📊 The data: We surveyed 915 local real estate agents and found the average real estate commission in Pennsylvania is higher than the national average of 5.49%. Our methodology explains how we crunched the numbers. |
Realtor commission is your biggest home-selling expense: 5.60% would translate to $14,407 in fees to sell a home worth roughly $257,300 (the typical Pennsylvania home value as of March 2022).
But you might not have to pay the full 5.60%: Home values in the Keystone State are up 14.5% over the past year, with available homes down 8.3%. The hot market puts sellers in a strong position to negotiate commission rates with agents.
It's also worth considering Pennsylvania discount real estate brokerages, who often provide the same general services of a conventional realtor – at a lower cost.
Here's what to know about Pennsylvania real estate commission, including tips to negotiate rates and next steps if you are thinking of selling your home.
» JUMP: How Pennsylvania commission works | How to save | Next steps | FAQs
How Pennsylvania real estate commission works
Home sale price | $257,300 |
Commission (5.60%) | $14,407 |
Closing costs (2.0%) | $5,146 |
Net to seller | $237,747 |
The average total cost to sell a home in Pennsylvania is more than 7% of the sales price: 5.60% towards realtor commission and 2.0% in closing costs, to cover expenses like title service and transfer taxes.
Here's an estimate of total commission costs based on what your home sells for (not including closing costs):
Home sale price | Commission (5.60% rate) |
|---|---|
$200,000 | $11,200 |
$250,000 | $14,000 |
$300,000 | $16,800 |
Realtor commission in Pennsylvania: Key takeaways
Here's what you need to know about real estate agent commission fees in Pennsylvania.
Commission rates are negotiable
Everything in a real estate transaction is negotiable, including your agent's commission rate. In Pennsylvania, you can discuss rates with your agent before signing a listing agreement. Learn more about how to negotiate commission rates.
Most agents work solely on commission
Pennsylvania realtors typically only get paid when the sale closes. Your realtor splits the 5.60% commission with the buyer's agent.
Pennsylvania sellers are in a strong position to negotiate right now
PA home buyers have few listings to choose from: Active Pennsylvania home listings are down 8.3% over the past year. Cities that saw significant drops in inventory include Warren (-66.3% drop), Oil City (-8.8%), and Altoona (-30.8%). Fewer listings means more competition among agents for new clients.
Homes sell fast in major cities: Homes sell in an average of 46 days across the Keystone State – which is slower than the national average of 38 days – but sell faster in the cities like Lebanon (50 days) and Altoona (45 days).
Home values are rising: Prices are up 14.5% statewide and are expected to rise further. Here's where values are forecasted to rise significantly in Pennsylvania over the next 12 months:
Area | Projected increase |
|---|---|
East Stroudsburg | 4.4% |
Pottsville | 5.0% |
Scranton | 5.3% |
» MORE: What is realtor commission?
📊 Breaking down commission fees in Pennsylvania:
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How to save on Pennsylvania realtor fees
Here are strategies that can help you get a commission rate lower than the average Pennsylvania rate of 5.60%.
Shop around for the best value
Selling your house is a huge financial transaction, so it's smart to interview a few realtors from different local brokerages. Shop around to measure agent's experience, service, and personality verus 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 commission savings are your top priority.
Discount brokerages offer built-in savings, with no negotiating required. Rates are as low as 1% – significantly lower than the typical 2.80% listing fee in Pennsylvania – and the best ones provide the same level of service provided by conventional realtors.
Top discount real estate brokerages in 2022
Brand | Listing fee | Avg. savings* | Avg. rating |
|---|---|---|---|
1% | $7,375 | 4.9 | |
1.5% | $5,550 | 3.9 | |
$5,000 | $7,000 | 4.8 | |
$2,950 - $7,950 | $6,550 | N/A | |
1.5% | $2,450 | 5 | |
2% | $3,750 | 4.9 | |
*Compared to a typical 3% listing fee at four price points: $100k, $250k, $500k, $750k | |||
Negotiate with an agent
PA realtors are more likely to reduce their commission rate if they're confident they can sell your home fast and at a high price.
Pennsylvania market conditions are favorable for negotiating rates right now, but remember that 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.
Your home is in good condition
Well-maintained homes make for desirable listings that attract more interest from buyers and sell quickly, with fewer issues or complications.
Signs of a well-kept home include:
- A healthy lawn and landscaping, which adds to the home's curb appeal.
- A roof with no leaks or damaged shingles.
- Properly-working appliances.
- No funny odors or signs of mold – especially in the basement or bathrooms.
Your home carries a high value
A $300,000 listing at a 2% commission rate earns your agent much more than a $100,000 listing at a 3% rate – for roughly the same amount of work.
These Pennsylvania markets have some of the highest median list prices in the state:
Market | Median list price |
|---|---|
Philadelphia | $315,000 |
Lancaster | $368,000 |
Gettysburg | $365,000 |
You'll likely be a repeat customer
Agents are more likely to offer you a discount if you also use them to purchase a new home – a "list-buy" deal means double the commission for your agent.
You can send business their way
Referrals are extremely valuable to real estate agents, as they save the agent time and money that typically goes into 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 rather take a slight hit on their fee than lose your business entirely. Let agents know you are interviewing multiple candidates – they might just offer a lower rate up front to be more competitive. |
» MORE: How to negotiate commission rates in Pennsylvania
Next steps
Thinking of selling your home but don't know where to start? Here are some next steps.
Start interviewing local agents
Set up some listing appointments, where an agent visits your home to discuss its estimated value, lay out their marketing strategy, and provide a quote for their fee.
Here's why it's smart to sit down with a few agents before signing with one:
It's completely free to meet with agents: There's no obligation or risk on your end. Just keep in mind that the agent is meeting with you to win your business, and will try to sell you on their service.
You can compare pricing and features: Shopping around helps you find the best fit for your specific needs – in terms of fees, experience, and services provided.
Learn more about your market from an expert: Realtors can provide local data, like how much nearby homes are selling for, how fast they sell, and other current market trends.
Learn about the home sales process: An agent can walk you through the sales process from start to finish, and provide tailored advice for marketing your property to home buyers.
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 Pennsylvania:
- 8 Steps to Selling a House in Pennsylvania
- How Much it Costs to Sell in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Flat-Fee MLS Services
- iBuyer Companies
Methodology
Our data on commission rates is based on a survey of 915 of our partner agents from across the country, 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: Based on Zillow data as of March 2022
- Months of inventory, list prices, and time on market: Based on Realtor.com data as of March 2022
We last surveyed Pennsylvania real estate agents in May 2021, and we're in the process of updating our data.
Pennsylvania realtor commission FAQs
The average commission realtors in Pennsylvania charge is 5.60% per sale, which gets split between the listing agent and the buyer's agent. The fee covers every cost of hiring an agent, including marketing the property online and hosting open houses.
Realtors earn an average of $7,204 per home sale in Pennsylvania, using the state's average selling price of $257,272 and the typical commission rate of 2.80%. Pennsylvania realtors earn average annual pay of $79,821, lower than the national average of $82,898, according to ZipRecruiter.
Pennsylvania real estate agent fees are not including in seller's closing costs, which average 2.0% of the sales price in Pennsylvania. Both realtor commission and closing costs are deducted from the sales price at closing.