How commission works | How to save on commission | The current Washington, D.C. housing market | The best low commission companies | Methodology
📊 The data: We surveyed local agents and found that the average real estate commission in Washington, D.C. is 4.96%, which is less than the national average of 5.37%. |
That means, to sell an average Washington, D.C. house worth $534,300 you’ll pay about $26,500 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 4.96%.
Selling with a discount real estate company like Clever could help you save thousands on commission. Clever negotiates 1.5% listing fees with full-service Washington, D.C. realtors from top brokers.
On that same $534,300 home — you'd pay just $18,600, up to 30% less than paying average rates.
» SAVE: Sell with Clever for 1.5% listing fees and save thousands in commission!
Below, we cover everything you need to know about Washington, D.C. real estate commission fees and share tips on how to save more when you sell.
How real estate agent commission works in Washington, D.C.
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 Washington, D.C. has 49.8% of the commission going to the listing agent and 50.2% going to the buyer's agent.
» LEARN: How do real estate commissions work?
Who pays realtor fees in Washington, D.C.?
In Washington, D.C., 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 Washington, D.C.
💰 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 Washington, D.C.
Whether you’re selling a historic townhome in Georgetown, a Petworth rowhouse, or a Navy Yard condo, you can almost always negotiate a lower rate on your real estate commission!
Negotiating a lower realtor percentage in Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C. housing market |
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While your personal situation will obviously vary, Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C. real estate market
Factor | Trends | Indication |
|---|---|---|
Months of inventory | There's 1.8 months of housing inventory on the market | Seller's market |
Sale-to-list ratio | Homes are selling for 87.71% of their listing price | Buyer's market |
Home values | Home values have risen 19.63% year over year | Seller's market |
Find a top realtor in Washington, D.C.
Ready to negotiate with an agent in your area? We looked at the data and found the top Washington, D.C. agents for you.
» FIND: The best Washington, D.C. realtors by city
Low commission real estate companies in Washington, D.C.
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 Washington, D.C..
The top discount real estate companies in Washington, D.C.
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 Washington, D.C. 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
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.
» LEARN: How do discount real estate brokers offer lower fees?
The top flat-fee MLS listing services in Washington, D.C.
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.
(Learn more about the best flat-fee MLS companies in Washington DC here.)
» MORE: What you need to know about flat-fee MLS services.
Learn more
The nation’s capital has a thriving local economy based on tourism and the federal government, as well as a vibrant local culture. Because the largest local employer is the government, Washington D.C. is insulated from economic shocks, and has long had one of the strongest and most stable job markets in the country.
Home values in Washington, D.C. have skyrocketed over the past decade, making it one of the hottest markets in the country. Median home values here are nearly triple the national average, and there are few pockets of affordability left after several successive waves of gentrification and development. It’s a seller’s market, and low inventory means demand should remain high for the foreseeable future.
If you’re interested in saving thousands on real estate commission, Clever has already pre-negotiated low listing rates of only 1.5%, or $3,000, with some of Washington D.C.’s top real estate agents. Contact Clever today to find out how much you can save!
Methodology
Our data on commission rates is based on a survey of 630 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 March 2023
- Sale prices and sale-to-list ratios: Based on Redfin data as of March 2023 (unless specified otherwise)
- Months of inventory: Based on Realtor.com data as of February 2023