📊 The data:
We surveyed local agents and found that the average real estate commission in Pennsylvania is 5.53%, which is higher than the national average of 5.37%.
The good news is you might not have to pay the full 5.53%. 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 Pennsylvania real estate commission, including how to save, tips for negotiating with agents, and next steps if you need to sell your home.
» JUMP: How Pennsylvania commission works | How to save | Next steps | FAQs
How Pennsylvania real estate commission works
Average listing commission | 2.81% |
Average buyer's agent commission | 2.72% |
Total average commission | 5.53% |
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 2.81% of the final home price and 2.72% for buyer's agents, for a total of 5.53%.
» LEARN: How do real estate commissions work?
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 5.53% 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 26.5% over the past year.
Homes sell fast in major cities: Homes sell in an average of 77 days across the Keystone State – which is slower than the national average of 67 days – but sell faster in the cities like Lebanon (56 days) and Altoona (72 days).
Home values are rising: Prices are up 5.4% statewide and are expected to rise further. Here's where values are forecasted to rise significantly in Pennsylvania over the next 12 months:
» MORE:
What is realtor commission?
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 5.53%.
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 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 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 2.81% 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
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).
Houwzer
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
1% (min. $2,500)
💰 Avg. Savings
$7,625
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
4.8/5 (1,400 reviews)
Houwzer has very low listing fees, but you may be frustrated working with a team instead of just your realtor.
- You’ll pay a 1% listing fee, which is one of the lowest rates in the industry.
- Houwzer’s maximum listing fee of $10,000 makes it a great deal for homes over $1 million.
- Houwzer has a small team, which limits your options if you don't hit it off with the first agent it sends you.
- The company uses a team-based approach, which increases the chances of miscommunication and mistakes.
Houwzer has a 4.8 out of 5 rating (1,400 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 (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.
» COMPARE: See our full breakdown and top picks for discount brokerages in 2022
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.
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
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
Pennsylvania realtor commission FAQs
The average commission realtors in Pennsylvania charge is 5.53% 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 $6,852 per home sale in Pennsylvania, using the state's average selling price of $243,859 and the typical commission rate of 2.81%. 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.