Average Real Estate Commission in Montana: 2024 Data

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By Jon Stubbs Updated March 1, 2024

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How commission works | Commission calculator | Best ways to save | Methodology

📊 The data:


Our December 2023 survey of local agents found that the average real estate commission in Montana is 5.50%, which is about equal to the national average of 5.49%. Calculate your estimated commission in Montana.

The average total real estate agent commission rate in Montana is 5.50% of the final sale price. Based on the latest median home sale price in Montana ($441,925), that translates to a total cost of roughly $24,306.

Home sellers typically cover the total commission fee from their sale proceeds, which is split between the listing and buyer’s agents who handle the sale. In Montana, the average listing agent fee is 3.00%, while the average buyer’s agent fee is 2.50%.

Real estate agent commissions make up a significant portion of the closing costs for Montana home sellers. But you don't have to pay the full 5.50% to a traditional agent. If you're selling a home in Montana, you can use a discount broker to save on realtor fees. In fact, depending on your situation and the agents you work with, you could save 36% on realtor fees, or about $8,839 on average.

Find top agents and save: Answer these five simple questions to get matched with the best local agents offering reduced commission rates. Compare agents from top brokerages like Keller Williams and RE/MAX, and get a discounted rate through Clever’s partner network.

How real estate commission works in Montana

Average listing commission 3.00%
Average buyer's agent commission 2.50%
Total average commission 5.50%
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There are usually two real estate agents involved in the real estate transactions of 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 real estate commission paid in Montana for listing agents is 3.00% of the final home price and 2.50% for buyer's agents, for a total of 5.50%.

» LEARN: How do real estate broker commissions work?

Real estate commission calculator for Montana

Use this commission calculator to estimate how much you'll pay in realtor fees when you sell your home in Montana. Enter an estimate of your home's sale price, and see how much you'll pay at different commission rates.

If you want to decrease your realtor fees, Clever can connect you with a top local listing agent who charges just 1.5%. This will allow you to retain more money from the sale for yourself.

» SAVE: Sell with Clever for 1.5% listing fees and save thousands in commission!

Who pays realtor fees in Montana?

In Montana, when you sell your home, the commission fees for the buyer's and seller's real estate agents come directly from the final sale price. There's no need to worry about paying these fees upfront.

The seller's agent justifies their commission by offering services such as market analysis and managing the closing process. On the other side, the buyer's agent earns their commission by finding a qualified buyer who agrees to the contract terms and completes the purchase on schedule.

These commissions won't be an out-of-pocket expense for you. Much like closing costs, the real estate agent commissions are subtracted from the proceeds of the sale once the transaction finalizes.

Why do sellers pay the buyer's real estate agent commission?

Paying the buyer's agent commission can significantly boost interest in your property. By handling this cost, you make your home more appealing to buyers who might struggle with the additional expense of their agent's fee on top of the down payment and closing costs. For many, covering this fee isn't financially feasible.

When you offer a competitive rate to cover the buyer's agent commission, you incentivize real estate agents to bring their clients to your doorstep. This strategy can lead to a flurry of offers. Industry insiders suggest setting the buyer's agent commission around 0.5% below the local norm, which stands at 2.50% in Montana.

Will the NAR lawsuit change how real estate commission works?

On March 15, 2024, the National Association of Realtors agreed to pay $418 million in damages to settle a real estate commission lawsuit the industry group lost in November 2023. 

While the full impact of the settlement is yet to be determined, experts believe that the change will eventually lead to lower buyer's agent commissions and give buyers the ability to negotiate those commissions based on the services they need. 

The terms of the settlement are scheduled to take effect in mid-July 2024. But, the settlement hasn't been officially approved yet, and it could be delayed or changed by objections. We'll continue to monitor the status of the settlement and the effects it has on the real estate industry.

» READ MORE:

How to save on realtor fees in Montana

Commission rates are not set in stone. In fact, we found that while 3.00% is the average listing commission in Montana, rates typically fall between 2.50% and 3.50%. You can save money by negotiating a lower rate with your listing agent or by working with a discount real estate brokerage.

Listing commission range 2.50%– 3.50%
Buyer's agent commission 2.50%– 2.50%
Total commission range 5.00%– 6.00%
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» LEARN: What's the commission on a $1 million home?

Can I negotiate realtor commission in Montana?

Real estate commission is always negotiable. Nationwide, the 630 agents we surveyed said these were their most common reasons for agreeing to lower their commission.

Would you lower your commission for…? Agents who answered yes
Homeowners who also plan to buy with you 72%
Homeowners who are repeat clients 70%
Homeowners with more than one property to sell 67%
Seller’s situation (e.g. divorce or death in the family) 48%
Higher property values 47%
High competition for clients 37%
Homes expected to sell quickly 37%
Periods of low housing inventory 23%
High buyer demand in the area 22%
Houses in excellent condition 19%
Highly experienced home sellers 13%
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Negotiating realtor fees in Montana depends on two main factors: your situation and the housing market.

Factor You may have an easier time negotiating low rates if...
Your situation
  • You're selling a high-value home
  • You have a personal relationship with a realtor
  • You can offer a realtor repeat business
The Montana housing market
  • Homes are selling quickly
  • There are relatively few homes listed for sale
  • Home values are rising
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Your unique circumstances will certainly play a role, but the real estate climate in Montana affects every home seller in your region.

Typically, when you're in a seller's market and hold more sway than buyers, real estate agents find their work a bit easier and might show more flexibility in reducing their commission rates. Conversely, in a buyer's market, agents often work harder to close deals, making them less inclined to cut their fees.

Not comfortable negotiating with a realtor? Avoid the awkward conversation and let Clever pre-negotiate a lower rate with a top agent for you.

To assess the current state of your local real estate market, look at these three factors:

  • Months of inventory
  • Sale to list price ratio 
  • Home value trends

Should these signs point to Montana being a seller's market, you could have the upper hand in negotiating a lower commission with your agent. However, if the market presents a mixed bag or leans towards buyers, convincing your realtor to go down on their commission might be more challenging.

The current state of the Montana real estate market

Factor Trends Indication
Months of inventory There's 2.77 months of housing inventory on the market Seller's market
Sale-to-list ratio Homes are selling for 116.90% of their listing price Seller's market
Home values Home values have risen 24.57% year over year Buyer's market
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» LEARN: See state-by-state average commission rates. How does your state compare?

Low commission real estate companies in Montana 

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.

Discount real estate brokers 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.

Best for most sellers

Clever Real Estate

Learn more
4.9
Excellent

Listing Fee

1.5% ($3,000 min.)

Customer Rating

5.0 (2,627)

Availability

Nationwide

Overview

Pricing

Reviews

Contact

Overview: For those looking to sell property in Montana and aiming to cut down on real estate commission costs without sacrificing expert guidance, Clever stands out as an excellent choice.

✅ Benefits and features: Clever distinguishes itself by slashing traditional realtor fees by as much as half. Their renowned free agent-matching service is highly praised and comes without any obligation.

🏠 How it works: Clever links you with an elite selection of local agents from top-tier firms like RE/MAX and Compass. This allows sellers to sift through and select their ideal agent while ensuring a competitive listing fee of 1.5% (on par with Redfin), no matter which agent is selected.

Pros

  • Partner with a full-service agent from a leading brokerage at a fraction of the cost.
  • Agents offer a significant discount of up to 50% on their standard rates exclusively through Clever.
  • Choose from the broadest selection of pre-screened agents in Montana, increasing your chances of finding the right fit.

Cons

  • There is no certainty of being paired with a particular agent or agency you may prefer within Clever’s network.
  • Extra offerings like professional staging, aerial photography, and virtual home tours might come at an additional cost, which agents will specify during their listing pitch.

Fee structure

  • 1.5% listing fee ($3,000 minimum) at closing
  • 2–3% buyer’s agent commission at closing
Weighted avg. 5.0 2,627
Trustpilot 5.0 2,402
Google 4.8 225

Website: listwithclever.com
Phone: 1-833-225-3837
Hours: 8 a.m.–8 p.m. EST, 7 days a week
Address: 6358 Delmar Blvd, Suite 300, Saint Louis, MO 63130

Curtis Real Estate

Learn more
4.0
Good

Listing Fee

4% total commission at closing

Customer Rating

5.0 (5)

Availability

Local

Overview

Pricing

Reviews

Contact

Overview: Curtis Real Estate is a city-specific full-service discount brokerage located in Missoula, MT. It offers a straightforward 4% total commission at closing without any tiered plan structures or additional upfront fees.

✅ Benefits and features: Curtis Real Estate is catered to home sellers who value simplicity in their real estate transactions with no tiered plans or complicated pricing structures. With their full-service offering, they appear to cover all the essential aspects of the home selling process. Their aggregate 5-star rating from client reviews is an impressive testament to their quality of service, despite the relatively small number of reviews.

Potential Red Flags: The 4% commission, while below the traditional 6% rate, may not be the most competitive option in the discount broker market. The company doesn't provide information on the length of the MLS listing period, which is a key detail for sellers when considering its timeline and sale strategy.

Pros

  • No tiered pricing or upfront fees, offering a simple transaction model
  • A full-service brokerage that includes all the fundamental home selling services
  • Outstanding rating from a small number of customer reviews

Cons

  • Higher commission rate compared to other discount brokerage options
  • MLS listing duration is not clearly stated, which might be a concern for some sellers
  • A lack of recent reviews and no verified transactions in the provided dataset may suggest a need for more current market validation

Fee structure

  • 4% at closing
Weighted avg. 5.0 5
Zillow 5.0 5

Website: listwithclever.com
Phone: 1-833-225-3837
Hours: 8 a.m.–8 p.m. EST, 7 days a week
Address: 6358 Delmar Blvd, Suite 300, Saint Louis, MO 63130

» LEARN: How do discount real estate brokers offer lower fees?

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).

Clever has pre-negotiated low commission rates of only 1.5%, with Montana's top agents. Contact Clever today to find out how much you can save on commission!

👋 Next Steps: Find an agent!

Clever can connect you with top local agents sell your house for a pre-negotiated low rate: just a 1.5% listing fee when your home sells (half the typical rate!).

You can interview your Clever agent matches, get free pricing estimates, and compare marketing plans — all with no strings attached.

Ready to learn more? Click below to take our simple quiz and see your agent matches!

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. We also asked agents about when and why they're willing to negotiate real estate commissions. 

Additionally, we utilized the following data from Zillow and Realtor.com:

  • Home values, list prices, and sale prices: Based on Zillow data as of January 2024
  • Sale-to-list ratios: Based on Zillow data as of January 2024 (unless specified otherwise)
  • Months of inventory: Based on Realtor.com data as of February 2024

Additional resources for Montana home sellers

Better real estate agents at a better rate

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