How commission works | Save on commission | Virginia housing market | Best low commission companies | Methodology
📊 The data:
We surveyed local agents and found that the average real estate commission in Virginia is 5.22%, which is less than the national average of 5.37%.
To sell a house in Virginia worth $360,873 — the median home value in Virginia — you’ll pay about $18,838 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 5.22%.
Clever Real Estate could help you save thousands on commission by pre-negotiating 1.5% listing fees with full-service Virginia realtors from top brokerages.
On that same $360,873 home — you'd pay just $13,200, up to 30% less than paying average rates.
» SAVE: Sell with Clever for 1.5% listing fees and save thousands in commission!
How real estate agent commission works
Average listing commission | 2.56% |
Average buyer's agent commission | 2.66% |
Total average commission | 5.22% |
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 2.56% of the final home price and 2.66% for buyer's agents, for a total of 5.22%.
» LEARN: How do real estate commissions work?
Who pays realtor fees in Virginia?
In Virginia, home sellers pay real estate commission fees out of the final sale proceeds for both agents involved in a deal. Offering to pay for the buyer's agent's commission is an incentive for agents to show your home to their clients.
If you'd like to save on commissions, Clever can connect you with a top listing agent in your area. You'll pay just 1.5% (or $3,000 if your home sells for less than $350,000), keeping more money in your pocket at the end of your sale.
How to save on realtor fees in Virginia
Commission rates are not set in stone. In fact, we found that while 5.22% is the average in Virginia, rates typically fall between 4.62% and 5.83%. You can save money by negotiating a lower rate with your listing agent or by working with brokerage that has a discounted commission model.
Listing commission range | 2.26%– 2.87% |
Buyer's agent commission | 2.36%– 2.96% |
Total commission range | 4.62%– 5.83% |
Tips for negotiating realtor commission in Virginia
Whether you’re selling a waterfront vacation home in Virginia Beach, a stylish condo in Alexandria, or a historic home in Charlottesville, you should always negotiate a lower commission rate!
Negotiating a lower realtor percentage in Virginia 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 Virginia housing market |
|
While your personal situation will obviously vary, Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia real estate market
Factor | Trends | Indication |
|---|---|---|
Months of inventory | There's 1.1 months of housing inventory on the market | Seller's market |
Sale-to-list ratio | Homes are selling for 99.39% of their listing price | Seller's market |
Home values | Home values have risen 27.30% year over year | Seller's market |
» FIND: The average commission rates in more Virginia cities:
Low commission real estate companies in Virginia
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 Virginia.
The top discount real estate companies in Virginia
Discount real estate companies typically offer full-service support for a reduced commission percentage or flat rate. How they create those discounts will depend on the company's model, with some creating more risks and trade-offs 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.
Redefy
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
$3,500 (1% above $1M)
💰 Avg. Savings
$8,500
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
4.6/5 (300 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 (300 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.
» LEARN: How do discount real estate brokers offer lower fees?
The top flat fee MLS listing services in Virginia
Flat fee MLS services list your home on your local MLS for a low fee, often around $300–$1,300. The trade-off is that you'll have to handle almost the entire home-selling process yourself.
Cottage Street Realty
Cottage Street RealtyBest For
Inexperienced sellers who want extra guidance from their listing broker
Price Range
$299-999
Pros:
- The basic package includes the maximum number of photos allowed by your local MLS while many flat fee MLS companies limit you to six or fewer photos.
- The premium and supreme packages get the broker more involved in your listing with things like contract reviews and market analysis.
Cons:
- You have to sign up for the Premium package ($799) before you can e-sign contracts.
- The basic listing doesn't include any kind of pricing assistance.
Home Discovery Realtors
Home Discovery RealtorsBest For
Sellers who may need longer than the typical six-month listing to sell their property
Price Range
$379
Pros:
- You'll get quite a bit of broker assistance for things like offer consultations, contract reviews, and marketing assistance (beyond just the MLS listing).
- You can fill out and sign your forms completely online instead of having to either mail, fax, or drop them off in person.
Cons:
- It’s not clear if you can change your listing, what changes you can make or how much it costs to make them.
» MORE: What you need to know about flat fee MLS services.
Learn more
Virginia ranks high on annual lists of “most livable states,” thanks to its cultural, geographical, and economic diversity. The western half of the state has everything from wineries and orchards to the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the east, you'll find the beaches and fisheries of the Tidewater region. Northern Virginia (NOVA) is one of the most affluent suburbs of Washington, D.C. (and one of the most affluent suburban areas in the U.S.) and is a major growth engine for the state.
Housing values in Virginia are quite a bit higher than the national average, and heading upward. It's a trend that's unlikely to change any time soon, thanks to Virginia's positive in-migration and job growth that’s better than the national average. There’s not much housing inventory in the state, either, so whether you’re eyeing a vacation home in Virginia Beach, or a condo in Crystal City, it’s very likely going to be a good investment.
Clever takes the guesswork out of lowering your commission by pre-negotiating a super-low commission rate of only 1.5%, or a flat fee of $3,000 if your home sells for less than $350,000. Better yet, they only work with Virginia’s top agents. Contact Clever today to find out how much they can save you on commission!
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