6% Real Estate Commission: What Sellers Actually Pay

The standard real estate commission in 2026 is 5.70%, based on Clever's February 2026 survey of 533 real estate agents. This is below the traditional 6% rate but slightly higher than in 2025.

But there's a gap between what people believe and what they actually pay: 38% of recent home sellers still believe 6% is the standard total commission today, even though only 14% actually paid a full 6%.[1]

After the 2024 NAR settlement took effect, we saw a sharp increase in questions from sellers trying to determine whether the traditional 6% commission still applied, and what had actually changed in practice.

Here's the truth: Not much has changed. Buyer fees dipped briefly after the NAR settlement, falling from approximately 2.6% to 2.5%, but rebounded to 2.67% by early 2025 and currently stand at 2.82%; listing agent fees have held steady.

Thankfully, you can still save thousands by working with a low commission brokerage, a full-service real estate company that charges a reduced listing fee, usually 1–2%, instead of the traditional 3%. Compare agents in your area for free and see what you'd actually save.

What is 6% real estate commission?

The 6% real estate commission has long been considered the traditional standard in U.S. home sales. Historically, this total fee covered both the seller's and buyer’s agents, with each receiving roughly 3%.

Average commission rates have slipped below that classic 6% benchmark in recent years, landing at 5.70% nationwide. Rates fluctuate based on local competition, home values, and broader market conditions.

The belief that 6% is still "the rate" has outlasted the rate itself. In our 2026 seller survey, 38% of recent sellers still thought 6% was the standard total commission, but only 14% actually paid a full 6%, and just 16% paid 6% or more.[1]

Luke Babich, Clever Real Estate’s co-founder, says many expected commissions to fall sharply after the NAR settlement. “There were great expectations, including from us, that commissions were likely to drop after the NAR settlement,” Babich says. 

Clever’s research did show a brief dip in buyer’s agent fees from about 2.6% to 2.5%, but Babich notes that the decline was temporary. “By early 2025, commissions had rebounded and even climbed higher than last year’s levels,” he says.

How much does a realtor make on a $500,000 sale?

That $30,000 sounds like a windfall, but no single agent pockets anywhere close to it. The fee is split between the listing agent and the buyer's agent — roughly $15,000 each — and then each agent splits their half with their brokerage. A newer agent on a 70/30 split keeps $10,500; a 50/50 split drops that to $7,500. From there, agents cover their own taxes, license and MLS dues, E&O insurance, and marketing, which is why real take-home on a $500,000 sale often lands somewhere between $5,000 and $8,000.

I saw this firsthand as an agent. I started with a 30/70 split with my brokerage and only earned my way up to 50/50, and eventually to 70/30, after closing significant volume. Most agents never get there: 68% of realtors earn less than $100,000 a year, and nearly half make under $50,000, according to NAR.

For sellers, the takeaway is simple: the 6% you pay isn't lining one person's pockets. But that doesn't mean you can't pay less for the same level of service.

Realtor commission trends: Are 6% fees making a comeback?

The chart below shows five years of national and state-by-state trends from Clever’s Real Estate commission survey. You can select your state to see how local commission rates compare — and whether agents in your area are charging closer to, or below, the traditional 6% benchmark.

Average commission rates have moved up and down over the past five years, but the overall direction is upward and closer to the historic 6% mark.

Rates hit their lowest point in 2024 at about 5.32%. They rebounded quickly in 2025 to 5.70%, the highest level since 2021. Babich says this rebound highlights a key reality about buyer behavior: “Buyers continue to value professional representation and are willing to pay for it, especially when the cost is factored into the overall price of the home.”

What sellers report paying tells a similar story. Across our July 2026 survey, just 16% said that they paid 6% or more. The gap between the agent-reported going rate (5.70%) and what sellers say they actually paid reflects how many deals now close below the old benchmark once negotiation, discounts, and split fees are factored in.[1]

Christina Rordam, a 21-year REALTOR at Florida Realty Investments in Orlando, sees the same pattern in Central Florida. "I think people expected the settlement to upend commissions, but in Orlando, at least, we've always had options: flat-fee brokerages, $1 buyer's-agent offers in the MLS, FSBO," Rordam says. "The rule changes brought more transparency and required written agreements, but the underlying economics are close to what they were."

💬 Do I still need to pay 6% commission in 2026?

The traditional 6% commission is no longer the default — but it hasn’t disappeared. After the NAR settlement took effect on August 17, 2024, buyers and sellers gained more control over how commissions are negotiated and who pays them.

Here’s what’s changed:

• Buyers must sign an agent agreement before touring homes, which outlines the services their agent will provide and how they’ll be paid.[2]
• Sellers no longer have to offer buyer’s agent commission or advertise it in the MLS.[3]
• Buyer’s agent fees are negotiable and can be requested as part of the purchase offer, similar to asking for closing cost help.[4]

Two years in, many sellers still don't know these rules changed. In our 2026 survey, 45% of sellers didn't know before selling that they were no longer required to offer the buyer's agent a commission.[1]

These updates were expected to lower seller costs. But in reality, most sellers still offer buyer-agent compensation, especially in competitive markets or when working with first-time buyers who can't afford to pay those fees out of pocket. Even now, 35% of sellers still offered to cover the buyer's agent commission even though it was no longer required.[1]

Rordam estimates that roughly half of her local market still offers buyer-agent compensation.

"If you call and ask, they'll tell you. Half are not," she says. "But I haven't had a sale since this has gone down where we didn't agree to have the seller cover the compensation, at least most of it. It's just a part of the offer."

Her advice for sellers staring at an offer that includes buyer-agent compensation: don't reflexively reject it. "Oftentimes, the first offer you get is the best offer. Don't think that if you got a good offer and they're asking for compensation for their agent, you're going to be able to throw it back out there in this climate and get a better one tomorrow. You may not."

Listings that refuse to offer buyer-agent compensation can also linger, Rordam says. "Those listings can sit. If someone is working with a buyer's agent who brought them to that property, especially if it's a first-timer and the seller's not offering anything, it could be a factor. The same way, if a house needs a roof and you're not willing to put a roof on it, that's going to take some buyers out of the pool."

Commissions are now more flexible than ever, but in most markets, commissions remain a significant selling cost. The key takeaway: 6% is no longer the rule, but it's still the reality for many sellers.

Discount broker models gain traction

The NAR settlement has also increased consumer interest in discount real estate brokerages. These services offer full-service representation for a fraction of the traditional 3% listing fee, helping sellers cut their total commission from 6% to 4.5% or less.

Traditional agents still dominate, but they no longer own the whole market. Among recent sellers, 64% used a traditional full-service agent, while 9% used a discount or low-commission brokerage, 11% sold FSBO, and 10% sold to a cash buyer or iBuyer.[1]

Discount brokers match sellers with top-rated local agents who charge just 1.5% for listing services. Clever partners with agents from well-known brokerages, such as Keller Williams and RE/MAX.

With buyer's agent fees now negotiable and less commonly offered upfront, sellers can save thousands without sacrificing service or support.

Is a 6% commission realtor ever worth it?

With record home prices and fewer listings, many agents earn more per sale, making 6% less justifiable and commissions more flexible.

It also helps to know what sellers themselves consider fair. In our 2026 survey, there was a clear gap between what sellers pay and what they think is fair: sellers paid an average of about 4.7%, but 51% said a total commission of 3% or less would have been fair for the service they received.[1]

However, commission rates vary widely based on location, home value, the real estate agency, market trends, and other factors. In some cases, hiring an agent who charges a total commission of 6% may be practical.

For example, paying 6% might be worthwhile if:

• You find a top local agent who offers full service and hands-on support throughout your home sale, and they have a strong track record.
• The agent provides extra marketing efforts, including open houses, social media promotions, 3D tours, and aerial photography, to help your home sell more quickly and for more money.
• The agent's commission covers the cost of home staging or other additional services that would cost you thousands of dollars.
• Agreeing to cover the buyer's agent fee in full creates better negotiations and flexibility between you, the buyer, and their agent.
• The agent helps you secure a sale price that exceeds your expectations, offsetting the added commission cost.

Baca, the Las Vegas REALTOR, makes a similar argument from a different angle: holding costs.

"When your home sits on the market for 30 to 60 to 90 days, guess who's paying the mortgage? The seller," Baca says. "Let's say your mortgage is $2,400 and it's been on the market for three months. That's $7,500 the seller's losing because of inadequate representation."

He sees a clear before-and-after in his own market. "There's a lot of flat fee agents out there, and unfortunately, that's why their listings are 100 days on market," Baca says. "I literally just listed a property on Monday. I have 15 showings in two days in this real estate market, because of our pricing strategy and the systems we have in place."

That trade-off helps explain why commissions haven't collapsed post-settlement: the National Association of REALTORS reports that more than 90% of sellers still use an agent, and most say pricing strategy, marketing, and timing matter far more than the commission rate itself.[5]

Where you sell matters too. West Coast sellers paid the lowest average total commission at about 4.3%, compared with roughly 4.8% in the Northeast.[1]

When paying 6% commission could make sense

Let's say you're selling a home valued at around $500,000 and can choose between Agent A, who charges a 3% listing fee, and Agent B, who charges a 1.5% listing fee.

• Agent A secures a full-price offer of $500,000;
• Agent B's 1.5% fee gets you a below-list price offer of $490,000.

In this example, it's worth paying the higher commission, as you'd still earn $2,350 more with the higher-cost agent. Despite the higher commission rate, the first agent’s ability to secure a stronger offer results in more money in your pocket.

If you want full service but don’t want to gamble on commission eating into your profits, a low commission model offers a better middle ground.

Remember that this 6% rate assumes you're responsible for the buyer's agent fee. Under the NAR settlement, you might not have to pay this fee, or you could perhaps negotiate to pay only part of it. For example, this could lower your total commission to 3-4% instead of 6%. 

However, opting not to pay the buyer's agent fee could lead to tougher negotiations on other aspects of the sale, such as the final sale price, repairs, or closing costs. Buyers may seek these other concessions to offset the added cost. It's best to consult with a local realtor for more market-specific advice.

Where does the commission go?

A 6% commission rate may seem like overpaying, but agents don't keep it all.

• Commissions are split among the listing agent, the buyer’s agent, and their respective brokerages.
• On a $500,000 home, a 3% listing commission is $15,000. But an agent with a 50/50 split might only take home $7,500.

“Splits can range from a flat fee to 50% or more,” says realtor Kristyn Grewell. “High-producing agents usually get better splits, while newer agents give more to their brokerage.”

Example: Anywhere Real Estate, which includes brands like CENTURY 21® and Coldwell Banker®, reported an 80% commission split in its most recent public filing.[6]

I can relate to this from my own experience as a former licensed agent in Charleston, S.C. Initially, my commission splits were 30% for me and 70% for my brokerage. As I reached higher sales volumes, those splits improved to 50/50, and eventually 70/30 in my favor. That climb is typical: most agents start at unfavorable splits and earn their way up over years, often while paying for their own marketing, signage, transaction-coordination tools, and MLS dues out of what's left.

How to pay less than 6%

1. Work with a company that offers built-in savings
2. Negotiate with your agent
3. Sell your home for sale by owner (FSBO)

Thankfully, there are ways to pay much less than 6% currently, while still getting full-service support from a top-rated realtor.

1. Work with a low commission realtor

The most reliable way to save money on realtor fees is to work with a real estate brokerage that offers built-in savings. The best low-commission realtors offer discounted listing fees in exchange for full-service and support from a high-quality realtor.

Example: On a median-priced home sale of $370,320, you'd save $6,962 with a 1.5% commissiom realtor, compared to what you'd pay with an agent charging the national average rate of 5.70%!

2. Negotiate realtor commission

Real estate commissions are technically negotiable, and it's worth trying to negotiate a lower rate. Even a 1% difference can save you thousands in commissions.

Most sellers leave that money on the table. Nearly 4 in 10 sellers (39%) didn't know commission was negotiable before they listed, and only 33% of those who hired an agent actually tried to negotiate their rate.[1]

The ones who do ask are rewarded. Negotiating works far more often than sellers expect: 93% of sellers who asked for a lower commission got at least some reduction, and only 7% said their agent wouldn't budge.[1]

Most reductions were modest but real: 45% of successful negotiators shaved 0.5 to 0.99 percentage points off their rate, and another 35% cut it by 1 to 1.5 points.[1]

3. Sell your home for sale by owner (FSBO)

You can avoid paying a listing fee by selling your home without an agent, but this means you'll handle the entire sale process yourself. This includes setting a listing price, marketing to potential buyers, and navigating negotiations and the closing process. Essentially, you’re giving yourself a new job that may or may not pay well when all is said and done.

While the potential savings are real, several risks are involved in selling FSBO homes. Statistics show that homes sold by owners typically sell for nearly $50,000 less than those sold with an agent.[11]

Baca sees this gap show up most often when investors target unrepresented sellers. "FSBO sellers lose out on hundreds of thousands, almost millions of dollars," Baca says. "Investors will just knock on your door and say, 'I'll give you cash right now, $250,000,' when the home could have been worth $400,000, because they're trying to save a nickel and a dime here and there."

Rordam points to a different cost: sellers who sabotage their own showings. "They like to be there at the showing, and they just talk too much," she says. "The seller will follow the buyer from room to room. You'd be shocked at the level of disclosure, personal family history of the home, things that don't need to be disclosed."

According to the National Association of Realtors, only 5% of homes are sold FSBO today, and those homes sell for a significantly lower median price than agent-assisted sales (a gap that has widened).[12] Unsurprisingly, 89% of buyers and sellers used an agent in their transactions, indicating a high reliance on professional assistance.[13]

The bottom line is that FSBO can work for experienced home sellers who are comfortable with pricing, marketing, and negotiating on their own. But for most people, it can mean leaving money on the table—or making costly mistakes.

» MORE: How to sell your house without a realtor

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