How commission works | How to save on commission | The current Pennsylvania housing market | The best low commission companies | Methodology
📊 The data: We surveyed local agents and found that the average real estate commission in Pennsylvania is 5.60%, which is higher than the national average of 5.50%. |
That means, to sell an average Pennsylvania house worth $237,700 you’ll pay about $13,300 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 5.60%.
Selling with a discount real estate company like Clever could help you save thousands on commission. Clever negotiates 1% listing fees with full-service Pennsylvania realtors from top brokers.
On that same $237,700 home — you'd pay just $9,700, up to 28% 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 Pennsylvania real estate commission fees and share tips on how to save more when you sell.
How real estate agent commission works in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania has 50.0% of the commission going to the listing agent and 50.0% going to the buyer's agent.
» LEARN: How do real estate commissions work?
Who pays realtor fees in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania
💰 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 Pennsylvania
Whether you’re selling a condo in downtown Philadelphia, a duplex in Scranton, or a commercial property in Pittsburgh, you can almost always save yourself thousands by negotiating a lower commission rate.
Negotiating a lower realtor percentage in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania housing market |
|
While your personal situation will obviously vary, Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania real estate market
Factor | Trends | Indication |
|---|---|---|
Months of inventory | There's 0.9 months of housing inventory on the market | Seller's market |
Sale-to-list ratio | Homes are selling for 100.30% of their listing price | Seller's market |
Home values | Home values have risen 15.5% year over year | Seller's market |
Find a top realtor in Pennsylvania
Ready to negotiate with an agent in your area? We looked at the data and found the top Pennsylvania agents for you.
» FIND: The best Pennsylvania realtors by city
Low commission real estate companies in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania.
The top discount real estate companies in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania 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).
Houwzer
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
$5,000
💰 Avg. Savings
$7,000
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
4.9/5 (1,237 reviews)
Houwzer offers true flat-fee savings — but homes near or below $500,000 can likely find better rates and less risk elsewhere.
- Huge commission savings on luxury homes
- Listing fee includes virtual home tours and other premium marketing services
- Houwzer has a small team, which limits your options if you don't hit it off with the first agent they send you
- If you're selling a lower-priced home, Houwzer may not be cheaper than selling with a traditional realtor
Houwzer has a 4.9 out of 5 rating (1,237 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Zillow.
Houwzer is available in the following locations: FL, MD, NJ, PA, VA, DC.
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 Pennsylvania
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.
Simple Choice Realty
Simple Choice RealtyBest For
Sellers who want to manage their listing completely online
Price Range
$399-1,999
Pros:
- The basic listing package includes 25 photos. Many competitors include fewer than 10 with their lowest listing tier.
- For an extra fee the listing broker will review your contract and walk you through everything included in it.
Cons:
- You'll pay extra to get your contact info added to your Zillow listing.
- Simple Choice Realty doesn't cover all areas of the state. You can check with the broker to see if they take listings in your area.
XFlatFeeMLS
XFlatFeeMLSBest For
Sellers who want an affordable barebones MLS listing without any extras
Price Range
$89-380
Pros:
- You can choose to defer payment until after closing.
- The company claims it will beat any competitor's price by 10%.
- XFlatFeeMLS offers a full refund if you decide to list with one of its recommended full-service agents instead of selling FSBO.
Cons:
- The deferred payment plan costs more than twice the unlimited listing.
- The website is hard to navigate and offers no way to manage your listing and leads online.
» MORE: What you need to know about flat-fee MLS services.
Learn more
In many ways, Pennsylvania is a microcosm of America, with big historic cities (Pittsburgh, Philadelphia), tons of small and mid-sized towns, and a fairly diverse population. Though this East Coast state took a hit when its old-line industries of steel, railroads, and coal declined after World War II, it's since recovered and is now on a healthy upwards trajectory. Today, Pennsylvania is known as the “Snack Capital of the World,” thanks to its status as the leading producer of snacks, chocolate, and canned fruit.
Home values in Pennsylvania have been on a gentle upswing over the past decade but are still lower than the national average. With moderately low inventory and many different types of housing to browse — from ultra-modern downtown condos to postwar suburban family homes — this market has something for everyone and is a good bet for future appreciation.
Commission can take a big bite out of your profits when it comes to a Pennsylvania home sale, but Clever can help you keep that money in your pocket by reducing your commission rate. Clever pre-negotiates low 1% commission for you, or a flat fee of $3,000 if your home sells for less than $350,000, and they partner you with pre-vetted elite agents fromPennsylvania. Contact Clever today to find out how to save thousands on commission
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