirements of the North Carolina real estate commission board. How they create those discounts will depend on the company's model, with some creating more risks and tradeoffs than others.
Clever Real Estate
Learn More💲 Listing Fee
$3,000 or 1%
💰 Avg. Savings
$7,375
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
4.9/5 (1,143 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.
- Free, nationwide agent-matching service that partners with full-service local agents from conventional brokerages like Keller Williams, Century 21, and RE/MAX
- Provides multiple agent matches so you can interview, compare marketing plans, and choose the best fit
- Pre-negotiates low rates on your behalf — you get full service for a flat $3,000 listing fee, or just 1% if the home sells for more than $350,000
- If you buy with Clever, you could get a check worth up to 0.5% of the home price
- 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.
As of April 2, 2021, Clever has a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, based on 974 reviews.
Clever has pre-negotiated low commission rates with top agents in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC.
Redfin
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
1.5% (min. fees vary)
💰 Avg. Savings
$5,550
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
3.2/5 (287 reviews)
Redfin offers real savings and 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 3.2 out of 5 rating (287 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 (345 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 (345 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 (886 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 (886 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Zillow.
REX is available in the following areas: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MA, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OR, PA, TX, VA, WA, DC.
» LEARN: How do discount real estate brokers offer lower fees?
The top flat-fee MLS listing services in North Carolina
Flat-fee MLS services list your home on your local MLS for a low fee, often around $100-300. The trade-off is that you'll have to handle almost the entire home-selling process yourself. If you're a real estate novice, or simply don't have the time to sell your home without a realtor, this might not be a good option.
Carolina Realty Solutions
Carolina Realty SolutionsBest For
Sellers willing to pay for the convenience of an all-in package
Price Range
$375-475
Pros:
- Includes access to Showingtime, an app Realtors use to schedule showings. Many flat-fee MLS companies either don't offer or charge extra for this service.
- You can extend your listing for up to two years without paying an extra listing fee.
- You'll get both a yard sign and a key lockbox — even with the cheapest package.
Cons:
- Carolina Realty Solutions doesn't currently offer flat fee MLS services to Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, and Cleveland counties.
Clickit Realty
Clickit RealtyBest For
Sellers who are still on the fence about FSBO
Price Range
$299-995
Pros:
- You'll get all the documents and disclosures you need when selling your property.
- If you decide to hire a full-service real estate agent, Clickit will refer you to a broker and refund your package price at closing.
- Clickit Realty will match a competitor if you find a better price for the same tools and systems.
Cons:
- The basic package includes only three photos while most competitors offer at least six.
- You have to sign up for the Platinum package ($599) before you can post open houses on your MLS listing.
» MORE: What you need to know about flat-fee MLS services.
Learn more
North Carolina combines unsurpassed quality of life with a truly forward-looking economy, to make it one of most livable states in the U.S. The state has world-class beaches in the Outer Banks, and the beautiful Appalachian mountains, as well as sophisticated college towns like Chapel Hill and Raleigh, and world-class cities like Charlotte.
The state’s economy has rebounded stunningly from the era when it was dependent on tobacco, cotton, and timber. Today, the economy is fueled by the knowledge economy, with the Research Triangle attracting dozens of tech companies. Charlotte is also firmly established as one of the nation’s most important banking cities. Home values in the state have risen steadily over the past decade, but are still on par with the national average, suggesting there’s a ton of value to be found here, especially in the hot urban markets.
If you want to save thousands of dollars of commission on your North Carolina home sale, Clever pre-negotiates a low 1% commission rate, or a flat fee of $3,000 if your home sells for less than $350,000. Clever only works with top full-service agents in North Carolina. Contact Clever today to see how much you can save!
Methodology
Our data on commission rates is based on a survey of 915 of our partner agents, in which we asked for typical rates for both buyer's and seller's agents in their area.
Additionally, we utilized the following data from Zillow and Realtor.com:
- Home values, list prices, and sale prices: Based on Zillow data as of July 2021
- Sale prices and sale-to-list ratios: Based on Redfin data as of April 2021 (unless specified otherwise)
- Months of inventory: Based on Realtor.com data as of August 2021